Changes

Hi everyone!! I have made the decision to switch my blog over to wordpress, for many reasons which I need not go into here. So if you have found yourself at this blog, not to worry, click here to be re-directed to the new blog! Please change your bookmarks to http://www.ericaamber.wordpress.com/ for all future blogging adventures!! But don't worry, this blog will still be around to re-direct you in case you get lost, there will just no longer be new content on here! Thanks so much for your support and I'll see you on the new page!!

Erica

Carnival Expectations

So, I guess it's time for an update on my life. Lots of big news in the last few weeks. So the interviews with Carnival Cruise Lines went really really well, but I didn't want to say anything until I got the official word back. Well, I got it and the word is that I've been offered a Guest Services Assistant position with Carnival. This means all kinds of things, first and foremost, I GET TO LIVE ON A CRUISE SHIP!!!!! Secondly, I get to go back to Florida for training. The training will be in Miami or Port Canaveral, so I'll be heading over there a week or so early to spend some extra time in Orlando with my Disney friends! I can't wait! I don't know what cruise ship I'll be on yet, I'll know soon though. And of course, as per usual, I will keep updating this lovely little blog with stories of my adventures. Here for your enjoyment is my list of things that I am expecting from this experience, and at the end of it I'll look back and see whether I was right.

Erica's List of Cruise Expectations:

1) Lots of fun new places to explore. In my position we don't work really long shifts, we do work everyday but because it's a tough job we don't do long shifts, so I expect to have lots of time to explore the places we dock.

2) Cell phone withdrawl. Enough said.

3) Lots of time to train. I would liked to be training for a couple hours a day while I'm at sea, because I'd like to stay in racing shape for when I come home.

4) Lots of spare time. I know this sounds crazy, but compared to how packed my schedule is at home, I anticipate more free time. Here my days are booked solid from 6am til who knows when, on board I will only be working one shift a day and I won't be able to get any second or third jobs.

5) Catch up on my reading. I have so many books I want to read and not enough time!

6) Eating glorious fresh fruit all the time!!!


Thats all for now!! Check out the Carnival website HERE!!!

Awards

To say that co-operative education has changed my life would be an understatement. More like revolutionized! I'm a huge advocate of co-op education, and imagine my surprise when this morning I opened an email that said I had recieved honerable mention in the CSOTY Co-op Student of the Year Awards. That's Canada-wide! I'm so amazed and grateful for this honor, I can't even belive it. I am so fortunate to have an amazing support network both at home and at school, as well as amazing leaders from The Walt Disney Company who were also commited to helping me succeed. I'm still in shock, I don't even know what to say except thank you to everyone who has supported me and helped me along this path!! I promise to do great things in my lifetime, I won't let any of you down!!

Obstacles

Well, february is approaching! I had hoped to have better news for you all but as of right now I still do not have a work visa, which means I can't go to Paris yet. It's been quite stressful, lots of paperwork and visiting the french consulate. So at this point I don't really know exactly what is happening. I've kind of come to terms with the possibility that I might not be able to go. It's not ideal but I do love being home and I can make the most out of whatever I end up doing. I am a gypsy and I love the next great adventure but sometimes we have to adjust our dreams. I'll keep you informed, fingers crossed I'll be in Paris by this time next month!! The quote of the day, keeping in the theme, is this:

Life at any time can become difficult: life at any time can become easy. It all depends upon how one adjusts oneself to life. - Morarji Desai

Exciting news!

So I've been a little bit worried because I haven't officially had a contract for Paris and I've just had the word of my recruiter that I've got a position. Which is fine except the closer I get the more nervous I get. What if they changed their minds? All kinds of questions arise. Well I spoke with my recruiter the other day and she informed me that as soon as I have my working visa (dec 28th) and I fax a copy to her, she will be able to tell me my position and start date!! So that's very very exciting! I feel so much better have a little more reassurance. I guess if I think about it from their point of view, they can't just go off giving everyone contracts without proof that they can work in France or else a lot of people wouldn't show up and whatnot. Also, I'm currently typing this from my very own brand new IPAD!! As a vagabond gypsy, large computers arent really on the list of things that fit in my carry-on. So as my birthday/Xmas/going away present, I am a very lucky girl and have received an iPad. No word yet on what her name is but as soon as she has one I'll let you know. Yay!!

Awards

I received a very exciting letter in the mail a little while ago. Sidebar: isn't snail mail just the best?! I love getting postcards and letters and fun things like that, and I also love to send them! Since I've been home I've been over to various friends homes and seen postcards that I sent them from Florida on their fridges. That just warms my heart! Anyhow, back to my letter. It was from Camosun and it said that I won this year's Hotel and Restaurant Co-op Award! How exciting!!!! I'm so thrilled and proud of myself. It's really amazing when your hard work pays off, isn't it?! Awards ceremony is on monday, I'll try to get a nice picture to post! Have a magical day!

Torn

Well it's almost December, I have an appointment with the french consulate to procure my working visa, I'm preparing to move across the world and I'm just waiting for my contract to be ready. It's the most excited I've ever been in my life. And most possibly the most terrified. I'm loving being home and hating it all at once. I absolutely adore my family and have a really hard time living without them, so leaving them is something I'm dreading. The other thing that's really tough is how many amazing friends I have here. The more I stay at home, the more I can see my life as it would be if I stayed here. Leaving my amazing Victoria life will honestly tear a piece out of my soul. However, I have come to know myself well enough to know that if I don't leave I will end up resenting everyone who made me want to stay. I'm in a constant state of delirious happiness mixed with insatiable sadness and restlessness. I have this insatiable desire to see EVERYTHING. When I think about moving to Paris, the mere thought of it literally stops my breath in my chest and makes my heart skip a beat from sheer excitement. As much as I'm sad and scared to leave my life and my loved ones, I know that I would be far more devastated if I didn't leave. It's also been a tough few weeks of loss for me, which I won't get into, but it makes me realize that life is far too short to compromise. I HAVE to follow my dreams and my heart because I owe it to myself to do anything in my power to be as happy as possible, and to sell myself short of my own dreams would be equivalent to dying right here right now. and I'm not ready to die. In short, I am so very ready for my next adventure, no matter how much it will hurt to depart upon it.