CRP | Hopes and fears - 10 days to go

Our departure date is creeping closer and closer and it's slowly dawning on me that I'm moving abroad again, for the third time.  Moving to a different country is a really big deal and it's natural to feel anxious about what's to come.  Although I've packed my life up in a suitcase a couple of times before, there are still a few niggly nerves that pop up.  Have a look at some of my hopes and fears for the next year:

Hopes

1. Meet people.
This may seem a little strange when you read my fears but I'm really hoping I can meet people from all across the globe.  I love learning about different cultures (good thing I'm doing a cultural exchange program) so I'm going to try and become a social butterfly and put myself out there (eek). 

2.  I can speak more French and Spanish.
I've really missed thinking in a foreign language so hopefully the CRP will give me an opportunity to practise my languages - with other cast members and guests! I'm a little apprehensive about passing the language tests but I might give it a go and see what happens.

3. Learn about business.
This may sound like an ultra-geeky hope but I've only ever worked in merchandise for a year and never for a transnational company so I'm really looking forward to seeing how a company like Disney functions.  

4. Travel and experience the US like a real American.
There's something about the USA that really intrigues me; I think it's the sheer variation between the different cultures.  You can't really compare the Deep South to Washington state etc.  I hope I can hope on the Greyhound and visit as many states/cities as possible.

5. Be a part of the Disney magic.
A cheesy, cliched one I know but I hope I can be part of everything that makes Disney so magical.  I remember all the lovely, helpful cast members who made my trip there unforgettable and I want to be able to do that for other people.  

Fears

1. No one will like me!
This is a bit of a personal one for as this is one of my general-anxiety-life fears.  I always worry that no one is going to like me at all. I know it's impossible for everyone to like me but the rational side of me says that out of all the cast members in Disney World, one or two of them will want to be my friend.  I imagine that this is an anxiety for lots of people embarking on this type of program or a study abroad but it always turns out okay.

2. Time will fly.
This sounds like an odd one but after my past two years of living abroad, I know how quickly time can pass you by.  One minute you feel like you have tons of time to cross everything off your bucket list but before you know it, you're having to organise your trip home.  I want to try and make sure that  I make the most of every opportunity out there.

3. I won't have enough money.
I've tried to save but the application process and whatnot is a fairly pricey business. What's more, the past year I've only been on an intern wage so naturally I'm concerned I won't have enough to see me through.  I think it's because in Mexico last year, money was quite tight.  However, this no way took away from the fact I had an amazing time; you simply learn to find more creative, cheaper ways to make the most of your year.

4. I'm too old.
Again, another fairly personal one.  So I'm 28.  The majority of the applicants are early twenties and I'm worried I'm too old.  However, I think it is true that you are only as old as you feel and Yummy Jobs and Disney must have thought it was okay otherwise they wouldn't have given me a place... Right?  Ha.

I still can't believe it's only ten days to go!  

CRP | the visa appointment

The day of our visa appointment finally arrived, after what felt like weeks of waiting!

The waiting is because you need Disney to email you the petition document before you can apply for a visa. The petition number is given to Disney by the consulate in the U.S. which allows Disney to create the document you will get in the email. We received ours about 7 weeks before our arrival date, which created all sorts of panic, fluster and Hoo-hah; but we were caught up in the embassies' massive hardware problem they had going on. You're likely to get it earlier than that.

So when you've had the go ahead, you complete a DS-160 form online which is a dynamic form (people may get different questions) and gathers all the information needed to hopefully approve your visa. Some of the questions are your bog standard general details, but then it gets a bit more serious (and frankly, odd) when you have to let them know if you have any plans to traffick other humans whilst on your Disney adventure. You also have to upload your photo and pay your visa fee ($190).  Photo wise-they have a tool online to help you out with uploading a decent digital one. You are advised to get printed ones too, but we spent £7 on some and didn't actually need them. It may be better to make sure your digital one is good and then take £7 with you to the embassy as they have a machine there if your original isn't good enough. One piece of advice I would say is print out your DS-160 confirmation as soon as you can as we weren't able to retrieve them and didn't receive the email confirmation that we asked for. If you don't have your confirmation form and can't retrieve it, you have to do the whole form again-and it really is an alarmingly long form; even longer the second time.

After completing the form, you are able to book your appointment at the embassy or consulate of your choice. Here in the UK, you can go to London or the Belfast consulate. Wait time for the appointments can vary but you're normally seen within a couple of weeks. 

Your appointment is probably going to be fairly early in the morning, 8 or 8.30, so if you live far away you might want to consider staying over the night before. We stayed in Stratford and caught the Tube in but still had to get up at 5.30!  We arrived in Grosvenor Square at around 7.25am and there was already a massive queue outside the embassy; luckily, the embassy staff are super efficient.

Pre and post visa appointment selfie! 

While you're in the queue, the staff check your appointment time and have a look at your paperwork to make sure there are no problems and then you're signed in. After this, you go through security - which is a lot less scary than I thought - you have to put your watch, phone, belt, pocket items in a clear plastic bag but you can take everything in with you. Your bags are scanned, like at the airport, and you walk through a metal detector. You might get your bag searched or frisked but it's generally run of the mill security procedures. (You can even leave your shoes on!) Then, you walk round to the entrance of the embassy and you're given a ticket number and directed to the waiting room. 

There are two steps once you're inside: firstly you will be called to a window where you hand over your documents (byee passport!) and give your fingerprints. It's super quick and they give you your appointment paper back with another sticker on (you keep the same number) and you go back to the waiting room. People tend to jump in your seat so don't get too attached. 

The wait for here was a little longer for some reason, but luckily it was still short for us-your number gets called to another window and this is the last step! This time you get to speak to a REAL LIFE AMERICAN and you give your fingerprints again. They ask you a few questions this time-where you're going, how long for, maybe why you are going. These depend on who you get so just relax and answer them -they're easy and they're not trying to catch you out!

And that's it! All approved and your passport will be with you in 3-5 days! Well that's what we were told so we will let you know on Tuesday! ;)