Why I'm Happy to be Home From My Mission

So I'm really happy about it. And I've gone through phases of feeling guilty for that, feeling great about that, and wondering if there's something wrong with me for it.

Machu Picchu

Although today I just stumbled across blogs from missionaries that also served in the same mission that I did, and it made my heart so happy to see them teaching, visiting, and baptizing the people I used to visit!

I came home from the LDS (Latter-day Saint - www.lds.org) mission I served in Cusco, Peru about three months ago, on November 4, 2015. Missions are broken up into time blocks called transfers - each one is 6 weeks, so roughly a month and a half. I spent my first transfer in the mission in the Missionary Training Center in Lima learning how to be a missionary.

The MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Lima 

The next 7.5 months (5transfers) I was sent to Puno, which borders Lake Titicaca

Los Uros, or the floating islands on Lake Titicaca

Morning study time; I was tired every single day of my mission. Means we worked ;)

And the next 9 months (6 transfers) I spent working in the actual city of Cusco

The Qurikancha

Working with the members 

You fall in love with the people in your mission

Overlooking Cusco

And then the very last transfer of my mission (6 weeks) I was in Quillabamba.

Teaching a lesson 

The church building in the jungley mountains 

Quillabamba is a little tropical town located up in the Andes mountains on the backside of Machu Picchu, and can only be compared to places like Hawaii. It was the perfect place to end my mission, and I was in love with the weather, the kindness of the people, and the innumerable amount of wild mango trees.

Ending my mission was an emotional process, but the most distinct feeling was looking back on how quickly 18 months had passed by. I had learned Spanish enough to express myself and converse easily, lived and breathed the mission standards and daily schedule, and collaborated in a team with a female companion teaching Church principles every single day of the mission. I was exhausted, but couldn't help but feel satisfied with the effort I had put in.

My mission president and his wife, President and Sister Harbertson

Coming home to Southern California was a completely different world to the one I was used to, and for most missionaries, the adjustment process can be very stressful and sometimes depressing. I found myself in complete awe of the grocery stores, cars I would see on the street, and obsessed with American food. Which to me, means authentic food from every single country that I could find just down the street.

It's still a bit overwhelming sometimes, going from only focusing on spiritual progression for a year and a half to your own personal education, career future, relationships, and current financial status. But it's also wonderful and beautiful. Some people say that our generation is a very selfish one, and I would agree, but it's also helping us to become better contributors to society in the future.

So, here's why I'm so happy to be home after my mission:

1. The food. I can't even. Peruvian food is a mix of sometimes spicy, sometimes garlicy blends of rice with meats, vegetables, and fruits that can be really yummy. And like every country, there are good cooks and not so good cooks. But there is nothing like being able to get great tacos, sushi, orange chicken, and In-N-Out all in the same day.

Sushi in Tokyo

A bacon cheese donut burger in Orlando

2. When I got to the end of my mission, even though it had sped by, it really did feel like it was time to go home. Just like any stage of life, I couldn't stay in the mission forever, and it was time for me to move on and I was okay with it.

3. I missed my family. A lot. Three years away (I had a month in the U.S. in between coming home from Japan and leaving for Peru) didn't give me a lot of time to spend with my family. Face-to-face contact when you can actually stand in front of a person and hold them is completely different from Skype, Facetime, or phone calls.

Going to the LA temple with my brother

4. I love my cellphone. I love how efficient my real life is. I love social media, staying connected, and being able to communicate with people whenever I feel like it. Doing a media fast for 18 months was really great because I was completely concentrated on the people in front of me always. But efficiency is just... irreplaceable.

5. Most returned missionaries will agree that at a certain point in your mission you start to feel like you're ready to apply the principles you are teaching to your own personal life. Now post-mission, I'd like to say that it's all about finding a great balance. I loved being a missionary, but now my time and energy is divided between many different wonderful things, and I love all the happy things I can be involved in!

Being able to see my missionary plaque up in the Tokyo First Ward building with awesome

6. Sleeping in. I missed it. And staying up late doing whatever I want. Oh my.

7. Not having a companion anymore. Each and every one of my companions was perfect for me for the time I was with them, and I hope I'm friends with them forever. They taught me Spanish :) But I will never have to be with a girl 24/7 again, and am so happy about it.

