The past few days have been the start to February half term. After my first couple of training days, the resort opened and now it is fully booked, with people everywhere. It is amazing how many activities, and venues they have open and running at the same time. There are 36 redcoats, and once you are walking around its hard to not see one of us somewhere in uniform. I have signed over 10 autographs, which is sweet!!! Being a red is like a mini celebrity on resort, its the coolest thing. I got to walk around with Titan, who is a massive robot that interacts with his audience. I got to watch the Skyline Gang, Barney and Pingus shows, walk around with Cedric (the seagul) and Ludo (the dinosaur) to welcome guests at front gate. I spent an afternoon with Billy and Bonnie (his girlfriend) as well as Angelina the ballerina and Fireman Sam. I worked in Reds (home of the redcoats) a couple nights, which was great because I get to interact with the families, and dance with all the kids. I watched a magic show with them, then last night I saw the Pink tribute, followed by Take That, which was unreal! Such amazing shows! Upstairs in Center Stage was Lazy Town followed by the Lady Gaga tribute, and both venues were full! The environment is so positive and energetic, there is always stuff going on. Its a british Disneyland. Once off, we are aloud to use any of the venues we want and we get discounts on some of them too.
My accommodations definitely need some work. My roommate, Zoe and I are probably going to paint next week and buy some stuff to make it feel more like home. She lives just a short 30 minute drive away, and I've already met her family. All really nice people. Then my other roommate has her own room right now, and she is from Hungary. She's a bit shy, but friendly as well.
Saturday was Dads last night in England so we went to Sarah and Shauns (my british parents basically) for a meal. It was another great night and I was obviously sad to see him go. I wish I could have all the people from home, come here and experience everything that Butlins and England has to offer. Ive been given such an amazing opportunity. Today is my very first day off, which I have spent so far sleeping in, and typing this. I have laundry that needs to be done, and then when Zoes off we are heading into town together to pick up some groceries, bed sheets, slippers, all that fun stuff. I better get up to shower and eat something, so have a fabulous day, and thanks for reading. xx
2/13/2012
2/07/2012
Life in Bognor
So its been a few days, and I have been exploring the town and soaking up british culture. I spent a day around town, walking down the beach, seeing the high street, doing some groceries, the regular stuff. I love my town, its really cute and has everything you need. It even has SUBWAY! Went in to it today and had a moment, almost wanted to cry. I loved it, its my home away from home. Im being a little bit too sentimental i think, but it was great. Some things were different, they have quavers, my favorite british chips, and they have some indian style subs, as well as ketchup as a sauce. Uhm, who the hell puts ketchup on a sub... and what sub are they putting that on?! They had another sauce called 'Brown Sauce'... no thank you? There was no hot peppers, just jalapenos, and they had corn pieces as well. It was definitely a british version of my regular work back home. I set up my banking today at Barclays and the guy that set me up was super nice and really friendly, which is comforting that I can go back and speak with him whenever I have an issue. When I went into the grocery store, I bought myself a bottle of Cider, for the canadians reading that, its just old apple cider basically that has now turned to alcohal. To me, it just tastes like sweetened apple flavor beer, its alright, but not my favorite yet. When I purchased it, I was ID'd.. believe it or not! So I handed him my candian drivers licenses, and he had to have 3 people look at it, to make sure it wasn't fake.. Like can you not hear me? I have a very canadian accent, hope this doesn't happen when im at the bar!! Whilst in town, Dad bought me an adorable Pink phone which i absolutely love, and already have contacts?! Sweeet!
Yesterday I spent the day in London with dad, and I met his best man (from his wedding years ago)! He was great, a little outrageous, really funny, good guy. He has his own flat in london, and im so jealous! It has a gorgeous fire place, 2 floors, a huge back yard, and its very old, I think he said its from 1892 or something. I told him if he sells, im buying. Its nice to have more connections as I now have a place to stay whenever I want to go to London, which is just a short hour and a half from where I live now. It was a really good trip with Dad, and we did all your average touristy stuff like taking pictures with big ben, the london eye, standing inside a phone booth and visiting Buckingham Palace.
