April 1, 1993
Well, here I am. Home. Tim picked me up at the airport and I cried like a baby as soon as I saw him but truth be told I am happy to be here. As soon as we opened the door to our apartment Louie stretched out and wouldn't stop meowing. I'm happy today. When they told me I failed and had to go home, they let me know I could call as soon as my class graduated and set up another interview to try and come back. I really don't think that I will. Why would I want to work for a company that treats people the way that woman treated me?
April 5, 1993
My old boss from Boston Trolley Tours offered me a job selling tickets until I figure out what I'm doing. That was a huge relief considering I'm broke. Our lease is up next month and Tim is still moving to the cape. I really don't know what I want to do. I would rather stay in the city but I would have to find room mates and figure out what to do. I definitely don't want to go back to giving tours. I can't!
April 8, 1993
Ok, I am going to call the airline and ask for an interview. I can't sell tickets for trolley tours the rest of my life, and my mom had a good point. When I told her I couldn't work for the airline after the way I was treated and I definitely couldn't go back and kiss that instructors ass for six weeks, she said, "I understand, but sometimes you have to ask yourself if your decision is good for your long term plans. If you suck it up and kiss that instructors ass for the short term to get what YOU want in the long term is it worth it? Why give up what you want because of her?" I thought that was a good point! I'm ready to go back. I just can't believe I have to wait and re-interview!
April 17, 1993
My original flight attendant class graduated yesterday. My friends at work all took me out to Las Brisas after work to lighten the blow. It was fun to hang out, everyone was pretty trashed especially Steve. We walked through Faneuil Hall around 2am and Steve told us he really wanted a sausage from the cart outside (gross) but the guy was closing up and wouldn't sell him one. Well, that wasn't good enough for Steve, he offered the guy hundred dollars for a sausage! I swear! I still can't believe it. Debbie and I laughed so hard we almost peed our pants!! I'm still laughing! I'm sure he woke up this morning wondering where the @*&^%# his money was!
April 19, 1993
I called the airline today and I have an interview set up for Wednesday. I'm taking the first flight out in the morning to Houston and flying back the same day!
April 21, 1993
It's the end of a long day, and the good news is I head back to training June 8. The woman I met with today was really nice and told me I had a great attitude about everything. She said the only reason they don't give people another chance is when their attitude is poor and they try to blame everyone else for not being successful.
Guess I fooled her!
April 23, 1993
After work today I went to the book store and looked through the whole travel section. I can't wait to get back to training and start flying. I wonder a year from now, where will I have been? I'm excited again!
*note to younger self: Things really did work out for the best, one of your best friends today becomes your room mate this time around in training. And where did you get to go that first year? Lets just say you needed your passport for your very first trip;-)
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
TRAINING: PART ONE
March 13, 1993
Wow! They have us so busy, this is the first chance I have had to write. I don't know where to begin! The hotel is nice, my room mate is nice but young. She's only twenty! She says she is only going to do this for a few years and then she's going to med school...whatever! Why does she have to act like she's better than this? I am here to do the same thing she is. Anyway, she also says she's engaged, why would you want to be engaged at twenty? It won't last.
Our bus picks us up at the hotel every day at 7:45am, class starts at 8am. I hate getting up so early but it's worth it. The first day we had a test on city codes and filled out more paper work. We also introduced ourselves by standing up in front of everyone and saying three things about ourselves, two truths and one lie and then everyone had to guess the lie. My lie was that Elvis was my biological father. So, stupid but I couldn't think of anything else. One girl said her boobs were real and that was obviously a lie. I couldn't believe she said that, it was really funny!
Everyday we have a test! We are learning all the aircraft types and every morning we come in we have a test. We can only fail one test and if we have to take a make up test it won't be multiple choice it will be fill in the blanks. Luckily its not hard, it's just memorization, but it is stressful. We started out with sixty people and five have already been sent home! Four people were sent home the second day after we were weighed! They didn't look fat to me, in fact one girl was all muscle. She had said she was a soccer player and was worried about her weight. The other person failed their second test. The worst part is, that you don't know they are leaving. We went back into the room to watch a film and the lights were out. When the lights came back on they were gone!! Too freaky!
