Disney English China! About This Page:

[Tmoorie]

Salutations! This is my first ever trip report and it is going to be a long one. It will carry on over a year! Please bare with me as I learn the ropes of writing a trip report! I have read several and I am only hoping to do half as good as my fellow pass-porters.

Cast:
Tanya (ME) I am a 35 year old mother of 2 boys and wife of 18 years as of August 20! I am a certified teacher and LOVE all things Disney!! I love to travel and I love animals!
DH just turned 40 last June. He served me the Disney kool-aide when we were dating and we've never looked back
DS1 is 10 years old and a bookworm. His favorite hobbies video games and reading.
DS2 loves the outdoors and is more of a sports boy he is 8

Enough with the Formalities...lets get this party started!!

A little over a month ago my life became a whirlwind of adventure. I applied for a teaching position with Disney English in China! We were all set to travel to DL in California to experience the new Cars Land (which was great!!!!), when I received an email asking if I could do an interview through Skype. The day before we left for Cali I had my interview. Before the interview was over the Cast Member was giving me a choice of 6 different cities and travel dates.

Disney offered a lot of perks. They are giving me a housing allowance, I get 11 paid Chinese Holidays, I receive 10 paid vacations days and medical and dental. My favorite perk is A Platinum Disney Pass!!!! I am not sure of the ins and out of the pass but I do know it's good world wide!!

Since then life has flown by. I interviewed on a Wednesday and the following Monday I was accepting the position and filling out paper work. It's amazing what you can do via computer and internet these days!

My family and I spent 3 weeks in California before driving back to Texas (where I live for the next few days...hehe). Since we've arrived back home we have been selling off our furniture and preparing to lease our home.

Yesterday I received a Welcome Kit in the Mail! Disney sure does know how to spoil their employees, and I haven't even officially started yet! I was dancing around the house like a little kid and DS1 and DS2 were dancing right along with me. You would have thought it was Christmas. I have never before received gifts from an employer before I started working!

My dream is that maybe I can continue to travel the world while working for Disney. The four of us have already seen DL Calif and WDW and DH and I have been to DL Paris so DL Hong Kong and DL Tokyo are a must!!! That way we will have hit all the Disney theme parks world wide!!!! Just a note....I was reading and a new theme park has broken ground in Shanghai but it will not be ready until 2016.

Now I'm awaiting my Welcome Letter from China so we can finish getting our Visas! More to come soon!

[lauriep]

I'm glad you started this, Tanya! It'll be so exciting to follow you on your exciting adventure. What a wonderful experience for your whole family.

[chezp]

I'm so glad you started this as well, as I can't wait to read all about your adventures. Congratulations again!

You will love Tokyo Disney especially, although Hong Kong is wonderful too and of course it's recently expanded, which I can't wait to hear about when you go there.

with the final arrangements before your travels.

[num1DVCfan]

I'm glad you've started this as well. I got a giggle out of your welcome kit. Tooth brushes & q-tips. They think of everything! Chops luck on your new career & travels!

[HollyH]

I am eager to hear more. I have never heard of Disney English and I have a feeling that this might be a dangerous TR for me . I am a teacher and a Disney nut who loves to travel. The wheels in my mind are already turning! I love my job, but hmmm ......taking a leave of absence to work overseas for Disney.......

Congrats to you and I can't wait to hear about your adventures!

[Colexis Mom]

Very exciting!!

[Tmoorie]

Just a quick note! I recieved the login for my Rosetta Stone today! Disney is awesome! I've already completed lesson one. Chinese is difficult! I am having a difficult time getting my mouth to make some of those noises...haha. Things are starting to arrive...moving day must be getting closer!!!

Thanks for all your kind encouraging words!
Holly they give me referral cards! I can get one to you if you decide!

Until next time!

[chezp]

I can imagine how tough Chinese is - learning Japanese was hard enough.

with it!

[shazza]

Glad you started this report - your adventure sounds like it will be amazing. We made an International move, but it was to Australia. I can't imagine how challenging (but exciting) it will be to go to a country where English is not the primary language. I'm sure Disney provides a lot of help with the relocation. Can't wait to hear all the details of your move.

Edit: I just checked out the Disney English website, thinking this might be something our niece would be interested in - she's been teaching English in Indonesia for the past 7 years. I also saw where Disney English has an affiliation with UC Riverside - which is where I went to school. It is a small world ...

[Colexis Mom]

DD is taking Chinese in school this year! I guess maybe we'll have to go to Disney Shaghai when it jones so she can use it!

[Principessa_di_Fata]

Wow, what an exciting adventure! I can't wait to read along with you on your journeys! I took exactly 2 weeks of Japanese in my freshman year of college, before I took the cowards way out and dropped the class. I always regretted not sticking with it.

I'm so excited for you!

[dutchdisneyfamily]

Originally Posted by HollyH

I am eager to hear more. I have never heard of Disney English and I have a feeling that this might be a dangerous TR for me . I am a teacher and a Disney nut who loves to travel. The wheels in my mind are already turning! I love my job, but hmmm ......taking a leave of absence to work overseas for Disney.......

Congrats to you and I can't wait to hear about your adventures!

I'm thinking the same thing!

[Dlandmom2]

This sounds like an exciting adventure! Which part of China will you be in? I'm guessing you're learning Mandarin Chinese?

I'll bet a lot of PassPorter teachers will be following this TR very closely!

[Tmoorie]

Just a quick note. I have been trying to get an hour of my Rosetta Stone in everyday. It is Mandarin, Dlandmom2. The house is in shambles....boxes everywhere. I wish I could blink my eyes and have everything pack and ready.

On a positive note we found a family to lease our house! Less than three weeks to go. I am on an emotional roller coaster. My 2 boys start school tomorrow. We are letting them go to public school while we are still here. They both like school and they will get to spend time with their friends this way. I have explained our situation to the new teachers and we have made arrangements to Skype with their classes once we are there! The teacher in me is very excited about this. I'm already thinking of things we can do...like a word of the day and different cultural aspects we can bring to the Skype sections. Word has gotten around and now I have several teachers who have asked if I will Skype with their classes as well.

I'd better get to sleep. I have a very busy week ahead of me. Toodles for now!

Tanya

[chezp]

Congrats on getting someone to lease your house and with all the preparations before you head off!