Today, I did my banking, had my subway fix, then came to Butlins to finally start my new journey. After filling out all of my information and signing the x's, I moved along to get my uniform, the fabulous red coat. We all have to wear last years uniform for the first two weeks, until our new stuff comes in, which is actually really nice! Last years is a long white pleated skirt for girls, a white collared shirt, underneath a bright red blazer. It is very old school and is supposed to mimick the original red coat uniform from back in the first days of Butlins. The new uniform is a pretty little black dress underneath the bright red blazer. Both are very sharp, but different looks. After setting myself up with a uniform, I moved along to see my housing. Most of the staff that work at Butlins, not just the Reds, are housed on resort. We live in rows of old guest accomodations. They are old and beaten down, but livable and unique. I have an open living room and kitchen, which i share with two girls. We are only aloud to have a microwave pretty much, as they don't trust us with much else.. We have two little fridges, a TV and a toaster, which I'm not sure they we are even aloud to have. There are two rough looking red couches, and a small table to eat at. An old tv and some blank, cream colored walls. Three of us share one bathroom, which could definitely use some work. I share a room with another redcoat who just moved in today, her name is Zoe, and as I type this in the living room, shes sleeping already, its about 1 am here and i've just come in from the bar. My other room mate has her own bedroom, and she is in house keeping I believe.. Shes eastern european and has a son.. I don't remember her name, but she seems really nice and quiet. Right now I can hear someone snoring.. I really hope its not my room mate, cause I can't handle that, so I guess we will just have to see in the morning.. hahahaha.
When I got my welcome package I was given 6 free drink coupons to be used in Butlins. Currently we are closed to guests this week and are open on Friday onward for Englands 'half term', I guess this would be the Canadian 'March Break'. When the resort is closed, because there are so many workers living here (about 500), they open the bar for us so we all have a place to go. Its really quite cool, its like our own little village of people that all have something in common, Butlins. I met some other red coats today, and went out to the bar with Tiffany. She is a really nice girl and we had a good night. She introduced me to the people she knew, and I met others as well. Played some pool, had some drinks and called it a night at midnight when they closed. Tomorrow morning is my first day of training with something called 'Road Maps'. I start at 9am tomorrow, so I best be heading to bed now. Hope you all feel updated enough. The next few days will be quite interesting I believe, so stay tuned.
Cheers. xx
Yesterday I spent the day in London with dad, and I met his best man (from his wedding years ago)! He was great, a little outrageous, really funny, good guy. He has his own flat in london, and im so jealous! It has a gorgeous fire place, 2 floors, a huge back yard, and its very old, I think he said its from 1892 or something. I told him if he sells, im buying. Its nice to have more connections as I now have a place to stay whenever I want to go to London, which is just a short hour and a half from where I live now. It was a really good trip with Dad, and we did all your average touristy stuff like taking pictures with big ben, the london eye, standing inside a phone booth and visiting Buckingham Palace.
Today, I did my banking, had my subway fix, then came to Butlins to finally start my new journey. After filling out all of my information and signing the x's, I moved along to get my uniform, the fabulous red coat. We all have to wear last years uniform for the first two weeks, until our new stuff comes in, which is actually really nice! Last years is a long white pleated skirt for girls, a white collared shirt, underneath a bright red blazer. It is very old school and is supposed to mimick the original red coat uniform from back in the first days of Butlins. The new uniform is a pretty little black dress underneath the bright red blazer. Both are very sharp, but different looks. After setting myself up with a uniform, I moved along to see my housing. Most of the staff that work at Butlins, not just the Reds, are housed on resort. We live in rows of old guest accomodations. They are old and beaten down, but livable and unique. I have an open living room and kitchen, which i share with two girls. We are only aloud to have a microwave pretty much, as they don't trust us with much else.. We have two little fridges, a TV and a toaster, which I'm not sure they we are even aloud to have. There are two rough looking red couches, and a small table to eat at. An old tv and some blank, cream colored walls. Three of us share one bathroom, which could definitely use some work. I share a room with another redcoat who just moved in today, her name is Zoe, and as I type this in the living room, shes sleeping already, its about 1 am here and i've just come in from the bar. My other room mate has her own bedroom, and she is in house keeping I believe.. Shes eastern european and has a son.. I don't remember her name, but she seems really nice and quiet. Right now I can hear someone snoring.. I really hope its not my room mate, cause I can't handle that, so I guess we will just have to see in the morning.. hahahaha.
