Canada, Eh?

Niagara Falls is behind me, I swear.

Turns out, of the stereotypes associated with Canada, "eh" is the one that's not true.

But an obsession with maple syrup? Love of Tim Horton's? Kindness? Accents that make "sorry" and "about" sound like "soo-ry" and "a-boot"? 

Accurate.

My brief visit to Canada was everything I hoped for from the moment Danielle and I crossed the border and a McDonald's sign advertising a maple latte greeted us. While I quickly learned the stretch from Detroit to Toronto is simply the upper Midwest and we didn't see any moose, my adventure up north for Spring Break was everything I hoped for.

Favorite moment? Probably when our waitress at the most Canadian of pubs, Bar Wellington, told us "soo-ry aboot that" (sorry about that) when she forgot to refill our water while a hockey game played on the bar TV behind us. It doesn't get more Canadian than that :)

(Daily trips to Tim Hortons are high on the list, too.)

What are your favorite things about Canada?

Leeann

View from the CN Tower of the lake and west side of town (where Danielle and I stayed).

Thoughts on Turning 22

I'm turning 22 today.

Just writing it is weird.

In high school, I was always in the middle of my friends' birthdays; most of them aged up in April, a month after me. But in college, I'm one of the last ones, making my 22nd birthday today less of a novelty.

But leading up to 22 has felt different than my earlier birthdays. For one, it's the first year I haven't counted down the days until March 30. It's also the first year I forgot my birthday was coming up. At the Royal Ontario Museum last week, the ticket counter woman asked for my age and for a second, I wasn't sure. I thought I'd already turned 22.

Maybe that's because I've felt myself growing up a lot the past seven months as my school career comes to an end (for now). Suddenly I'm moving miles away from home, gradually becoming financially independent, leaving all my best friends behind, and dealing with a big empty question mark filling the next 10 years.

I hate not knowing, but I hate growing up even more. And 22 is the age where I'm left with no choice but to grow up.

My parents aren't kicking me to the curb and I'm moving to Disney World, of all places. I depend a ton on Mom and Dad. But I just came back from my first vacation I planned and paid for all on my own. As I drove the eight hours home exactly a week ago I realized I hadn't even asked permission to take this trip. I just told my parents I was going, and did it.

Come May, I'll have to slowly start establishing myself. Gradually, yes, but this is the time when I have to learn how to take care of myself by myself. I'm not saying I'll be alone; I'll always have my family. But I am going to need to lessen my dependence on them and strengthen my dependence on myself.

College prepared me for adulthood. I should be ready for this. I learned how to make friends I didn't grow up with and I'm no longer afraid to call people on the phone. I've been rejected enough times to understand working for what I want is going to take extra time. And I know I'm equipped with the knowledge and independence I need to tackle the world by myself.

Now I just need to believe it.

Leeann

P.S. Since it is my birthday, I want to end this on a happier note. As I wrote this post a few days ago with my cat by my head and Winnie-the-Pooh mug in hand, I knew that my 22 years have been amazing. I should have no reason to suspect that the next 22 won't be as wonderful. Growing up isn't all bad. It just feels all bad when you're in your twenties and have no idea what to expect. One day, I'm sure, I'll understand that.

I'm Going to Disney World!

My much delayed but still exciting announcement is here! Come August 15, I'll be working at Walt Disney World Resort!

Ever since I found out about the Disney College Program my junior year in high school, I knew I wanted to work at Walt Disney World sometime in my life. A number of things kept me from applying to the program during college, but with graduation and my last chance to apply coming up, I knew this was the right moment.

On February 19, 2016 everything fell into place. Just four days after my phone interview, I found out I was accepted to move to Florida for five months as a Quick Service Food and Beverage (QSFB) cast member. Jordan and I were sitting at our favorite Irish Pub when I checked my email just once more and I found the acceptance. We celebrated with cider and ice cream.

Now I'm preparing to move to a new climate and figure out what I'll be doing once my five months are up. Currently, I'm hoping to either extend my program to May or get a Disney Professional Internship either at Disney World or at the publishing division of Disney in California or New York. But for now, I'm just excited to throw on my Mickey ears and start on a journey I've wanted for five years.

If you want to know more about the Disney College Program (DCP) or want more blogs before I get there (all my blogs will be DCP-related come August) please let me know! Until then, look forward to some Canada posts as I freak out about another dream of mine :)

Here's to dreams coming true.

Leeann

The Third Country

I've talked a lot about dreams on this blog so far this year. 2016 is, for me, the year of dreams since so much is happening. I went to London and Paris. I'm graduating. I have endless possibilities for the next step in my life.

Things have been happening recently. One thing I'm holding on to for a while, but you should know soon. The other thing is plans for spring break, my last spring break for the foreseeable future.

I'm going to Canada.

I've dreamed of going to Canada since I was young. I don't even know why. I'm just fascinated with the country. To me, it's what the States could have been if we'd been under British rule longer or if France had a stronger presence. Just colder and nicer. (Also, Tim Hortons.)

I want to know what's up there; I want to know what it's like. When I told this to my friend Danielle, she wanted to join in. So come March, the two of us are packing up my Honda and heading north while our peers seek sunnier shores.

If you have any suggestions for things to do or see while we're in Canada, please let me know in the comments below!

Toronto, here we come.

Leeann