February 17, 2003 Hs a A A FT tc i LA ree The Lion’s Eye Page 5 Fve on Campus The unseen undercurren BEHIND THE MAGIC By SARAH GALLATIG (Sarah Gallatig, a junior at Penn State Delco, is spending the Spring 2003 semester interning at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. She will describe the experience for the Lion’s Eye in each of our four spring editions.) ORLANDO, Fla. — Disney World is all about the magic, according to the man for whom it is named, Walt Disney. It is the cast members’ job to create the magic for the guests that visit Disney World, or any of its brethren parks. Our motto, as employees, is to create happiness by providing the finest in entertainment for people of all ages everywhere. I went into my Disney Internship with the under- standing that I was going to learn a little about the Disney Corp. I was looking forward to helping Disney create magical experiences for guests, while developing an idea of what it’s like working with a well-known company. The unseen world of the underground tunnels at ‘Disney World here in Orlando is for cast members only. They are in the basement of Disney World. It is there where we interns meet with other cast members to learn about opportunities with Disney, and more about our jobs and expectations. I have been at Disney World now for quite a few weeks and I have spent a lot of time in the underground - tunnels. I have to admit I was very shocked with how college interns are treated in the underground tunnels. Managers and other cast members who have been a part of the company for long periods of time act as if'we don’t exist. They seem to believe that we are there for one rea- son, and that is to fill in all of their unwanted hours. The Magic Kingdom is pure entertainment and fun for millions of visitors every year. But Lion’s Eye staff t of Disney World Maybe there is another Disney World on the opposite side of Orlando where I am supposed to be. On the other hand, the apartments that Disney World provides are nice. They are quite large and the complex- es provide us with free transportation to and from work, computers with Internet access, and swimming pools. One problem with the transportation is that some- times the buses forget to pick us up. I had this happen earlier this week. Fortunately, I had my car with me and was able to drive to work, But what about all those peo- ple who were unable to bring cars along on their intern- ship? They depend on the buses. As for the computers, they are extremely slow and the Internet does not always work. A lot of students depend on those computers because it is their only con- tact with family members who live across the country, and even sometimes overseas. Others need the Internet to stay in contact with their schools because they are tak- ing classes over the Internet. I brought my computer along with me which is how I am writing this e-mail, but hooking up to the Internet in our apartment is literally impossible. We get paid weekly here at Disney World. Of course, we get paid minimum wage, and the company takes $67 weekly out of our paychecks. In the first pay- check, they took $134, because we have to pay for the week before we were allowed in the apartment, just to hold our spot. That left our paycheck, at a lousy $50. How we were supposed to spend money on groceries and other necessities was beyond me. We don’t even get any free time to spend in our apartments, because we work crazy hours and only have one day off a week. But don’t get me wrong. I really do like it here at Disney. I know I have told you a lot of negative things about the internship program, but I would not change it for the world. PC Once we are outside the corridors of the underground tunnels, those same cast members, who acted like we were invisible down there where no one can see, become our best friends. When guests are around, they brag about what a great program they have here for their Japan opens new doors to students By RENEE BLISARD REB202@psu.edu Lion s Eye staff writer Students can take a 16-day trip (June 29-July 14, 2003) away from the mundane to fascinating Japan. While they are there they can fulfill a selection of credits including: continuing education units, gen- eral art, or diversity credits according to the application for the Campus International Program Fund for the trip to Japan. The pamphlet contains course descriptions and trip benefits to the stu- dent. Continuing Education Units, or CEU's, are credits that are "available to graduate students who are teachers. Five or six students who apply will be chosen to receive a grant worth between $500-$1,000, off the regular cost of $2500, according to Constance Kirker. Kirker is one of the coordinators of trips abroad and an art professor at Delco. Whether or not you receive a grant, the cost includes airfare, a two-week railpass, university housing, hotels, and inns, according to the International Program's flyer for the trip. : "Japan is fabulous. [The] people are kind and helpful. The first impression is that it is just like America, but their culture 1s very ancient and different," said Kirker. The preliminary schedule, which can be requested from Kirker, says that stu- dents will see famous historical and ancient landmarks. Some of the Buddhist temples and shrines to be visited include Toritenjo Temple in Kobe, Kinkajuji Penn State Trips Abroad ‘m Seville, Spain: 8-16, 2003 = So s Nice, France: May 11- 20, 2003 'w Florence, Italy: New Year 2003-04 ® Barcelona: Spring Break 2004 m Paris, France: May 2004 m Austria: New Year 2004-05 Temple in Kyoto, I iiano Shrine in Kyoto, and Kasuga Shiin~ in Nara. Some importa: nistorical landmarks to be visited are the-Horoshima Park of Peace and Peace Memorial, the Ohara Museum of Art in Kurashiki, the National Museum of Tokyo, and the National Theater in Tokyo. Some historical castles to be explored include Shirasagi-jo Castle in Himeji, Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle in Kyoto and Osaka Castle in Osaka. All the cities to be visited are Kobe, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nara, Himeji, Osaka, Kurashiki, Okayama, Tokyo, and Tottori. Kirker says courses that will be avail- able are: GEDGEE (Dei writer Sarah Gallatig says everything's not so perfect underneath Cinderella’s castle. interns. Really? I would like to know where this great program is, because I am obviously in the wrong place. The Kinkajuji Temple in Kyoto is just one of the many sights students will see on How many other people in this world can actually say they got the opportunity to work for the most magi- cal company in the world? ° their trip to Japan this June. Penn State offers students a chance to see the world at a low, affordable cost. ® History 497: Japanese history and cul- ture in a global context with Dr. Paul Reagan fulfilling three credits or six CEUs m Integrative Arts 497: Japanese visual and performing arts and worldwide influ- ences with Constance Kirker fulfilling three credits or six CEUs, ® Art History 340: Japanese art history (GA DF) with Constance Kirker fulfilling three credits s History 174: History of traditional East Asia (GA DF) with Dr. Paul Reagan ful- filling three credits. Penn State student and International Studies Club president Twanna Taylor said that trips abroad are worth it. She said about her favorite trip abroad to Greece: "The trip broadened my hori- zons. Learning about their culture was an amazing life-changing experience. [ would encourage diversity by taking trips abroad -and bringing back what you've learned.”
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