We're Off to See the Wizard!

Alright, it has been awhile since I updated and it seems like the perfect time to write.

As of 15 minutes ago I completed my University education. I am having mixed feelings about the whole ordeal. I am SO glad to be finished because that means no more essays, no more time crunches, and more free time to read books I choose to read, rather than books that are assigned to me. Conversely, I am going to miss seeing some really great people every day and continuously learning new and amazing things. My one great fear is that my brain will atrophy from not being challenged on a daily basis. I know the cruise line will challenge me in new ways, but hopefully my brain can maintain its current state of well-being.

So with University completed I now have the cruise line to look forward to!! It has been a constant source of excitement/anxiety on my brain, but now I can devote time and effort to fully prepare for this amazing adventure.

I have been slowly gathering things I will need for the cruise ship and so far it seems to be going well. It feels like everyday I remember something new I am going to need on the cruise ship, while trying to think of creative ways to stave off homesickness. Since the very first cruise will be the Christmas cruise, I am getting Christmas music and movies that I can listen to and watch on the ship. Hopefully, this will make being away from home on Christmas more manageable. Christmas is the only time I am afraid I will be homesick; while I will miss my family and friends a lot, I think I can manage the rest of the time. So the rest of today will be devoted to writing lists and going out shopping for ship necessities.

I am starting to get more excited about leaving because it is only 9 MORE DAYS!!! Holy Smokes! My parents return from a cruise in 6 days and will get 3 days to bask in the glory that is me. I am sad that I will only get to spend 3 days with them before I leave, but they will be coming on my cruise ship at the end of April so it wont be too long until I see them again.

Now here is a special little entry for the people reading my blog that are waiting to hear back from DCL. A couple of weeks ago I received all my flight/hotel information for my arrival. I get a direct flight to LAX (which is very nice, I hate layovers) and I am staying in the Disneyland resort at the Paradise Pier hotel. It looks very nice and is right by Down Town Disney. I haven't been to Disneyland since I was nine (I don't want to think how many years ago that was) so I am very excited to go back.

I have two days of personal safety training, including an in-water test. Apparently, you have to jump into a pool, fully clothed, and flip over a lifeboat and get into it. From what I have heard you are in the pool pretty much the whole day so there must be some other tests too. Bring old clothes and shoes you don't mind getting wet.
Then there is a day of Disney Traditions, which is a course on the Disney standards. I have taken this course before so it will be nice to just sit back and relax the second time.
After Traditions (which is on Saturday) I will join the ship at the Port of Los Angeles on the Sunday and start my first cruise. As I said this will be the Christmas cruise so it has a bit of a different itinerary. Rather than going to Cabo for two days then Puerto Vallarta, it goes to Manzanillo for a day, then Puerto Vallarta, then Cabo for two days. I am very excited to join the ship at Christmas because apparently the decorations are just beautiful.

Well, I should get going on my list making and shopping. Hopefully the next time I update I will be in sunny Anaheim at Disneyland!!!

Toodles!