Happy Thanksgiving

My Thanksgiving a year ago was spent in a Chinese Pizza Hut.  I traveled two hours by bus with the three other American teachers in Guiyang, China to get there after work.  But darn it, we were going to have American food on Thanksgiving whether it was easy or not!


I sat with my three new friends whom I'd only met months earlier, but were now my family.  At least for the sake of this day.

Note the little boy in blue staring

Let me clarify, China was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life.  I chose it, and I'm completely happy and grateful that I chose it.  But that doesn't mean it wasn't difficult.

For Thanksgiving last year, I decided I would veer away from the pizza I usually got when we traveled to Pizza Hut (pepperoni, the only familiar one--and didn't have wasabi on it).  The mashed potatoes seemed Thanksgiving-y enough.  Since those are an "American" thing they didn't really have them anywhere else in China.  And we had issues accessing things like butter, milk, salt and even potatoes, so it was hard to make our own.  I didn't really trust the fresh produce much anyways, since there were always tons of unidentified bugs flying all around the produce section.

Now, a year later, as we approach Thanksgiving again, I'm in awe thinking about how completely simple my life is.

I left my house this morning and didn't have to worry about whether or not I had a piece of paper with me with the Chinese characters stating my address in case I got lost.  I saw an ambulance drive past, clean and shiny, and remembered how many injured people I saw on the streets in China.  And how grossed out I was on the rare occasion that I did see one of their yellow ambulances.  As I crossed the road, I knew I could trust the drivers to actually obey the red lights.

I walked into Publix and knew exactly which aisle to pick for the mayo.  I read the words on the signs, and could even read and understand what was written on the mayo jar.  I grabbed what I wanted, knowing I could afford it, and walked up to check out.

No one was staring at me.  No one was following me.  I didn't need to ask for help from anyone.

As the lady scanned my items she made small conversation with me.  "Did you find everything you were looking for?"

My brain nearly exploded with gratitude.  A year ago, not only would I have been grateful to be capable of physically speaking with someone other than the same three teachers I'd been with for months, but she was trying to be helpful.  I knew that if there was an ingredient I couldn't find, she'd be able to help me.  And further, she'd be able to simply speak to me to help.  I wouldn't have to resort to silly forms of charades to explain "milk" (that was a funny China story)(and no, we didn't find the cream).

"Yes."  I replied.  The bag guy asked, "Would you like this all in one bag?"  As I replied yes I was even more thankful.  Simple being able to converse with people is such a blessing that I realize a lot now.  I wonder if other people realize what a gift that is.

I grabbed my bag and headed home.  Grateful that I don't have to worry about whether this food will make me sick.  Grateful for a safe place to live.  Grateful for simple transportation. Grateful for my independence.  Grateful for my job, my life, money, friends, family, communication, religion, comfort, safety, health, peace, simplicity, and all that I'm blessed with.

I'm thankful for the country I live in.  I'm thankful for the opportunities that lie ahead of me.  I'm thankful for support from my friends and family.  I'm thankful for knowledge that I have.

The intangible things that I have are worth more than the tangible.  I'm more thankful for them.  And I hope my life will always be that way.

Backstage Lions Tour

Alas, no photos!  Unfortunately, the rule still applies: No backstage photos at Disney World.

But I saw the lion barn today at Disney's Animal Kingdom.  You'll have to take my word for it since I have no proof.  It was awesome!

I also got to drive my car backstage which means that I've now driven backstage at three of the four parks. Incidentally, the only park I haven't parked backstage is the only park that I have worked backstage in.  Weird...

So my friend Nell won a free backstage tour of the lion barn and invited me to join her and her two other friends.  We parked by the Animal Programs building which is close to Rafiki's Planet Watch and then a manager took us over to the barn.  It was a private tour and this guy Mike was super informative.  He basically walked us around the barn and we got to see Nairobi and Savannah (the other lions were all onstage).  We were literally just a couple feet away, the closest I'd been to a lion in my entire life.

Nairobi's eyes are gigantic.  Both the lions were much older so they mostly just lay there or groomed themselves.  Mike also showed us some of the fur they had from the lion, so we got to touch the fur.  But no petting the lion. Even the keepers can't touch the lions, with the exception of their tails in order to take blood.  And even then it's crazy how many safety measures are in place to be sure everyone is entirely safe.  Disney's big on the safety thing.

We basically just walked around the barn, looked at the lions, and asked Mike any and all questions that came to mind.  Almost like being at a private zoo.  As we were talking to him one of the ostriches showed up right behind us and was eating dirt by the fence.  We were right beside the warthog barn and I think it was a Rhino barn that was nearby as well.  It was so informative!

Anyway, super fun day!  I'm so grateful I have awesome friends who invite me to do cool things like this!  Lions are even more my favorite animal now!

EPCOT Food and Wine

The Food and Wine Festival is coming to a close and I was lucky enough to get to start working shifts at EPCOT starting last week.  I'm really just in a trailer backstage, but it's been really fun for me and a nice change of scenery.

Tomorrow I work another one of the shifts, open to close.  My favorite part?  Getting to drive my car beneath Test Track.  I pretty much feel like the coolest person in the world when I do that.

I also like the radios they have for food and wine.  Even though the distance isn't as good, they're a million times easier to use.  For example, when you push the button on the side and talk... it actually WORKS!!! Amazing!!

It's also nice to be the only one there.  Not that I don't like working in a team at MK.  It's just kind of nice to be the main person fixing everything and it's nice to be the only one covering the radio for a whole day.  Sometimes it's hard to make sure everything gets communicated to everyone when different people cover the radio.

Oh well.  Now I'm rambling.  Suffice it to say, I'm excited to work at EPCOT again tomorrow!

Oh, and PS... Christmas has begun!  Wooohoooo!!!

You Know You Work For Disney When...

Christmas starts two days after Halloween...

That's right. The decorations are up, the Castle has lights, and the first Christmas party starts in a week (well a little more than a week.)

Get ready for the most wonderful time of the year at the Happiest Place on Earth!