Charessa Ramblings-xoxo, Alex

"Alex, your nose looks...fantaaastic," said my mother dear. Something about the way she drew out her last word told me she wasn't being completely honest. A glance in the mirror confirmed my suspicion.

I ripped by nose off in frustration. Well, the outer layer. The layer of wax added to make me look more Greek than I really am (According to all my research, I am 2% Greek). My make-up specialist made an attempt at consolation: "You're getting better! It won't be long before it feels-(and looks, I thought to myself)- more natural."

That was after three weeks of make-up training. I get half an hour a day. When you're a teenage Irish/German girl trying to look like a 20-year-old Greek woman, make-up is a necessity. Unfortunately, I wasn't born with mad make-up skills like Bailey. But once we really go undercover pretty soon here, I'll have to fluent in the art of make-up. And the art of pretending to be someone I'm not. But thanks to my love for acting, that didn't come as hard.

Self-defense classes come after my make-up lessons in order to help me learn how to fight while sweating under 3 layers of make-up and expensive clothes. Things get a little interesting. I also have to be sure to shout and grunt in a Greek accent. My Greek lesson are in the morning, right before lunch. At lunch, my sisters and I all have to act and speak like our characters as part of training. We're getting better. Before Greek lessons come my tech lessons. Having been off the grid, or so to speak, for a few years, I had a lot to learn. But I'm getting better.

Dinnertime is always family time. As well as be-yourself-and-not-your-character time. We eat, play games, watch movies, play in the gym, talk, bake-anything we might have down at home around that time. We just don't get outside as much. It took me a few weeks to realize our building is underground. I can see why-security is important when you're a spy facility-but I miss being able to go outside whenever I want. We get about an hour a day at this point. Fortunately, it won't be long before I'm out and about fighting crime as Charessa.

Only a few weeks until Bailey-excuse me, Cassondria-leave. We're set to head out mid-July. It feels like a fantasy, but so have the last few years of my life. I'm excited for this adventure.

And, okay-maybe a little nervous, too.

Much love,
Alex