Time to go, this is goodbye she said. Does it ever get easier to live like this?

best guy friend (night before I'm leaving yet again): I don't know how you do it.

me: I don't know how you do it. I would go crazy here, I am going crazy here. (After a little less than 5 months!)

him: I would be content staying in Chicago the rest of my life, and I probably will. Although I do wish I could be a little more like you, pick up and leave whenever I feel like it.

me: You know I wish I could be a little more like you. I wish I could be content somewhere, but I haven't found that place yet. I'll let you know when I do.

him: Well until then, keep in touch my little nomad girl.


I've heard those words one too many times, and frankly I'm not good at KIT. I have those friends I have had since I was little and I will always keep in touch with them, but really there are friends everywhere and I have no problems making new ones along the way. It can make for a pretty lonely journey at times though and I have gotten pretty accustomed to doing almost any type of activity by myself. And all of this moving and traveling have shaped me into this person that I absolutely love and am so proud of today!

But who am I? My name is Lauren and I come from the wonderful, beautiful city of Chicago. I spent 18 years growing up in the western suburbs of the city and couldn't imagine growing up in anything less than a huge city atmosphere, part of what drives me to my unknown finish line today. In high school I had my first experience abroad, spending 2 weeks with an amazing Spanish family on an exchange program through my school. I was terrified and thought I would never make it through those 2 weeks, but I loved every second of it and was bit with this terrible travel bug that haunts me every single day. High school graduation came along and I made my first real move across the country to attend Arizona State University. I had a wonderful 3 1/2 years there and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in December 2008. For the first half of 2008 I studied abroad at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia and found the one place I have ever been truly happy. I made the most amazing friends in Sydney and had so many new and wonderful experiences. During my 6 months there I was fortunate enough to travel to both Thailand and New Zealand for a week each, as well as much of Australia's East Coast. Since then I have been itching to go back, and I know I will someday to live there longterm.

Back to today, I am currently participating in the Disney College Program for the Fall Advantage session 2009. I work in merchandise at Disney's Hollywood Studios in by far the best area anywhere! I am in love with Disney and the people I have met here, but of course like anything else it is definitely not all it is set up to be. I have been here almost exactly 3 months and just recently I have begun to feel that itch that it's time to move on and try something new. I love it here, but I'm performing a job I did throughout college and I want to move on to bigger and better things, or at least a different role here! I have until January at least though, and for now this blog is going to be the ups and downs of a Disney cast member.