When I got my welcome package I was given 6 free drink coupons to be used in Butlins. Currently we are closed to guests this week and are open on Friday onward for Englands 'half term', I guess this would be the Canadian 'March Break'. When the resort is closed, because there are so many workers living here (about 500), they open the bar for us so we all have a place to go. Its really quite cool, its like our own little village of people that all have something in common, Butlins. I met some other red coats today, and went out to the bar with Tiffany. She is a really nice girl and we had a good night. She introduced me to the people she knew, and I met others as well. Played some pool, had some drinks and called it a night at midnight when they closed. Tomorrow morning is my first day of training with something called 'Road Maps'. I start at 9am tomorrow, so I best be heading to bed now. Hope you all feel updated enough. The next few days will be quite interesting I believe, so stay tuned.
Cheers. xx
2/04/2012
The First Legal Evening
Warning: Plenty of JD's & coke, and 2am british time, on no sleep since I left Canada. Read with caution.
Currently, there is a video of Dad and I dancing to Footloose drunk, playing on the tv from someones cell phone. Tonight was absolutely outrageous! It started off at the main entertainment center in Butlins, and rounds of drinks for everyone. It is an adult weekend, meaning no kids, and lots of alcohal. The general feel is bachelor and bachelorette parties aka hen & stag parties. Not only is everyone drunk, they are all dressed up, its an outrageous version of Halloween. There are groups of flight attendents, wheres waldos, farmers, pilots, hippies, pacmans & ghosts, so many different outfits. They had a cover band start and it was fantastic, tons of good music and drinks for everyone. We were in the VIP section, and nearly no waiting on drinks. Then when the cover band was done, we went to the tent, and watched karoke, which was hilarious as well. Three drunk blokes sang the last song which was 'Dont stop Believin' by Journey. Made me think of home. Then we headed to a 'Silent Disco'. My reaction to this was 'what the hell is a silent disco?!' We walk in and are greeted by Redcoats. They gave us each a set of headphones. When you walk in, there is no music, and your headset plays two different setlists. So without the headphones on, it just looks like people drunkenly dancing in silence to very different beats. When you put the headset on, it all makes sense. It was absolutely hilarious and a great time! I don't even think we have anything like that in Canada. After this bar, we headed back to center stage for Belinda Carlisle. The lead singer of the Go Gos. She is now 54 years old, and my Dad is absolutely in love with her. He saw her when he was just 18 years old, and has loved her since. He had to get as close as he could, so he was front row singing and dancing to every song she sang. It was a great night of drinking, and dancing and soaking up some british culture. Tonight was my first night of legal drinking, and I absolutely used that opportunity. I'm off to bed so my body can maybe attempt to realize what country it is in. Tomorrow i'm going to go around Bognor Regis, the town and check things out. I move into my housing and train in just a few short days. I'm so happy with my decision to come here, and im so happy Dad came with me for the first week. Sweet dreams! xox
Currently, there is a video of Dad and I dancing to Footloose drunk, playing on the tv from someones cell phone. Tonight was absolutely outrageous! It started off at the main entertainment center in Butlins, and rounds of drinks for everyone. It is an adult weekend, meaning no kids, and lots of alcohal. The general feel is bachelor and bachelorette parties aka hen & stag parties. Not only is everyone drunk, they are all dressed up, its an outrageous version of Halloween. There are groups of flight attendents, wheres waldos, farmers, pilots, hippies, pacmans & ghosts, so many different outfits. They had a cover band start and it was fantastic, tons of good music and drinks for everyone. We were in the VIP section, and nearly no waiting on drinks. Then when the cover band was done, we went to the tent, and watched karoke, which was hilarious as well. Three drunk blokes sang the last song which was 'Dont stop Believin' by Journey. Made