Hard to believe its been a week almost since we returned from Berlin. The time really flies. Its vitually mid April yet seems yesterday that it was Christmas and new year. Is that a sign that I am getting old?
As my birthday week approaches and in the anniversary week of my 15th anniversary since moving to Orlando and a once in a lifetime opportunity to go and represent Walt Disney World as a cultural representitive. 15 years ago I was a young man, insecure, lonely, not sure where I was going in life, but with a dream of going to work for Disney in the States. 15 years on, that dream is now in the past, but I did it. At 22 I proved to myself that no ambition in life is too great. Nothing you set your mind to you cant achieve. I guess that ambition has always been my great driver in life. Call it a chip on my shoulder, but its what keeps me strong. The want to always achieve ones goals. Maybe it was driven from the fact that I always wanted Mum & Dad to be proud. They never drove us to do anything we didnt want to, yet at the same time I wanted to prove that I was a success of my own. I will never forget the day Mum said to me, "You left home many years before you moved to America. You left home that first time you went on your own at 15. That was when I let you go. I would have never let your brother go at that age. But somehow Neil, with you it seemed right. I let you go cos I trusted you and it was what you wanted. Since that day, you have never had your head at home". Leaving home just the day after my 22nd Birthday to move to Orlando, Florida, is a huge step for anyone. No matter what age. But for a young, fresh 22 year old it was an adventure I would never forget. A journey that would take me from boyhood to manhood in a short 15 months. A journey where I would make friends like I had never known. Where I would have more fun than I could believe was possible in a lifetime let alone during a Disney Internship.
I never slept a wink the night before. I can remember clearly, I was too excited. I couldn't sleep. More than just excited, apprehensive. I wasn't just moving out, I was moving 8000 miles away. To a place where I knew nobody. Where I didnt have a clue what would happen, what would be, but something inside me knew it was what I was always born to do. It would end up being the deffinitive transition in my life that made me the man I am today.
I have to thank Sue Sharp, Annie Goldberg and the International Casting team for the opportunity they gave me that day. I remember seeing my interviewer, Steve, some 18 months after my interview. I wanted to thank him personally for the opportunity and tell him how much it had meant to me. During our conversation, I asked, inquisitivly, "At what point did you decide to offer me the job?". His reply will remain with me forever. "You don't know?". He asked. "I had decided you were a yes the minute you answered the first question. Why do you want to work for Walt Disney World? You said, "Because Disney are the best in the business and I want to be a part of the best and be able to create magic like you do everyday". He said, that was when I decided Neil, and I don't regret it. Glad to have you onboard.
Packed, excited and nervous, Mum & Dad kindly drove me to Londons Heathrow airport ready to catch my Delta Airlines flight to Orlando with a stopover in Atlanta. I could never work out why they wouldnt fly us direct but as they had provided everything from the visa to the airplane ticket down to my own shared appartment, who could argue? Checked in ready to go I made my way to the security point of the airport, Mum & Dad taking me all the way. As I kissed them goodbye, it would be the first time in 22 years I had ever seen Mum cry. My adventure began and the full details of which I will, I promise one day write in full. But that remains for yet another tale.
The moral of the story being, if you dream it and want it, you can achieve it. I would say to any younger person if you get a chance to move abroad so young, take it and embrace it, for you will grow far greater than any other experience. The friends I made and I all grew up together. Not just emotionally but all ways you can imagine. If I show you a picture of me in May 1995 and one in May 1996 with my Disney pals, you would argue we all aged 5 years. Not in a bad way, but you loose your inhibitions, you grow into who you will be for the rest of you life and you appreciate cultures and challenges and wonders and magic. I had the time of my life. I will never forget those days for the rest of my living days. The magic, the friends, the wonders we experienced and the greatest adventure for far of my life.
Meanwhile, back in Blighty, yesterday I had a lovely lunch with Steph at a French cafe at Bluewater and then a lovely night at Sweat - the foam party with Richard and Mark. Chilling today and relaxing it's been a great weekend as the spring weather finally arrives.
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