Week #8 - Vero Beach, Florida

So this week started out with a big ole’ BANG! As a cast we had the wonderful treat of going to DISNEY EPCOT on Monday and visiting all of the different cultures in EPCOT and we shared our cultures with everyone there as well. It was super cool because we went behind the scenes and honestly it felt like we were definitely VIP status! They brought us in before the park was even open through backstage and gave us food in France and little goody bags! We also met many of the young students who work at EPCOT. They are international and come as an exchange to work at EPCOT in their appropriate countries for about a year.  EPCOT was wonderful! One of  my closest friends (Larissa) and I made a video of touring the world in just an hour. I was the tour guide and it was so much fun! We were sweaty and exhausted by the end! Let’s just say after running around the world, we definitely burned off the sushi we ate in Japan! Hopefully a video will be viewable at some point. It was an epic day.

Next it was off to Vero Beach, our last city in the sunny state of Florida. When we arrived in Vero Beach we got our allocation cards and just from reading whom my roommates were going to be and seeing what a big family we were hosted with, I knew the week would be good. My roommates and I made up a very diverse group: Montana (Canada), Raymundo (Mexico), Norman (Belgium), Oscar (Sweden, he was the PR for the city, so he had been with the family for a month already) and me (Wisconsin, USA)! We were hosted with the Littletons but do not let the name deceive you. The week was everything but little. Starting with their family plus us Uppies we had 10 people in the house and by the end of the week they had guests and so we were 18 one night. Bob and Lynn were my host parents and they had 3 and at one point 4 kids home. Noah (18), Pricilla (15) and Paul (12) and then Luke (20) came home for a few nights as well. We had a blast! There was so much to do and it was always a party! Even after returning from a long day of UWP things, there was always room for laughter and fun! We played volleyball, went night time swimming in their pool, had an 8 person Wii “Just Dance” party, played around the world ping pong, UNO, ate delicious dinners and told wonderful stories and laughed until our stomach hurt! The ultimate nights were when we had our wet napkin battles which got super intense! One night that turned into a blow dart wall that raged throughout the house! On host family day we attended their lovely church, played in the pasture and fed bread to the goat (Ezekiel), horse (Fable), cows (Sirloin and Hamburger) and played volleyball. We also made a trip to the beach where we played volleyball and me and a few other Uppies braved the Atlantic Ocean! It was a gorgeous blue color but it was a windy cold day in Florida, but you know me, I had to go in anyway! We had a lovely last supper together and shared our favorite moments from the week and laughed more of course!

This week has been so awesome and I felt so at home. I got to know a few more cast mates even better, both male and female which was nice because I felt more at home with host brothers and sisters. This week was a wonderful relaxing week before we prepare to head to Europe in just 2 weeks. I finally got my voice back to normal for the most part and I am going to try to keep it rested this time around!

            In Up with People this week life was good as always. On Tuesday I got to do workshops for the first time in classrooms and present on Up with People. That was super fun for me, to share my passion for the program and work with high school students. On Wednesday I had study abroad and got a lot done, which made me happy. Also on Wednesday we had another culture fair, but this time I got to learn about everyone else instead of being the one who presented! It was a ton of fun and very interesting. On Thursday I had a community impact day and afterward was invited to  go swimming in the mini pool/waterpark which was at their facility! Awesome and spontaneous! Then on Friday and Saturday we had show days of course… the usual set-up, lots of rehearsal and then the shows. I finally felt the impact that the show had when people stood up during the bully awareness song. It was incredible. On Friday I had a bit a low, actually the whole cast seemed to be having a bum time but we pushed through and on Saturday our vocal instructor John gave the most motivating speech in the Green Room which had most of us crying by the end! It was what we all needed to be lifted up and the night proceeded wonderfully! I worked through some things and I continue to learn more about myself each and everyday! My Up with People experience is already helping me grow and discover more about myself and I am more and more thankful for it everyday!

Tomorrow we leave to Georgia and soon after we depart to another continent! The excitement never ends!! Life is soooo good!

Pictures from Week #7 - Orlando FL

Robin - the best bus date I could ever have - from Fort Myers to Orlando! Now we continuously get abdominal workouts whenever we spend time together because we laugh soooo much!

Marilyn and Bruce - host parents in Orlando and my roommate Diana!

Above and below are pictures from my CI where I went to the small international charter school and worked with grades K-2!

Also on the same day we got to visit these guys at the teenage drug rehabilitation home! They all got to come to our show and loved it! Love the feeling of making an impact!

Diana with her meds... she is actually considered a medical mystery right now!

FSC day - studying hard We had 2 exams and presentations!

CULTURE FAIR!!!! 

"A WALK THROUGH THE MIDWEST'S 4 SEASONS!"

Winter, Snow!!

&

Fall (flannel!)

Spring attire

& 

Swimsuit Summertime...!

SURPRISE VISIT to NASCAR! 

(a qualifying race, 3 days before the Daytona 500! We got to see GoDaddy Danica race!)

 A terrific trio!

Robin and the babes! Looking good... 

&

 not looking so hot - long day at the race track, lots of old men with beer and their shirts off! We saw a little too much! 

Amilee and I found these during show day and we could not resist! We are made for these two parts!

