Going to Wichita RV Style

This past week I have been visiting my childhood homeland of Wichita, Kansas. Sandy and Nate picked me up in their RV at the crack of dawn on Monday morning and we drove all the way from Florida to Kansas. Here's some pictures:
Nate is far more talented at driving the RV than me, he can drive it with Nani on his lap.
There's Sandy and the dogs in Georgia, and Nate and Nani in Oklahoma. Sandy snagged this pic of me and the puppies napping:
This photos is totally unflattering for me, but Sandy loves it! Here's another fun shot to share:
Cesar plays navigator on the open road. Alright, my time is up! I've got a plane to catch.

Traveling Again

This Monday I will hitch a ride to my childhood hometown of Wichita, Kansas with my best friend Sandy. Sandy, and her husband, Nate, have gone back on the road for Disney on Ice. They bought an RV and are traveling on the road in style now with their puppies. Currently, their show is in Miami, but next week, they'll be in Wichita. I'm hitching a ride. They have to drive through central Florida to get to Kansas anyway, so why not just pick me up! I'm going to spend the week doing double duty. Spending time with Sandy and also visiting my childhood homeland. I'm renting a car (Lord they're expensive!) and going to put flowers on my Grandparents' graves. I'll return home on Saturday just to turn around and leave for Spain on Wednesday.

While I've been home, I've worked a few shifts at Hallmark. The new musical cards seem to be selling really well. I've managed to spend some money. . . . . I bought this cute little dish:

It says, "You are what you eat. So eat something cute." I like it.

I've also purchased all my cards for the upcoming holdiays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and my Christmas cards. Sometimes, it's great to be organized!

Skinny Jeans

Every woman has in her closet a pair of jeans that have been deamed, "THE SKINNY JEANS." Well, I haven't worn my "skinny jeans" since I was 21. After six months in Asia. . . I can fit into my jeans again! They don't look fantastic. . . but after I come back from Italy, I hope to rock them out in style for Christmas.

Home Again

I've been home in Longwood for a week now.  It's nice to be home.  My bed is so soft and snuggly.  I done lots of sleeping in it as this jet lag/time change is crazy!

 

Sandy and Nate left on Saturday for Disney on Ice: Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey.  We at Feld call it D-15.  It's kinda weird that Sandy and Nate have gone back on the road, but at the same time . . . it's an exciting life, and you just can't beat the money!

 

Saw Miami Ice the movie and it was awesome!  Great soundtrack. . . I might go get it!

The Great Wall of China

On Monday, we took a group trip to the Great Wall of China. We went to a section of the wall called Simatai.

That's right, I'm going up THERE!

First you take a bucket up, then you take a little rollar coaster like thing up a little farther. Then. . . you have to climb.

Very dangerous, and very hard to climb. I had to stop several times to catch my breath and sit down once. Not for the light hearted! But when I got there. . .

It was a good day. Good thing I bought the hat, it really kept the sun off of me!

Shunde, China

Last week we were in Shunde, China. We were in a pretty crap venue, but they had interesting signs out front of the venue.
So naturally, I had to have my picture taken with them. We've been really busy. Charlie and I wash the tech's uniforms twice a week. Normally it's just one basket of laundry, well. . . not in Shunde. . .
Laundry has been tough going for everyone here in China. Apparently they're big on handwashing and hanging them outside to dry. I'm gonna try to take some pictures of that today.

After Shunde, we traveled by bus then air to Wuhan.
Here's Keiko and Kara saying that they can stand up straight in the bus. Of course, Leo, who is behind them cannot. Then we flew on a PURPLE plane to Wuhan. Here it is when we landed:
Alright, it's time to go to work! Hope to write more soon!

Rainy Days in China

I wish I had better things to say about my time this week in Dogguan, China. . . but I don't. Last week when the crew packed the show up in Shenzen, it took them eight hours. That is an insanely long time. On average, it takes the show four hours. Then the next day was travel day. There were many cranky techs on the bus.

We arrived in Dogguan on Monday afternoon. This town is a moderate size and has a Wal*Mart.
That's right. . . there's Wal*Mart in China. In fact, they are celebrating ten years in of Wal*Mart in China.