me think of home. Then we headed to a 'Silent Disco'. My reaction to this was 'what the hell is a silent disco?!' We walk in and are greeted by Redcoats. They gave us each a set of headphones. When you walk in, there is no music, and your headset plays two different setlists. So without the headphones on, it just looks like people drunkenly dancing in silence to very different beats. When you put the headset on, it all makes sense. It was absolutely hilarious and a great time! I don't even think we have anything like that in Canada. After this bar, we headed back to center stage for Belinda Carlisle. The lead singer of the Go Gos. She is now 54 years old, and my Dad is absolutely in love with her. He saw her when he was just 18 years old, and has loved her since. He had to get as close as he could, so he was front row singing and dancing to every song she sang. It was a great night of drinking, and dancing and soaking up some british culture. Tonight was my first night of legal drinking, and I absolutely used that opportunity. I'm off to bed so my body can maybe attempt to realize what country it is in. Tomorrow i'm going to go around Bognor Regis, the town and check things out. I move into my housing and train in just a few short days. I'm so happy with my decision to come here, and im so happy Dad came with me for the first week. Sweet dreams! xox
Fabulous Flight
As I sit here, on my flight to England, only three hours in, I can't help but look around and notice all the people around me. Where are they from? Where are they going? When they land.. is that home? Are the married or single? Are they flying here for a wedding or perhaps a funeral? The girl sitting next to me, is here with her boyfriend, I believe that he is Canadian, and she is definitely british. She moved to Canada 12 years ago, after she graduated from an Art School in England. She fell in love with Canada, and her boyfriend, and now has her own business there. She is going back home to visit her parents and brother. When she asked what I was doing, I gave her the details. Moving here for 2 years, with a British Working Visa, to live my dream of being a Red Coat at the famous Butlins resort. I have never seen a stranger so excited. She knew exactly what my job was, and was excited for me to start my journey. I lucked out, and got a good airplane buddy to sit next to.
Although, Im not quite sure why flights trigger this curiousity in me. It could be such a simple occasion. You go to an airport, show your passport a few times, flash a boarding pass to the odd attendant, pass through security basically naked, god forbid you have a belt on, then sit at the airport bar, enjoying your last canadian rum and coke, and board your flight. Once on, you awkwardly shuffle down an aisle made for people Size 8 or thinner.. hoping to God when you find your seat that it is A) window or aisle, B) not next to someone that smells like they were just at the gym for 4 hours. Now you are told to keep your seat in the upright position and turn off your cell phones, laptops, and what little connection of the rest of the world / entertainment you have with you. Then sit uncomfortably with a stranger basically on your lap, as you barely pay attention to the safety procedures. Count your blessings that you aren't in the emergency door aisle. Sorry ma'am but I don't feel like saving this whole airplane from dying because I don't know how to evacuate this S.O.B.. After this, they put on a Brad Pitt movie about Baseball, and you can share this tv with the other 24 people in your surrounding area. Should you not want to partake in this film, you can switch between channel 3, 7, 8, & 10. 3 being brutally painful french music, 7 is some good ol' country.. until they play a french country song? Uhmmmm, no thanks? 8 will give you the Macarena to start, then Hakuna Matata, followed by 'A Dream is a Wish your heart makes', just your basic Disney hits. Lastly, 10 is soothing piano, followed by opera. Lucky for me, my laptop is sitting at just about 2 hours battery life left.. I'm sitting on this plane for at least another 5. Now as I type this, the person sitting behind me is I guess attempting to give me a lower back massage.. if not, hes just being a straight up pain in my ass. Also, two seats over a man is snoring like its his day job. I have all of 6 inches for leg room, and elbow space? Ya right.
