The Disney Magic (Gap Years in general)

Member Name: violentviolet

Product:	Gap Years in general
Date:	10/07/00 (126 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Meet people from all over the world

Disadvantages: Low paid, odd shifts, don't practice much French

I spent the first half of my Gap Year doing various unexciting jobs such as working on the checkout at Asda (nightmare!) and handing out change in an amusement arcade. After 6 months, I'd managed to save up a pretty substantial wedge of cash. I decided I wanted to work in France as I'd taken French A-level and really wanted to improve my language skills.

I applied for a job at Disney after looking through a book called Summer Jobs Abroad. A new copy of this is published every year and I strongly recommend that anyone interested in this kind of thing have a look through it. I had an interview in London and then a few weeks later it was off to Paris!

I wasn't sure what to expect - would I be have to wear a permanent smile and say 'Have a nice day!' in ten different languages? In reality, I was disappointed to discover having a rubbish job at Disney was no different to having a rubbish job anywhere else.

I worked in a gift shop called the Cottage of the Seven Dwarfs, had to wear a hideous uniform which included a frilly apron and a straw hat with plastic flowers on! I didn't get to practice my French that much: it mostly consisted of telling people what time the parade was and where the toilets were. However, there is a fantastic atmosphere amongst the Cast Members (Disney's name for the employees). It is a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world and I made some really great friends who I still keep in touch with.

The money is not great (the French equivalent of the minimum wage) but you live 45 minutes from Paris so you can go sightseeing and shopping on your days off - great fun!

All in all, a worthwhile experience, especially if you fancy doing something different but aren't quite ready to fly to the other side of the world.

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