8. Being with boys. Being able to hug them! And kiss them ;) And date them. The first time a boy hugged me after I got home I was sooo stiff and awkward. But I got over it :)

The Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas

Seeing my brother for the first time in forever

9. Just being able to move on with life. Progression is a weird thing in the mission-- you progress spiritually the quickest you ever have, but everything else in your personal life falls by the wayside as you concentrate on helping others progress personally. It becomes a very unique self-improvement process for everyone, and I'm thankfully for the entire amount of time I got to spend in my mission.

10. I missed people :) And places. I missed Japan and Orlando and Disney. So I came home and went back. Worth every penny. 

First time I seeing my roommates in 3 years

The Tokyo YSA's

The subway in New York

Why I Want to Go on a Mission

Starting first with the story of how I decided I wanted to serve a mission:

I was sitting in a normal Church meeting one Sunday in November when unprompted, the thought of going on a mission came to mind. I've dismissed it before as just thoughts and not promptings, and it was the same this time but instead of dropping it, I let my mind wander to how different my life could be in six months if I decided to serve a mission. I'd probably have a mission call and potentially be in the MTC (mission training center) already, having gone through the temple to take out my endowments and say goodbye to all family and friends for a year and a half. I asked myself if that scared me, to change my life so drastically for something I believed in, and remembered that I have absolutely nothing to be afraid of. My testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is so solid and thorough that I actually would give up everything for it, and so I made the decision that it was finally time. For the rest of the meeting I plotted in my head how the next few months would pan out, and as soon as the meeting ended rushed to the bishop's office to tell him about my plans :) And now I'm a few days away from finding out when and where I will serve for the next 18 months after I return to the States! 

This list is a bit unedited but it's very honest, and hopefully not offensive in any way. If offense is taken, understand that it was unintended:

1. I feel 100% like this is the right thing for me to do at the right time. Yes we should always strive at every moment to better ourselves, but I do believe in a sense of timing, and that certain things can be much better at specific times. For instance, I would not have ever done this last year. I've grown up with no desire to ever serve a mission but also with a self-assurance that if I ever felt the desire and/or call within me to go, I would drop everything without hesitation and do so. 

2. I want to do service on a bigger scale, I'm ready to give back, and what better way?

3. Because I can; I've been preparing by working in different situations with completely different kinds of people this whole year; I know how to stay motivated and positive, and I have the means to take care of myself for 18 months without working. And I'm still in my younger 20s :)

4. Because it's a really good experience, growing up for me and helping others to learn; a really good lesson for me in humility, faith, and obedience, and for me to love and serve my companions and people in the area I'm sent. 

5. I can help people with my previous experience and study to have a more fuller understanding of the world around them and how God's presence and love is in everything. There are people out there I can influence and help find the Gospel that might not have been able to find it otherwise.

6. Because it just feels so right that I can't even express it. 
And it's weird, this service thing. I've never wanted more to help people out, to help them to feel happier, to do them favors and even go across the world to do humanitarian aid, to love my family more (I call them all the time now), and to get to know people better and listen to their stories and just love and love and love. It makes me want to burst!

7. Because I've learned so much this year and in years and jobs prior; I've learned how to live by myself and be lonely, but also what working hard means, and how to work with different attitudes and cultures without changing my standards, and I've learned more about real life, while sort of not living in it. Is my life ever going to be "real" anyway? It doesn't have to be. I like getting paid for hugs.

So there you have it :) Jennifer Lauren Hollingshead is going on a mission. 

Halloween at Tokyo Disneyland!

Here in Japan they have a concept called "cosplay" (costume play) in which people almost religiously dress up as their favorite characters from all sorts of films, shows, and books. It's taken to a whole new level at Tokyo Disneyland, when for two weeks in October anyone can dress up as anything Disney-related and go inside the park. I've never seen anything like it, not even in the states when the Disney parks have Halloween nights. 

My friend Mia and I decided to see it for ourselves on the weekend (the busier the better) and spent the day checking out all the people and taking pictures. The great thing about the Japanese is that they wanted us to take pictures of them; they happily posed for anyone who walked by with a camera, and even took group shots with people they didn't know who were dressed up as similar characters. 

These are some of my favorite shots from the day, and the rest of the pictures can be found on my Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/jenn.hollingshead/media_set?set=a.10201746195910452.1073741827.1047570394&type=3&uploaded=75

Alice in Wonderland

Snow White's wishing well and the seven dwarves

Rapunzel's hair team and the guy who sells flags

The Sultan, the Emperor of China, and the King of Hearts

30th anniversary Chip and Dale

by far my absolute favorite, all the forms of Genie in the movie Aladdin!