As this flight is coming from Canada, I get to enjoy the bilingual experience, with every sentence in english, it is followed by French. The flight attendants I'm guessing are native French speakers, because they all gossip amongst the aisles in French. Not to mention they are bitchy.. I can't imagine being a flight attendant is a difficult job, the least you could do is be friendly. I'd like to now move onto what I like to call 'Airplane Ass'. Urban dictionary that, it is a real term. This plane smells so goddam awful. Apparently when you are so high up in the air, gas gets released.. When I read that, I just laughed to myself and thought it was gross.. Now being in an airplane, I legitimately want to puke.. It smells SO BAD. Like what the hell.. go to the washroom, you nasty bunch of animals.
On a good note, I am sitting next to dad, enjoy an international glass of vino, and laughing together at how awful our 'myspace style' pictures are, and "people watching" the flight attendent rocking the frosted tips.. NSYNC, are you missing a member? I just finished my book 'The Five People You Meet In Heaven'. It is a great read and recommend it to anyone really. My favorite part, is when Eddie meets his fourth person in heaven, his wife Marguerite. As they are discussing their past, and how Eddie has been since she passed away, Marguerite tries to comfort him. She says, "Lost love is still love, Eddie. It takes a different form, thats all. You can't see their smile, or bring them food or tousle their hair or move them around a dance floor. But when those senses weaken, another heightens. Memory. Memory becomes your partner. You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it. Life has to end, love doesnt." I feel that this goes well with me leaving. I am leaving so many friends and family behind, I will be gone for a few years, but although you won't see me everyday, we have the good memories that were made, to last forever. I tried to leave on positive notes with everyone in my life, and I feel as though I did exactly that. My last few days in Canada were spent with my amazing room mate, my co workers, my family, my friends, all good people. I had the best going away party I could have asked for, and found it quite difficult to say good bye to people. Although its not good bye, its just see ya later.
Its almost 11pm Canadian time, and I'm sitting here wide awake, as most people surrounding me are now falling asleep. My old subway shop, is closing in just about an hour.. and its probably dead slow, leaving whoever working, to their lonely thoughts, and awful radio station. Once closed, I would have headed over to the other subway to see Dustin and Tyler until they closed shop at 2am. Instead, I'm sitting here, en route to an experience of a lifetime.. Am I sad? Yes. I have truly enjoyed the last few months in my life, and although my nights were repetitive, I still loved them. I loved the people I was with, and the simplicity of sitting at H. H. Knoll. talking for hours, knowing I had to go home, but would rather stay out until 4am with someone more important than my sleep that night. Am I happy? Absolutely. Although sad to leave good people, I am so excited that in just a few short hours, I will be back in England for the first time in years, pursuing my life goals. This is crazy, and I can't wait.
While driving to the airport, my favorite song came on the radio. We're Here for a Good Time, by Trooper. That was the end of my sadness. I'm here for a good time, not a long time, and I'm going to have a good time, cause the sun can't shine everyday. I have 3 hours and 44 minutes left of my flight, and its getting a bit rocky. So i'm going to grab my paper bag, and enjoy whats left of this flight.
