Tak København

No words. Just complete kilig moment when I got CPH off from standby. I was the happiest girl! Copenhagen is a city so close to where I was born. And as it came to me as a surprise, I allowed myself to be more stunned by this beautiful city. We landed on a cold but sunny Jan afternoon, secretly hoping for snow to fall anytime soon. But God had a different idea; He wanted me to see the view right outside my hotel room window as a beautifully painted picture! It was so beautiful; it was like reading out of a Children’s fairytale book. Maybe this is why Hans Christian Andersen was so inspired. I was looking right at the heart of Copenhagen.

My ultimate goal was to reach Nyhavn – an old town situated in a canal bestrewn with restaurants, pubs and colourful Danish houses. Without a map in hand, just a determined heart, my crew and I walked into the city braving the cold winter. I have nothing but admiration for Scandinavians. Forget about them being my passengers. But as people, and a nation, they are well deserving of the ‘Happiest People in the World” title. I am glad for a nation who aren’t just well educated, but friendly, disciplined, but polite, speaks very good English and on top of that – very good looking! 

The following day seemed like a storm was looming, but my heart was happy to witness snow! Again! After so many years… When sunshine finally filled the city, it felt like Christmas morning! I woke up to a Winter Wonderland! I will never forget that stunning oil-based painting from outside my window. God is such an artist! Thank you Copenhagen! You made me the happiest girl!

Write it in your heart, that everyday is the best day of the year. - RW Emerson

Lost in Beijing

I've been busy as a buzzing bee flying from one flower to the next in search for the sweetest nectar. Too busy, that even taking a peek into my blog needs to be rostered for duty. I won't lie that I've been so caught up at work but never have I stopped savouring every journey. Re-visiting my first Wonder of the World makes the best way to mark my half-a-year now living in Doha. Forgive if my upcoming posts are a bit dusty from my archive! 

One of the best and unforgettable layovers I had happened in Beijing - Home to one of the World's Wonders. I am above and beyond to share this experience with the loveliest crew anyone could have with onboard. Girls from every corner of the world, from totally different backgrounds but sharing the same flame was truly Godsend! We were the self-proclaimed #ChineseSheikhas representing The Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Kenya, Romania and Serbia. The flight bound to Beijing gave me the gift to view the Himalayas in broad daylight. That alone was a #HappyMoment right there. 

Upon reaching the hotel, us girls had already arranged with the concierge for a bus to take us to The Great Wall and The Forbidden City. Haggling (more like, bargaining and negotiating) is highly recommended in China. With just 4 hours of sleep, we were out and about! 

The Great Wall of China  

But first, The Great Wall of China. Surrounded with the most beautiful of landscapes I'd only seen in movies before like Mulan and Kung Fu Panda. The trees, mountain ranges, lakes and the simplest sight of flowers (or cows) made our hearts flutter - for people coming out of the sandpit. But that was just the cherry on top of the cherry. Beijing's weather was perfect on a mid-October's day. We took a Cable Car ride up the Great Walls seeing the thick foliage beneath our feet and the empty sky above us - and there I was - making it on top one of the Seven Wonder's of the World, standing strong for over 600 years. I couldn't have felt more alive and grateful. A lot of tourists still make their way to this landmark which is part of human history. I think going up is as exhilarating as going down The Great Wall thru the Tobaggo Slide ride! A good 20mins. sliding downhill on a cart with only a stop-and-go stick shift made me feel like a Happy Kid again! (Caught in video!) 

The Forbidden City

     

Seeing the entrance gate to this historical place brought me back to the days I saw it printed on my SIBIKA or HEKASI textbooks. The suddenness made me feel walking into and being part of history. We appreciated the Chinese temples, palaces and the Imperial Garden housed within. Beijing is also where we found the most fluffiest and fat feline and canine friends which brought wearing fur to a whole new level! Getting lost in Beijing with just a few hours for minimum rest and bearing in mind you have a flight (to operate) got our hearts pounding. Not to mention the language barrier to make things a little bit more exciting. We found (lost) ourselves in the massive Tiananmen city square and saw the palace by misadventure. That has made the sweating and experience all the more worth it.

Getting back to the hotel was a whole other story when the car won't start for us! As our flight was just a few hours away, we couldn't stay put and went on to grab a taxi - sleeping there like a baby out of too much adrenaline and exhaustion. Only to find out later, our flight is (thankfully!) delayed for another hour. Time and again, things do happen for a reason.

That leaves me ecstatic than ever, for I have only 6 more Wonders of the World to go! :)

First Flight

Fast forward to operating my first flight EVER! My roster gave me the privilege of having a double sector flight that is Doha-Abu Dhabi-Doha, Doha-Dubai-Doha. Yes, back-to-back flights for a Junior and no-previous-flying-experience crew like me! That day was the most nerve-wracking. I have woken up way ahead of my alarm clock and couldn't sleep well partly because of adrenaline. 

