Bonjour!

Well, I made it here to Paris safe and sound! It wasn't easy, especially with two FULL suitcases and guitar AND hand luggage. But here I am, living away from home for the first time and starting work at Disney in 2 days!

It was emotional leaving everyone, especially saying goodbye to Mum and Dad at the check-in area in St Pancras. And also to seeing George a week beforehand and talking on the phone on the train (phone line cutting us off mid-sentance as the train went into the tunnel.

My hour long wait in Lille passed VERY slowly but the actual journeys seemed to pass quite quickly. And lots of people were helpful with my luggage, especially having to lug it all down a flight of steps when I arrived at Marne La Vallée Chessy. I could instantly spot lots of people who looked like they were starting here - looking just as lost as me with lots of bags! Including me, there are 18 of us in a group and we're called a 'formation'.

After putting our bags into a van to be taken to our residences the English casting director Daniel took us on a tour of backstage Disney and showed us our department building (Character and Parade - Simba building) and around through there and also where the canteens are. After the lengthy tour we had a lengthier sit down where Daniel went through all of our contract and agreements - lots of signing! - and then we went to our residences. I'm staying at "les Pleiades" which is one of the further residence buildings from Disney but it's a short bus or train journey to and from work everyday.

I share a room with a girl from my formation called Alaina. She's 28 but this is her first time at Disney. She's really nice and friendly (and thankfully has similar music taste to me) We've settled in quite well and organised our own spaces and ground rules etc.

I got really homesick yesterday early evening and had a few teary phonecalls home and to George but I'm feeling much better today after sorting out my bus pass and getting some shopping done for food etc. |Last night Tom Jennings, who I met doing Seussical and started 2 weeks ago, and his formation orgnanised a party that moved onto the Disney Village where there's a sports bar and country and western bar called Billy Bob's. It was really comforting to meet up with someone I knew who knows the ropes. It was a little piece of home for me. My training starts on Monday where I'll be trying on heads and learning how to behave etc. I'll do that for a week and then start my trails.

I miss everyone so much but hopefully once I'm busy learning and working then I won't have time to be homesick anymore.

I'll try and get some photos up soon, unfortunately we're not allowed to take photos of backstage incase they go up online and ruin the illusion of Disney. But once we're out in the Park I'll take some on my phone and get them up.

'Til next time,

xxx