It's been a little over a week and half since I got to Florida. I'm in Lakeland, Florida which is about an hour south of Orlando and 45 minutes east of Tampa. This is my first time in Florida and I think the biggest surprise has been that I actually feel like I'm in the South! Obviously I know Florida is in the south, but I never expected it to really FEEL like it. I tried grits for the first time (not a whole lot of flavor), have eaten fried cat fish a few times, drunk WAY too much sweet tea (but its so good!) and the other day stopped by "Pig Fest", an enormous fair that consisted only in barbecue pork (after walking around less than an hour and not even eating anything I still left smelling like bbq).
Yesterday Carlos (my co-worker) and I went to Orlando to Universal Studios! A girl at the radio station here gave us 2 free passes and a free parking pass that were all going to expire Jan. 31, so we had to go this weekend! We got lucky and it was a beautiful day. Poor Carlos, I am probably the worst person in the world to go to a theme park with because all the rides make me sick, but I did go on some. Disneyworld is probably more my speed–there are some CRAZY roller coasters at Universal Studios! But it was lots of fun anyways, since I never go to theme parks I like just walking around and seeing everything. The Harry Potter area was neat, but so crowded! People were standing in a huge line just to go in a SToRE.
I am staying in a little studio apartment that is connected to my host family's house, so that is really cool. We are close to a lake that I have jogged around a couple times and tomorrow we are going to pick up passes to the college wellness center that they are giving us during our time here, so I am hoping to get more exercise!
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Ya llevo una semana y media en Florida. Nunca he estado en Florida y creo que lo que más me ha sorprendido ha sido que realmente siento que estoy en el sur. Evidentemente Florida está en el sur, pero nunca pensé que fuera así. Probé "grits" por primera vez (no tienen mucho sabor), he comido "catfish"(bagre?) frito, bebo demasiado té dulce y frio, y el otro fuí a "pig fest" (fiesta de cerdo) una fiesta ENORME dedicado exclusivamente a comer cerdo–despues de andar por allí menos que una hora y no comer nada a salir olía a cerdo.
Ayer Carlos (mi compañero de trabajo) y yo fuimos al Universal Studios. Un chica en la estación de radio nos dió dos entradas y parking gratis, pero iba a caducar el día 31, así que tuvimos que ir! Hizo un día estupendo. Pobre Carlos, debo ser la peor persona del mundo para ir a un parque tematico. No monto en casí nada por que me pongo mala en todos. (Creo que disney world sería mejor para mi). Pero monté en un par de cosas, y como no voy nunca a parques tematicos me gusta andar por alli y ver todo–la parte de Harry Potter me gustó mucho :D ...pero fue una locura! la gente haciendo cola solo para entrar en una TIENDA.
Aquí estoy viviendo en un pequeño estudio conectado a la casa de mi familia anfitriona. Está muy bien, tengo cocina pequenita y todo. Estamos cercas de un lago donde he ido a correr un par de veces y mañana nos van a dar pases para ir al gimnasio de la universidad que está aquí cerca, asi que voy a intentar hacer más ejercicio.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Welcome to the west!...Bienvenidos al oeste!
This Sunday (yesterday) was our first full day off since we arrived almost 2 weeks ago...so I think its fair to say it was well deserved! And we went to...the STOCK SHOW!!!! May I just say WOW. I have never seen anything like it. From the huge room that was like a cattle beauty parlor (I don't think barbers usually cut PEOPLES hair with such close attention) to cowboys everywhere to the most random booths you can imagine...it was all there. We just spent a couple hours there in the morning, which was perfect.
Today was spent in non-stop training sessions. Literally. We got about 5 minutes to grab our lunches so we could eat them during the presentation. It was a LONG day. But we got some very interesting info! Maybe not most importantly, but most interesting for purposes of my blog, I found out where I will be going in Europe! I will be in our last European city, which is in Switzerland, about 30 miles from Zurich. This is very exciting because I have never been to Switzerland!