I wish I could tell you that China isn't a horrible country, or that it's nothing like you think Communism would be like. . . but it is. Some of these people are desperate, and it makes this country unsafe. One of our cast members was mugged on the way home from work the other night. She was even walking with others. Some guy just walked up and ripped her jewelry off and ran for it.

It's kinda been a "When bad things happen to good people. . . " kind of week. Another cast member got word from home that her family's house has burned down. They have lost absolutely everything. It is the most horrifying thing. We're all trying to do our best. . . but when you're so far away. . . . what can you do but be a friend?

We've also had lots of injuries the past two weeks. Some blame the rock hard beds at hotels, some blame lack of decent food, many people blame the extended tour dates. Many of us are worn out. We'll be home in thirty days or less!

Rough Start in China

 

We started working in China the other day.  Things are not going so well.

 

Here's an example:

Yesterday we had our first "real" rehearsals here in China.  The local narrators are so thin and tall they don't fit into anything we have for narrators to wear.  Charlie ended up going shopping for something for them to wear.  Charlie asked the translator to write the name down of the big shopping mall near by so she could just go buy a few things to try.  So Charlie got into a taxi with the piece of paper and the taxi driver drove her away.  The translator wrote down the fabric district which was 20 minutes away.  Charlie was so pissed.  She came back in a rage. 

 

In the end, it all worked out.

 

 

However, I have had my own problems with translators.  While trying to explain to my locals how to do their job, the translator gave me attitude and kept telling me that it wasn't their job.  It was really awful. . . I was trying soooo hard to hold my temper but I ended up loosing it a little.  The translator, who's name is Bright or something that sounds like it, said to me, "Well maybe that's how you do it in America, but that's not how we do it here in China."  I lost it.  "I'll have you know Bright, I've never worked this show in America.  I've never even seen the show in English.  Since I've been with the show, this is how we've done it in Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and now we're gonna do it here in China.  If you have problems with this, you need to speak to Andy." (Andy is my boss' boss)

 

I'm not even asking them to do that much.  Hang the clean laundry.  Vacuum the floor of the character room once a day.  Help dress the characters.  That's it.  It's the easiest gig in the show.  I couldn't believe the audacity of this translator.  Who by the way, is the worst translator I've had out of every country I've been to.  I may not understand Chinese, but I know how translators should work.  I say something in English, I take a pause, the translator says it in the language of the country we're in.  The translators here do not work that way and it is very fustrating.

 

Besids that. . . It's hot here . . . food has been rough.  Whatever your idea of Chinese food is, throw it out the window. Because Chinese food in China is completely different!  I mean, they consider chicken feet a delicacy here and they don't take bones out of chickens.  They just pluck the feathers out and chop it up and cook it.  It's pretty gross.

 

So you've got hot, tired, and hungry people working with people that can't understand English... it's not a very good combination.  We're all very cranky and unhappy.  I pray that the next few weeks fly by and are a lot better!

Splendid China LIVES!!!

For those Orlandoians, you may remember a little theme park just west of Disney's main entrance called Splendid China. This theme park had all the wonderous sites of China. . . in miniature. It included such things as the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Forbidden City, and even the Great Wall of China that was only half a mile long. Sadly, Splendid China closed it's doors in 2003 to auction off all pieces (including the Great Wall) in 2004.

Well guess what!?! SPLENDID CHINA LIVES!!!
Not only does it LIVE but it lives in China, of all places! Yesterday, Angela (another Orlandoian) and I braved the 90+ heat and went.
And look! There's even the mini-Great Wall!
The closest I'll come to the real Great Wall will be Beijing. Hopefully, we will go there. . . but for now, enjoy mini-China pics!

I'm in China!!

I am now in Shenzhen, China. My travel day yesterday included a plane and a bus. We flew into Hong Kong then we traveled into China by bus.

I have recently learned that travel day is less of a hassle, if you sleep through it all. So I stay awake all night the night before we get on the plane. Then I just sleep through the whole flight. I don't freak out, I'm not uncomfortable because I'm so tired that I just can't stay awake.

On the bus on the way into China, I took some pictures:


However, shortly after taking these, I fell asleep again. Stay tuned for more China excitement!

My All-American Meal

Before leaving for China, I found a grocery store that had an "International Foods" section. So this is what I had for dinner:
And it was FANTASTIC!!!
I mean really, when have you ever seen a girl so happy about green beans!