On my first ride in the crew bus, I had the time to chit chat with a Cabin Senior in her gray hat and uniform and seeming years of experience under her belt. She was friendly enough to ask me if it were my first flight because of my big staff number haha! But then she told me that I'll do just fine and not to panic. That and her smile reassured me for the flight and the rest of the day as we parted our ways at the Technical Building. After signing in for my flight, I met my crew at the Briefing Room. Here we make our rounds of introduction, safety and first aid questions and assignment of work positions. It gets nerve-wracking but you shouldn't let it get the best of you, instead give it the best of you. I am glad that I have reviewed the night before the flight so I was able to answer with confidence. The briefing room is a place where everything you've learned during training rushes to your head. For me, this is the time of showing how competent/fit you are for the flight, commanding respect from others as well as representing your country! I might be the youngest and newest member of the crew complement but here's the catch, most of my crew were first-timers as well as it was even my Sri Lankan CS' (Cabin Senior) first solo! It made me realize a lot - about myself being capable of things I never knew I could and of others - to trust and learn from them. I was obviously a floater assisting my co-crews and occupied a passenger seat instead of a jumpseat as it was (thankfully!) a light load flight. It is rewarding to receive complements from my Seniors and to be guided on the process.

What made completing my First Flight an incredible, unforgettable and special one is that I did it on my Mom's Birthday! August 3, 2015 is a day that will forever be engraved in my heart. It's a happy feeling! I'm a firm believer that this has been written by God all along! I would never have thought or dreamt of it myself. He really has a plan and a future set apart for us. See how amazing God is?

Wings Day

From the day I have received mine and my batchies 'wings' to fly, to ditching in Dubai, to operating my first flight (two observation flights), first solo flight and first layover later - the feeling of getting high and floating mid air still lingers. I've been a very busy bee this past week alone and I feel that this time should be allotted to express and share my stories!

As the month of July came to a close, it was the opening of a whole new chapter of our lives! We made it. We had our Wings Day, our Graduation Day from training for that matter. It was the culmination of all the hard work - physically, mentally, emotionally, practical and written exams - we've put through out the training. We've earned our licenses, pins and name badges engraved in a gold metal plate next to Oscar (the Oryx). Our trainee days may be over, but the learning never stops!

We had a few speeches throughout the day which reminded us of our responsibilities/duties we were trained for, how we should uphold being part of this bigger family, how we should be proud every time we wear our uniforms. To think that for every 3,000 applicants on a recruitment day, only 50 goes on forwards, and we get to be one of them. It is a rare privilege to be part of this family. That alone made me tear up a bit, when flashes of memory came back when I too was lining up outside a hotel lobby along with thousands of other hopefuls.

I would love to write a dedicated blog to our ditching drills in Dubai at the Emirates Training Center, but for now, let me just say how impressed I am of the facilities and simulators EK can boast of. Back when I was living in Dubai, I would just stare out the car windows on our way to DFC as we pass by the Crew Training Center with it's Aircraft-shaped building and wondering to myself - how or will I ever get to enter that place? Emirates' facilities are unspoken of. 

God, is just amazing for blessing me this once in a lifetime kind of experience! I remember when I used to live in Deira, our building was right next to a travel agency with a huge Qatar Airways ad of a Cabin Attendant in full uniform. Every time I would pass by it going to and from work, I can't help but stare at it like a mood board or inspiration. Now, I am staring right back at the girl in Burgundy. When I was in High School, we were asked to write our favourite quotation on our class bulletin board. Most of the class quoted writers/authors/novelists/thinkers, but me being a deviant wrote simply "Follow your dreams, wherever they may take you."

Twenty One

Another year older, and I hope wiser, braver, stronger. Gone past the legal age twice my life! (Whew!) Honestly, I am struggling writing this to gather my thoughts and come up grateful for the past and what's present. As I reach my 21st year, I can make a list of many of my firsts! First time celebrating it away from home and family makes me feel changed. Twenty-one gives me the ticket for being independent and responsible of myself too. Something which can be a beauty, but if not handled with care, can turn out a disaster.
 

June 30th fell just in time for Ramadan. It's a whole new experience added to my treasure trove. Hence, my cousins and I decided for a little pre-birthday celebration in my happy place - the beach! I felt like living up to my birth month as a Summer Baby (haha!). I earnestly waited to catch sundown and Jumeirah Beach did not disappoint. I thank God for waking me at every sunrise, letting me witness gorgeous sunsets and getting me to dig my toes in the sand. It kept my faith that I can still do things to make life worth living.
 

On the birth-day, the whole family were together during Iftar and it was such a feast! Just the right warmth and company to spend anyone's special day. They say, at Twenty-one, you are just beginning. You still have a long way to go. You are at the peak of your life, career (and lovelife, to add). And though I might be going through tough Mid-life Crises, "Life is just starting out for you." (this I remind myself often) It's not always happy, but there sure is a lot to be thankful for, ALWAYS! My prayer is that God grant me the strength and wisdom everyday, to live according to His purpose He's set apart for me and guide me all throughout this journey. I am left with excitement for more of many firsts and adventures! And wonder where I might be next time?



Those final sunsets as Twenteen! Where have all the years gone? :)