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Day after tomorrow its off to Florida! I will be going with Carlos, from Sacramento, and we will be setting up Lakeland, Florida. Both of us are new, so this will be a great learning experience. Luckily, we have a very long set-up (6 and a half weeks), so that will be a big help. Our host families are all set-up, and they already seem SUPER helpful, its amazing, so that is also fabulous.
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El domingo (ayer) fue nuestro primer día libre desde que hemos llegado. Hemos ido al...."STOCK SHOW" (feria de ganado). Ufff...nunca he visto nada parecido! Desde la salón llena de vacas que parecía una peluquería para ganado a los vaqueros por todas partes hasta los puestos más extraños que puedes imaginar...había de todo! Pasamos la mañana allí y fue como estar en otro mundo.
Hoy tuvimos clases y presentaciones SIN PARAR. Literalmente. Tuvimos 5 minutos para coger la comida para poder comerlo mientras seguimos hablando. Que día largo. Aunque hemos hablado de muchas cosas interesantes y importantes, creo que lo más interesante para poner aquí es que ya sé donde estaré en europa...después de florida iré a suiza! Estaré en una pequeña ciudad que está a unas 30 millas de Zurich. Que ilusión, nunca que estado en suiza!
Pero antes que nada, pasado mañana (miercoles) voy a florida! Que nervios! Voy con otro chico se llama Carlos, es de Sacramento, y estaremos en Lakeland, Florida. Los dos somos nuevos, vamos a aprender muchisimo! Nuestro anfitriona ya parece que nos va a ayudar muchísimo, y esto es genial. Otra cosa buena es que estaremos alli 6 semanas y media, que nos viene super bien siendo nuevos porque asi tenemos mucho tiempo para hacer todo.
Today was spent in non-stop training sessions. Literally. We got about 5 minutes to grab our lunches so we could eat them during the presentation. It was a LONG day. But we got some very interesting info! Maybe not most importantly, but most interesting for purposes of my blog, I found out where I will be going in Europe! I will be in our last European city, which is in Switzerland, about 30 miles from Zurich. This is very exciting because I have never been to Switzerland!
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Day after tomorrow its off to Florida! I will be going with Carlos, from Sacramento, and we will be setting up Lakeland, Florida. Both of us are new, so this will be a great learning experience. Luckily, we have a very long set-up (6 and a half weeks), so that will be a big help. Our host families are all set-up, and they already seem SUPER helpful, its amazing, so that is also fabulous.
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El domingo (ayer) fue nuestro primer día libre desde que hemos llegado. Hemos ido al...."STOCK SHOW" (feria de ganado). Ufff...nunca he visto nada parecido! Desde la salón llena de vacas que parecía una peluquería para ganado a los vaqueros por todas partes hasta los puestos más extraños que puedes imaginar...había de todo! Pasamos la mañana allí y fue como estar en otro mundo.
Hoy tuvimos clases y presentaciones SIN PARAR. Literalmente. Tuvimos 5 minutos para coger la comida para poder comerlo mientras seguimos hablando. Que día largo. Aunque hemos hablado de muchas cosas interesantes y importantes, creo que lo más interesante para poner aquí es que ya sé donde estaré en europa...después de florida iré a suiza! Estaré en una pequeña ciudad que está a unas 30 millas de Zurich. Que ilusión, nunca que estado en suiza!
Pero antes que nada, pasado mañana (miercoles) voy a florida! Que nervios! Voy con otro chico se llama Carlos, es de Sacramento, y estaremos en Lakeland, Florida. Los dos somos nuevos, vamos a aprender muchisimo! Nuestro anfitriona ya parece que nos va a ayudar muchísimo, y esto es genial. Otra cosa buena es que estaremos alli 6 semanas y media, que nos viene super bien siendo nuevos porque asi tenemos mucho tiempo para hacer todo.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Snow!
This first weekend in Denver was a busy one! This Saturday we got to sleep in and then the staff had safe driver training. Friday night I dreamt that it snowed (I really don't do ANyTHING in the snow--not drive, not jog, nothing)...luckily, we didn't wake up to snow until SUNDAY morning. And this was quite a bit of snow, much more than Ive seen in years! Unfortunately I forgot my camera on Sunday, but I did take this picture out of the van on Monday morning.
