Portland Airport Day

This is your Captain, Elli Simotas and deadhead Tabitha Ivan speaking.  Please remain in your seats and stay calm while we conduct an strictly hypothetical poll.  Does anyone know how to fly this plane?  Please come to the cockpit immediately.

Thursday, May 21, 2015 Rose Court Schedule
ARRIVE	DEPART	LOCATION	EVENT
7:45am	8:15am	Headquarters	Start the Day Meeting
8:15am	11:00am	Headquarters	Group Interviews, Second Judging, Curriculum
11:30am	5:30pm	Portland Airport	Tour and Lunch
6:00pm	6:10pm	Headquarters	Get yelled at
6:15pm	8:30pm	Lloyd Center Doubletree Hotel	Third Judging for Queen and Royal Rosarian Dinner Meeting
9:15pm	9:30pm	Headquarters	Debrief

Story of the Day

In case you are wondering if we really spent 6 hours at the Airport, we did.  But first, we participated in our second round of judging to see who will wear the crown of Rosaria on June 6th.  Similar to last night, we were interviewed in groups.

I can't decide if I am here to enter into a lifelong sorority with the other princesses, or to be Queen.  It may be we all need to pick one direction or the other.  On one hand, I don't want to disappoint the people who helped me get here and afforded me this opportunity, so I want to try my best.  On the other hand, it's hard to get really competitive because no one knows what it takes to win the title.  Queen.  Hmmm.  Part of me feels we are all competing with each other to win an abusive husband.  I know, right?  Answering a group question too long gets you evil stares, and not answering is not impressive.  What.  Ever.  Just shoot me.

At PDX we checked in at Alaska Airlines for our boarding passes and began our tour!  We were boarded on a plane, checked into baggage claim, served a first class lunch, and cruised around with the high altitude of being Royals of the Rose City.

Then, back at headquarters, we all got in trouble this time.  It's nice to share the attention with others....

With the increased negativity within our group, the chaperones are also on edge.  Supervising is not for everyone.  The "higher ups" had everyone in tears.  And that's saying something.  Most of these girls are not emotional types and have probably never cried, even as infants.  

One of the princesses has calculated that we are being paid (with the scholarship) less than $2.50 per hour and we are working over 60 hours each week.  A few princesses wonder if the experience is worth the expense.  We are missing the best part of our senior year. The Court handlers are very stingy with letting us go to Senior Awards and Proms and even graduation ceremonies.  Want to go to your yearbook release and signing lunch?  Forget about it!!!!   It is implied that we do as we're told or the scholarship is in jeopardy.  We are never home and our friends are distant memories.  

Another laments that we are treated like 5-year-olds on a field trip, not as adult women.  (Princesses need a bathroom buddy, need permission to speak to people outside the group, need to behave in a "princess-like" manner, etc.)  And the funny part is, they revamped the entire program in the 1990's for the women's equality movement.  I wasn't around much in the 1990's, but I'm guessing they were grateful for what they got.  Sigh.