Time to Feel Japan

I basically haven't touched my blog since I've been in Japan. To be honest, there's so much to say that I couldn't possibly type it all out. Also due to my preference in keeping the Disney magic alive, there are a lot of stories I can expand upon if asked. That being said... I'm back :)

My plan for this blog in the next few months is to show just what Japan is like, or what I've seen of it thus far. In an effort to let everyone "feel Japan," I will be uploading video clips and a few pictures that show the true underlying essence of the culture that I've fallen in love with. 

I have a very short five and a half more months left here. My heart is already breaking with the knowledge that I have to leave, but in those last months I will be traveling to Kyoto (the old capital of Japan), having family and friends visit, helping to train a new cast, and getting ready for my next adventures. If you're willing to stay on this with me, I'll be sharing some of the lessons I've learned along the way (like that sleeping in public is completely acceptable, but eating isn't, or that slurping noodles loudly is a sign of appreciation for the food instead of an act of rudeness) and maybe share some of my favorite work stories :) 

Finally, I am so, so, so incredibly happy and blessed to be here. I'm reminded by it constantly in the people I meet, the smiles I see, the kisses that I'm lucky enough to have blown in my direction, the talented performers that I'm surrounded by, and in the wonderful apartment I have to come home to. This is a beautiful country, with sweet, happy people, and this year's experiences are irreplaceable. And I'm ready to start sharing them with the world. 

Hiking Mt. Fuji

Mumford and Sons concert

The Tokyo YSA's

Being an international EFY counselor

An indoor pool for 4th of July

Since Being Here

I’m gonna try and do this really quick just cuz people keep asking me how things have been going in Tokyo and I’ve kinda just been brushing it off cuz I’m still adjusting to being here. There are some things that we’ve finally established patterns for, like putting my key card into its slot every time I come home so I can use the lights and water and heat (we live in smart apartments!), not eating in public while traveling or talking too loud on the train, and comparing yen to American dollars. And how, with a few minor exceptions, it’s been freezing cold and horribly bitter windy since we’ve gotten here. And how we’re always hungry cuz we walk everywhere. And how the sushi across the street from where we live is sometimes cheaper than anything else to eat. And how the dollar stores here are legit and have everything you could possibly need to live comfortably, and how the Japanese word I’ve use the most means “Thank you!” since the Japanese people are all so nice and polite, and how we absolutely suck at communicating with everyone.

my room decor

someone made me a beautiful welcoming sign :)

my adorable little bathroom that always makes me think I'm on a cruise ship when I step up into it

my little happy corner

So since I’ve been here… non-work-wise I’ve decorated my apartment nearly everyday to try and make it more homey and less like a hotel room. It’s a little studio apartment with a baby kitchen and a big bed and lots of space and I love it. We take the train everywhere, to work, Ikea, Costco, and neighboring cities. We’ve gone to see a few tourist-y locations already, and like singing karaoke to get to know each other better. I’m with about 40 others on our cast, and we’re so excited to be here :)  We’ve been recruited from across the U.S., Australia, and all over Europe so it’s really fun to hear us all talk. Also on the topic of non-work, my friend Erin and I were able to eat some In-N-Out the other day, while an INO team was visiting the country for a promo event and it was soooo good to get our hands on a decent burger.

they take over a local restaurant and set up shop for a day

so good to see my old manager Brian selling burgers again :)

Erin and I were so happy!

Work-wise, we’ve finally started training. We’re all doing different things so we all have training and rehearsals at different times but we like to play at night. I can’t give the magic away but it’s so fun, and so so soo magical :) We were able to see Fantasmic and the night parade the other night and they were incredible; I basically cried. There are two parks out here: Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea and TDS is one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen! And the Arabian Coast is ginormous, I’m ever so excited to be spending so much of my time there. It also snowed that day, which made it ten times more magical. I'll put up pictures soon. .

The people here are wonderful, my cast and the Japanese, and so nice. I’m sorry if I’ve been awful at communicating, I won’t get a solid phone til the end of next month so for now it’s Facebook on my computer and my phone when I can get wifi, and then I’ll be able to get iMessages.