Needless to say, I am looking forward to getting to Florida! Seasons are just not my thing. Unless they're Spring or Summer.
Our days here consist of LOTS of training. It is ALOT of information in a very short time, but all very necessary because a week from tomorrow I fly out with my teammate, Carlos, to head to our first set-up, which will be in Florida! I am a bit nervous but VERY excited to get started...
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El primer fin de semana en Denver hemos estado muy liados. El sábado pudimos dormir un poco más, pero luego habia que ir a la clase de "Como conducir con cuidado" (o algo asi). El viernes por la noche soñé con nieve....o mejor dicho, tuve una pesadilla! Yo no sé conducir en la nieve! Por suerte, fue el domingo por la mañana que me desperté con un montón de nieve...hace años que no veo tanto nieve...pero claro, los últimos 10 años los he pasado entre Madrid y Hawaii jejejeje...bueno, el domingo olvidé la cámara, pero saqué la foto de arriba desde la furgoneta el lunes por la mañana...
Que ganas tengo de ir a Florida ya!
Aquí pasamos los días en un montón de cursillos, intentando prepararnos para el trabajo que tenemos que hacer. Es muchísima información en muy poco tiempo, pero todo es muy necesario porque vamos la semana que viene a nuestros ciudades donde empezaremos a trabajar de verdad! Estoy un poco nerviosa pero muy emocionada para empezar....
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
And the adventure begins...
here I am in back in Denver, in staging for Up with People, what is it, 11 years later? Wow...thinking "I have so much to write, but I'm really not much of a writer"...well, thats OK. This blog is to try to keep in touch better with everybody I love, so I know you'll excuse the writing.
After a whirlwind weekend of shopping with my mom for "business wear" and redefining the meaning of "shop till you drop" I was able to come prepared with what Im pretty sure is a good wardrobe. The funny thing is, I think my clothes are actually BETTER now that I only have a suitcase! (Mom--I wore the skirt and nicest jacket today, and it was great!). On Monday Mom and Erika and I went to lunch at the Space Needle as a sort of early birthday celebration and on Tuesday morning I flew to Denver.
I'm staying with a wonderful host family, both alumni who traveled for many years, and their 3 children. I think I got very lucky, they are lovely and they even made me cupcakes for my birthday :-)
Today was our first real day of staging, and it was mostly meetings, introductions, and presentations of the sort that say "but we will tell you more about that later"...which is what I am going to say now! I should go over some of the handouts from today and then go to bed! Its safe to say I havn't gotten up this early in a long time, unless it was to catch a flight.
Para los españoles...lo siento!!!! Intentaré escribir en ingles y español, pero ahora mismo necesito dormir...hace mucho que no me levanto antes de las 7! Pero de verdad que voy a intentar escribir en español también porque necesito la practica...pronto estaré en México y tendré que escribir bien!
After a whirlwind weekend of shopping with my mom for "business wear" and redefining the meaning of "shop till you drop" I was able to come prepared with what Im pretty sure is a good wardrobe. The funny thing is, I think my clothes are actually BETTER now that I only have a suitcase! (Mom--I wore the skirt and nicest jacket today, and it was great!). On Monday Mom and Erika and I went to lunch at the Space Needle as a sort of early birthday celebration and on Tuesday morning I flew to Denver.
I'm staying with a wonderful host family, both alumni who traveled for many years, and their 3 children. I think I got very lucky, they are lovely and they even made me cupcakes for my birthday :-)
Today was our first real day of staging, and it was mostly meetings, introductions, and presentations of the sort that say "but we will tell you more about that later"...which is what I am going to say now! I should go over some of the handouts from today and then go to bed! Its safe to say I havn't gotten up this early in a long time, unless it was to catch a flight.
Para los españoles...lo siento!!!! Intentaré escribir en ingles y español, pero ahora mismo necesito dormir...hace mucho que no me levanto antes de las 7! Pero de verdad que voy a intentar escribir en español también porque necesito la practica...pronto estaré en México y tendré que escribir bien!
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