Although, Im not quite sure why flights trigger this curiousity in me. It could be such a simple occasion. You go to an airport, show your passport a few times, flash a boarding pass to the odd attendant, pass through security basically naked, god forbid you have a belt on, then sit at the airport bar, enjoying your last canadian rum and coke, and board your flight. Once on, you awkwardly shuffle down an aisle made for people Size 8 or thinner.. hoping to God when you find your seat that it is A) window or aisle, B) not next to someone that smells like they were just at the gym for 4 hours. Now you are told to keep your seat in the upright position and turn off your cell phones, laptops, and what little connection of the rest of the world / entertainment you have with you. Then sit uncomfortably with a stranger basically on your lap, as you barely pay attention to the safety procedures. Count your blessings that you aren't in the emergency door aisle. Sorry ma'am but I don't feel like saving this whole airplane from dying because I don't know how to evacuate this S.O.B.. After this, they put on a Brad Pitt movie about Baseball, and you can share this tv with the other 24 people in your surrounding area. Should you not want to partake in this film, you can switch between channel 3, 7, 8, & 10. 3 being brutally painful french music, 7 is some good ol' country.. until they play a french country song? Uhmmmm, no thanks? 8 will give you the Macarena to start, then Hakuna Matata, followed by 'A Dream is a Wish your heart makes', just your basic Disney hits. Lastly, 10 is soothing piano, followed by opera. Lucky for me, my laptop is sitting at just about 2 hours battery life left.. I'm sitting on this plane for at least another 5. Now as I type this, the person sitting behind me is I guess attempting to give me a lower back massage.. if not, hes just being a straight up pain in my ass. Also, two seats over a man is snoring like its his day job. I have all of 6 inches for leg room, and elbow space? Ya right.
As this flight is coming from Canada, I get to enjoy the bilingual experience, with every sentence in english, it is followed by French. The flight attendants I'm guessing are native French speakers, because they all gossip amongst the aisles in French. Not to mention they are bitchy.. I can't imagine being a flight attendant is a difficult job, the least you could do is be friendly. I'd like to now move onto what I like to call 'Airplane Ass'. Urban dictionary that, it is a real term. This plane smells so goddam awful. Apparently when you are so high up in the air, gas gets released.. When I read that, I just laughed to myself and thought it was gross.. Now being in an airplane, I legitimately want to puke.. It smells SO BAD. Like what the hell.. go to the washroom, you nasty bunch of animals.
On a good note, I am sitting next to dad, enjoy an international glass of vino, and laughing together at how awful our 'myspace style' pictures are, and "people watching" the flight attendent rocking the frosted tips.. NSYNC, are you missing a member? I just finished my book 'The Five People You Meet In Heaven'. It is a great read and recommend it to anyone really. My favorite part, is when Eddie meets his fourth person in heaven, his wife Marguerite. As they are discussing their past, and how Eddie has been since she passed away, Marguerite tries to comfort him. She says, "Lost love is still love, Eddie. It takes a different form, thats all. You can't see their smile, or bring them food or tousle their hair or move them around a dance floor. But when those senses weaken, another heightens. Memory. Memory becomes your partner. You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it. Life has to end, love doesnt." I feel that this goes well with me leaving. I am leaving so many friends and family behind, I will be gone for a few years, but although you won't see me everyday, we have the good memories that were made, to last forever. I tried to leave on positive notes with everyone in my life, and I feel as though I did exactly that. My last few days in Canada were spent with my amazing room mate, my co workers, my family, my friends, all good people. I had the best going away party I could have asked for, and found it quite difficult to say good bye to people. Although its not good bye, its just see ya later.
Its almost 11pm Canadian time, and I'm sitting here wide awake, as most people surrounding me are now falling asleep. My old subway shop, is closing in just about an hour.. and its probably dead slow, leaving whoever working, to their lonely thoughts, and awful radio station. Once closed, I would have headed over to the other subway to see Dustin and Tyler until they closed shop at 2am. Instead, I'm sitting here, en route to an experience of a lifetime.. Am I sad? Yes. I have truly enjoyed the last few months in my life, and although my nights were repetitive, I still loved them. I loved the people I was with, and the simplicity of sitting at H. H. Knoll. talking for hours, knowing I had to go home, but would rather stay out until 4am with someone more important than my sleep that night. Am I happy? Absolutely. Although sad to leave good people, I am so excited that in just a few short hours, I will be back in England for the first time in years, pursuing my life goals. This is crazy, and I can't wait.
While driving to the airport, my favorite song came on the radio. We're Here for a Good Time, by Trooper. That was the end of my sadness. I'm here for a good time, not a long time, and I'm going to have a good time, cause the sun can't shine everyday. I have 3 hours and 44 minutes left of my flight, and its getting a bit rocky. So i'm going to grab my paper bag, and enjoy whats left of this flight.
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