I wake up every morning and even though it's only been two weeks, it still blows my mind that I'm here and working for Tokyo Disney. Cray cray. I'm so humbled to work with and for the people I do. I really love the current cast here too, and it's going to be such a bummer to see them go in about a month but at the same time, we're all so excited to start working!

the same on every continent :)

in the middle of the city

 And I love my own cast already <3 and I miss everyone in the U.S. so so much! Most especially Wyatt Adam Kirk, Hannah Elizabeth Page, Gabriela Ruiz, and Katherine Emogen Orgill.

説明を追加

people here are so funny sometimes. They probs make fun of us in Japanese, it's ok

taking our suitcases to Costco cuz we had so much to get and had to take the train there and back

these people are so fab

miss my Hannaharicgabby

the morning I left

Thank heavens for Skype

love these people too much  xxxxxxooooooo

The Scariest Thing I've Ever Done

I've done some pretty scary things. Sky-diving. Giant colossal swings. Touching sharks. Haunted houses (ugh). Falling, getting hurt. Getting back up. Starting over. Hoping. Praying. Moving. This is one of those things. The fear is starting to hit me, of a million different things. And I thought I understood my heart and head, but big shifts in life like this really make you question if everything you thought you thought is actually what you think you thought it was. A little Dr. Seuss verbage for thought :)

I'm moving my whole entire being to Tokyo, Japan for 14 months. To work for the Oriental Land Company, the corporation that owns Tokyo Disney. I will be spending my time doing what I love- making children of all ages happy, and in turn making myself happy.

Opportunities like this are extremely few and far between. I've been given this gift for a reason, and I intend to find and fulfill that purpose. Like Princess Jasmine, I'm about to have my first day in the marketplace. Like the gypsy Esmeralda, I know that we all are the children of God. And like Pocahontas, who follows her heart so freely and goes wherever the wind takes her, I know my path. So now I'm following it.

Boarding a plane for a 13-hour flight next Sunday, it's gonna be an adventure. But as my dear compatriot Nekisa once said, "We'll basically have the time of our lives."

How Tokyo Happened

About a year ago when I was spending my first few months working in Orlando as part of the Disney College Program, I went to a Tokyo Disney audition on a whim, thinking it was crazy that they actually held these. When I walked out about half an hour later after not getting kept, I specifically remember deciding right then that if I ever went to one again and actually was selected, I would definitely go. When friends of mine were chosen for Tokyo that year and went, I realized that it was a future possibility, and a year later, dropped $$$ on plane tickets to fly in and out of California rather quickly to stop home and audition in the middle of Fall semester.

One of my good friends met me at the audition, and together we went through the process of staying through to the very end, delighted beyond words hours later when they handed us more information about the park and company. Auditions in themselves are highly entertaining, so it was almost worth the trip just to see all the different people at the audition ;) LA’s a great place!

Afterwards, we left the studio jumping up and down and yelling at the top of our lungs, called our loved ones, and we were on top of the world as we spent the rest of the day playing at Disneyland :) The casting directors had told us they would contact us via email in the next month and a half if they were going to offer contracts to us, and so we geared down for the wait.

playing in Disneyland

And wait we did. I can’t tell you how many text messages were sent back and forth between me and my other friends that auditioned, how many times I eagerly checked my email only to be disappointed. We even figured out the time difference in Tokyo to gauge what time they would be most likely to contact us. I was haunted with dreams when I slept of checking my email and getting one from Tokyo; it was embarrassing.

And then on the night I got home to California for Thanksgiving Break, I randomly checked my email right before I went to bed and there it was!! Sitting in the top of my inbox at that point for about an hour already, and I hadn’t checked earlier because my phone had died from the drive down. I couldn’t help it, I started freaking out! Most everyone in the house was asleep so Aric took me outside to jump up and down and shriek to my heart’s content, and once I calmed down we spent the next few hours discussing it. It was hard to sleep that night for sure.

A better surprise came in the morning though, my other friend had gotten an email for a contract too, so the three of us that had originally planned on going (she’s dating my friend who came with me to California) if we had actually gotten the chance, could!

So! In approximately three months I will fly in the beginning of February to the land of my birth, and spend the next 14 months after working in entertainment at Tokyo Disney :) I will keep this blog updated while I’m there, so if you want, you can share all my adventures with me. 

Sooo excited to go with these two!!