Still in Mayalsia

I would love to tell you that this week while we're on "break" I've been doing lots of sighseeing. . . but I'm not. Instead, I'm sleeping late, shopping, and taking long walks through the park across the street.
While taking an early morning walk (we're talking about 11:00 am for me), I met some Muslim teenagers in the park that wanted to talk to me. Being American and all, they wanted to know all about the States and stuff. They also wanted pictures with me. So we all took pictures with everyone's camera. Sadly, I look really rough. I mean I'm almost down to my last set of clothes, so I'm wearing really ugly T-shirts.
Here's a shot of the Petronas Towers at night. Pretty eh?
Here's a shot of it durning the day time, from another angle. There is the top of a Mosque in the shot. Alright, leaving for China on Monday. It will be a long travel day.

Happy Independence Day!

On this great American holiday, I would like to take a moment and tell you what I miss about home:

 

1.  Firm beds

2.  Nice pillows

3.  English speakers

4.  Waiters that actually wait on you

5.  Air conditioning

6.  Taxi drivers that know the city they drive in

7.  People who wear deodorant

8.  No "service charges" on restaurant bills

9.  Actually knowing what it is I'm eating

10.  Courtesy

11.  Wendy's

12.  Olive Garden

13.  Not being hit on simply because I'm white

14.  American TV, that's right, I miss being able to watch crap

15.  Target

 

 

I'll leave it at that for now.  Quite frankly, I'm a little tired of being in Asia.  I'll be home Labor Day weekend, after a 8 week stint in China.  Happy FOURTH!!!

A Quick Update

A steady Internet signal has been quite hard to come by the last few weeks. 

 

Right now I'm in Kula Lumpar, Malaysia.  I don't think I spelled that correctly. 

 

Anyways, my Mom tells me I'm almost to the Equator and that would be why my allergies have gone crazy.  I've been sniffing and sneezing since I walked off the plane. 

 

There is a Chili's at the mall that's close to our hotel.  I had an Old-timer with cheese for dinner last night.  IT WAS SOOOOOO GOOD!!!!  I miss completely edible food, I really do! However, if I indulge in "Western" food too much, I might gain back what I've lost.  That would be a bummer!

 

In other news, Alie is having a boy!  I'm very excited for them.  I'm also excited to be a first time Auntie.

 

Alright, it's time to go to work!

Being a tourist in Bangkok

Instead of sitting by the pool, sleeping the day away, or shopping. . . . I went to the Grand Palace. And it was grand indeed.

The Grand Palace is really a complex of several buildings, including the throne hall, a Buddhist Monastery, and a library. There I am in the Grand Palace compound.That's what you see when you first walk in. Check out these cool buildings:

This past week marked Thailand's King (King Bhumibol Adulyadej) 60th year on the throne. He's the world's longest running monarch. He took the throne when he was 18 and now at 78 he's adored by his subjects. I'm not kidding. People ADORE him. For the past two weeks, every native Thai has been wearing yellow shirts to promote and honor their King. There is a yellow shirt shortage going on here. I read about it in the newspaper. It's really quite admirable how much they love their King. I certainly can't see any of us Americans feeling that way about a President. Which by the way, our President did not come over for the celebration and he was invited. It was a who's who in the world in royalty and leaders here for the celebration last week. . . . no W. Bush. Bleh.

Alright, well. . . it's time for bed. Tomorrow we're working!

Goodbye Taiwan!

Our days in Taiwan are over. We had two extremely hard weeks of performances in three different cities there. One city didn't have working restrooms in the building, we had to use port-a-squatty-potties.
Another city had such a small backstage that you could walk to the back wall from the rig. You can see Charlie there in the distance pointing to the wall disgusted.
Another one of our buildings was across from the Taipei 101. It's the tallest building in the world, standing at 1,671 feet.
At the end of Taiwan, we said good-bye to some very speical cast members. Alison and Tommy have both returned home. Here I am with them on their last day with us:

And no . . . . I didn't dye my hair blonde. Charlie and I decided to wear funny wigs on our last day in Taiwan for a stress reliever. I think I kinda look like Anna Nicole before Trim Spa. Scary!

More to come, after all. . . now I'm in Bangkok!