Well in the past two weeks I've passed a few American rites of passage. I'll start with most yankee-fied symbolic one; I celebrated my first ever Thanksgiving in the States. As most CPs get lumbered with working the holidays whilst the full timers get it off to spend with their families, Disney put on a free Thanksgiving dinner for us over in Patterson Court on the Wednesday. Patterson is the newest of the housing complexes (the only one newer than my beloved Chatham Square). It's pretty nice, especially the pool area but I think it's a bit too nice, like a hotel. It's not where I'd want to live, it doesn't have it's own personality like Chatham and Vista Way do. it's just too new and shiny for the likes of me, plus when I walk through Chatham I sort of feel like I'm in Capeside! I love it!
Back to Thanksgiving, I only went over as a last minute thing with some people from work but I'm glad I did. It wasn't because of the food! I don't like turkey anyway but this was absolutely rank. The only reason people ate it was because it was free! I picked at a bread roll but it wasn't worth the effort. Apart from the food, I had a great time. I got to hang with new people, not just my fellow Brits for a change and I tried to figure out what the whole Thanksgiving thing was about (the most I got out of the Americans was turkey and football - the American kind, not the good kind). Best of all, we danced a giant Cupid's Shuffle around the pool! I love that dance. Please tell me it's as popular in the UK? If not, I'm going to make it popular when I get home. It better at least be out by the time I return!
On actual Thanksgiving I was the only person not working (and that was only because of a glitch in my scheduling) so I went on a wander to McDonald's for my Thanksgiving dinner. It was the first time I'd been to the one near where I live (I normally go to Downtown Disney) but it is now my favourite in the world because they serve Dr Pepper! AWESOME!
The day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) is when the huge pre-Christmas sales start in the US. Crazy shoppers queue up at midnight to be the first person in the big department stores and malls. I was asked by loads of different people to go queue at this store or the other but I turned them all down. I wasn't waiting in the cold for five hours for a store to open unless it was selling boots for a penny, even then I'd probably think twice. But when I couldn't sleep after my huge Thanksgiving Happy Meal and Oreo McFlurry I started to reconsider. At 1am I was watching House with Lily and Gaby (I had the remote control!) and, as entertaining as Hugh Laurie is, I was feeling dreadfully bored. I was intrigued to find out the shops near The Commons were already open (no waiting in the cold). At 2am I knew one of my fellow Pop Century cashiers would've just got home from work so I dragged him out to the Premium Outlets with me. They're about a fifteen minute walk away from Chatham, a walk I've done many a time at ridiculous times in the morning to go to McDonald's or Taco Bell or Walgreens but this is the first time I've ever actually seen other people out there at silly o'clock. There were so many CPs walking home burdened with huge shopping bags and when Matt and I finally got to the outlets I couldn't believe the carnage. Whenever I've been there before it's always been swarming with bargain hunters and tourists but that morning it was ridonculous! But at east for once people had some pace about them. Normally people here, in Disney at least, are so stupidly slow. I guess they're in vacation mode but if i was spending that sort of money I'd be power walking around the parks, maybe even rent a segway! I kinda sulked because they didn't have the boots I wanted but Matt bought some Christmas presents for his family. This of course didn't stop me from going back to Skechers the next day with Jonathan and buying two pairs with my Christmas fund; one of which Matthew has since dubbed my hooker boots! Clearly that boy has never seen Pretty Woman. Now they were hooker boots!
I guess I've been immersing myself in more and more of the American culture if only to de-Disney myself from time time. I've been to the Florida Mall, (which was only really worth it for the cheap bookstore and the novelty of the M&Ms store, not even a good place to be a mallrat), the House of Blues (reminded me of the club from Save the Last Dance, i so do not fit in there but I loved it almost immediately!) and the cinema is like my second home. It's so cheap over here so I've been almost once a week in total, I even went to the HSM3 midnight showing in my Wildcats T-shirt. On the Disney front, I spent last Saturday at DisneyQuest. It's full of virtual reality and interactive games. It was fun but totally not worth the $40 guests pay to get in, especially considering my personal favourite part was playing air hockey! I can probably do that from the comfort of Pop Century's arcade.
The best part of American culture is that I got to go to my first ever American "high school" dance. It was the winter formal for all housing residents (but it was mainly CPs because the CRPs were working right next door to the party). It was held in a secret function hall between Canada and the UK in Epcot. It was a last minute decision to go but I am so glad I did. When I stepped into the hall it just took my breath away. The theming was executed perfectly, as only Disney can. It was "A Night on Mount Olympus" complete with dry ice clouds, giant Hercules statues and photos with the characters. It was absolutely beautiful in there and even the food was wonderful. It was the first half decent bread I've tasted in eight weeks! Of course there was a giant Cupid's Shuffle which made me happy, plus the HSM songs and some cheese. It was mainly catering for the hip-hop/r&b crowd but I loved it. It was like being in Grease or OTH. The only thing that was missing was someone spiking the punch (the Brits were all wishing they'd snuck some alcohol in after about ten seconds of soulja boy).
So I guess in spite of my devotion to all things British (Wetherspoons, we salute you) my slight Americanisation has helped me feel more at home. I was about ready to get on a plane to England this week due to loads of things going wrong all at the same time but I've been feeling more settled for the past two days. I guess things are starting to feel more like I expected America to.
Maybe that's why today I had the bizarre sensation that I was in Stoke. I guess it was the cooler weather and it was damp from the sprinklers...and I made friends with a guy who works in Publix (He recommended some damn good ice cream to his fellow gupper). Delightful Sarah is back, making friends with random locals just like at Staffs!
"I will go most any where to feel like I belong" - Hercules
2 comments:
Sorry chick no Cupid Shuffle craze has swept over this little island. But then again you know me and not keeping up with current trends... effort. Glad you're happier again, must be the new shoes. Give Simba a big kiss from me the next time you see him gangster walking along.
Hi Sarah - love your new update, although Dan suspects you don't have time for any work, what with all the going out and socialising you do! The Thanksgiving sounds great though.
I was very excited I got a mention on your update!
Love the Cupid Shuffle vid, but we've never heard of it over here yet, sorry.
Are there any English things you're missing that I could send over for your birthday? (Or would I not be allowed to send food to America?) Luv Jo xxx
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