Larissa and I minutes before VOICES began!

Host family day at UNIVERSAL STUDIOS!!

Haley, Diana and I meeting good lookin' Captain America!

The LORAX in Seussland!

& 

Saying good bye to Seussland!

Those dinosaurs can be scary. Seriously. 

Thought I would creep out the green goblin... it worked I hope?

Roomies braved the most intense ride of the park! 

We "rock it" Diana! (the name of the ride was Hollywood rocket!)

Week #7 - Orlando, Florida

 This week was full of fun, sun and sweat! I say this because we did a lot of fun things, it was super sunny and beautiful and we sweat a bunch because of the humidity, hot sun and all the hard work!

            We arrived in Orlando on Monday around 2pm. I  had a wonderful couple of hours, getting to know my bus date, Robin from Switzerland. He and I laughed the whole way and talked a ton about our shared passion of music and performing. We got off the bus at the city hall and got to start our week off in Orlando with a meet and greet with the mayor. Then we headed to a place where we were to meet our host families. My roommate for the week was Diana and she was such a delight. I love having roommates because it helps you get to know new people. Our host parents, Bruce and Marilyn, were a very sweet elderly couple who have hosted many people in the past. Their daughter, Diane, was also hosting a student (Haley) and so we all spent a lot of time together. Together we shared early morning car pools, dinners and a trip to Universal Studios on Sunday to top off a great week.

            As a cast we had a fast paced week with CI, a surprise trip to a NASCAR race for regional learning, two very full show days and a fun UWP event called culture fair. For my CI on Tuesday I attended a charter school full of international children, grade K-2 and work with the children. I also went to a teenage drug rehabilitation home where we got to interact and in result inspire some young boys to not lose hope. They ended up being able to attend our show, which was amazing, because they loved it and I think it gave them some inspiration to get their act together. On Wednesday I had my FSC study abroad session where I had a presentation on a chapter and 2 exams( little stressful to say the least.) Later that evening we had culture fair, which is a time for small groups to share with the rest of their cast what their culture is all about. I was in the Midwest group in the USA. Our theme was a “Walk through the Seasons” and we slowly undressed our layers, as it got warmer and warmer. We went from winter coats to swimsuits! It was quite fun! On Thursday we were expecting to go to the orange groves for regional learning, but instead the staff surprised us and we got to go see a NASCAR qualifying race for the Daytona 500 at the Daytona Speedway Racetrack! A very American thing to do, but fun for all  since most of us have never attended such an event. Then on Friday we had our set up show day. It was quite long and by the end of the night we were all sweating buckets and ready for a goodnight sleep, but alas we had to be back bright and early Saturday morning for another even longer show day. We had a tech module on Saturday which was a way for us to all understand more about what happens in the tech area of UWP. One thing we also did was put the real meaning into TRUST. We trust fell (when you let yourself fall) from the back of a truck (about 3.5 feet off the ground) into the arms of our cast mates. I now officially trust my entire cast. We truly are a family. Our two shows went pretty well, full of energy despite the sweat that dripped into our eyes. The crowd was also very energetic and responsive which was awesome! We then did our best to muster up some energy to strike the set and clean up so we can move onto Vero Beach.

            Sunday was a fun day of adventure and roller coasters at Universal Studios where our host parents work and knew the whole system! We got to catch up on some sleep and get everything organized and packed as well.

            The whole week was wonderful and full as usual and next week will only be the same. Never a dull moment in UWP and not a day is the same either! Next stop is Disney EPCOT on our way to meet the mayor and our new host families in Vero Beach, FL! Last week in “The Sunny State of Florida.” See you next wee

Pictures from Week #6 - Fort Myers, FL

Montana from Canada - My bus date for our first travel day to Fort Myers!

Our host family in Fort Myers - 

(left to right) Me, Scott, Esperanza (Hope), Iliana and my roommate Veronica (UWP Marketing Coordinator)

Eating some decedent desserts on our first night with the host family! Chocolate Fiends!

The best staff round table group ever! We most definitely asked the best questions.

First study abroad day on the road! Go FSC students!

Midwest represent! Preparing for the Culture Fair!

Community Impact was at a Thrift Store that supported a womens and childrens center. We were sorting through the donations...

Naturally we find an arm and a leg!

Our group that worked really hard and got a lot done as you can see :)

But actually we did make quite a dent!

Happy Day of Love Everyone!

Our blind dates! Thanks host dad Scott - we had a wonderful night :)

Hope, our host sister gave us these sweet little valentines gifts! How sweet ;)

Night riding our host families horses! Super fun!

The classic UWP jump for joy! Veronica and I lovin' the oh so windy beach :)

Host family day was spent on Sanibel and Captiva Islands! A windy but beautiful occasion!

Veronica and I sporting our lights from the Edison Festival of Light Parade!

Kristina and the kids stop by for a surprise visit! So nice to get some hugs and love from my favorite community ever! I love you Viroqua and I love you Kristina and kids :)

Michael Bowerman, a musical genius our main vocal director and an amazing song writer (he played a huge part in creating this show VOICES! ) and oh am I going to miss his theatrical ways of teaching! Thanks Michael for all the inspiration!