"Sunny" Orlando

Well, one of our internship directors told us that she has never been rained out of Universal Studios or Cocoa Beach, but now our group has seen both of those. My first week of work ended with a great weekend. Saturday's outreach on the beach was a total success. We gave away lots of food and made some great friends. Even more than that, we practiced just being aware of the people around us instead of acting as if they're scenery. Isn't it amazing how you can sit on a beach towel not five feet from another group, but to acknowledge them and get into a conversation is somehow culturally "wrong" or "weird"??
Yesterday the interns made a trip out to Wekiwa Springs State Park. After an eventful drive, (we're so good at U-turns now) we finally arrived and enjoyed some peace. The water was freeeeezing! Our canoe trip wasn't dull either. Claire, Melissa, and I joked about the "Jurassic Park" plants and eerie quiet for the first few uncertain minutes in the water. Then Claire got her adventurous wish: splashing drew our attention near to the right-hand shore where a NINE-FOOT LONG ALLIGATOR was floating about 15 feet from our canoe! Being without an oar in the front of a dinky aluminum boat not even one foot above the water and floating ever closer to my crunchy end, I begged Melissa (in the back) to steer us away or back up, but all she wanted to do was stand up and get a picture! Images of gnashing teeth and sprays of water kept flashing through my mind. He sat in front of us for several minutes, almost showing off his size, but eventually swam into the weeds. He came back out a few minutes later, just as our pulses calmed down while we started to paddle away, and this time only stuck his head above water. He stared straight at us though. Needless to say, we did survive. But the memory is vivid to say the least.
I'm about ready to give the tour here in the Discovery Center and feel pretty well-acquainted with all the procedures. Next time I close in the afternoon though, I will remember to check for any remaining guests before I shut the roll-down museum doors. It was just one couple left inside on Friday, and I hear this happens to all the employees at some point, but I can't help being a little embarrassed. (For your information, we did have a side door which I casually propped open with a sign, and the visitors may not have even known this was out of the ordinary.)
My fellow interns are settling into the office really well, but I'm honestly very glad not to be in a cubicle all day. People seem so intrigued by the stories and exhibits. I hope we make an impact and our guests get involved because of what they learn from us.