I am happy it is the weekend, a bunch of us went out last night to an area where there are a bunch of clubs. It was fun, but weird, the guys all wear cowboy hats here. Boots too! You'd never see that in Boston. We finally left that area and went to a gay club and had a blast dancing, this guy Derek in my class knew about it. He is from Houston, and he is so funny and so gay. I think he's my new best friend. He makes us laugh all day, which is much needed. I think a bunch of us are having a party in his room tonight.
March 18, 1993
Tim and I talk almost every night for a few minutes, I can't imagine what the phone bill will be! I'm too busy to really think about or miss him which is good. Seems like the tables have turned because he says he misses me pretty bad.
March 22, 1993
Today was fun. We did our ditching. We had to jump in the pool with our clothes on and board a life raft and go through all the procedures. It got to be claustrophobic by the end because you put up a canopy and you're under there with a ton of people. It was cool to learn about all the equipment but if I ever land in the ocean they better find us fast! I can't deal with that cold water!
March 29, 1993
We have service drills this week. We have to practice doing a service on a mock up airplane. I am going to be first class on a four hour flight at dinner time. It seems pretty easy, you only get two tries but it's not like next week when we do evacuation drills. I heard that is very stressful and hard. That's where the most people get sent home.
March 31, 1993
I am on my way home. I still can't believe I failed my service drills. Only me and one other person. I know it was because the instructor didn't like me. I corrected her on something I was right about and we kind of argued it out in front of the class. She is such a bitch, I hate her!
When they told me, I couldn't get out of there fast enough! I had to make this flight, the 1:30pm. Otherwise I would have had to wait until 6:00pm and I would have to see my room mate.
I called my mom collect from the airport. She thought I was kidding until I started balling over the phone. At this point I just can't wait to get home and see my mom, Tim and Louie. (Louie was my cat)
*Note to younger self: Where do you get off judging your room mate and that's too funny that she was "young" to you when you were twenty three and the thirty year old in your class was "old!" Your phone bills will be astronomical for the next several years, you would have been smart to save that money instead! And yes, the woman who sent you home is a bitch, I know her now and she cost us about 300 numbers in seniority! Oh yeah, they also dropped the weight requirement so, imagine how those people feel, and they no longer "test" you on service!
Wow! They have us so busy, this is the first chance I have had to write. I don't know where to begin! The hotel is nice, my room mate is nice but young. She's only twenty! She says she is only going to do this for a few years and then she's going to med school...whatever! Why does she have to act like she's better than this? I am here to do the same thing she is. Anyway, she also says she's engaged, why would you want to be engaged at twenty? It won't last.
Our bus picks us up at the hotel every day at 7:45am, class starts at 8am. I hate getting up so early but it's worth it. The first day we had a test on city codes and filled out more paper work. We also introduced ourselves by standing up in front of everyone and saying three things about ourselves, two truths and one lie and then everyone had to guess the lie. My lie was that Elvis was my biological father. So, stupid but I couldn't think of anything else. One girl said her boobs were real and that was obviously a lie. I couldn't believe she said that, it was really funny!
Everyday we have a test! We are learning all the aircraft types and every morning we come in we have a test. We can only fail one test and if we have to take a make up test it won't be multiple choice it will be fill in the blanks. Luckily its not hard, it's just memorization, but it is stressful. We started out with sixty people and five have already been sent home! Four people were sent home the second day after we were weighed! They didn't look fat to me, in fact one girl was all muscle. She had said she was a soccer player and was worried about her weight. The other person failed their second test. The worst part is, that you don't know they are leaving. We went back into the room to watch a film and the lights were out. When the lights came back on they were gone!! Too freaky!
I am happy it is the weekend, a bunch of us went out last night to an area where there are a bunch of clubs. It was fun, but weird, the guys all wear cowboy hats here. Boots too! You'd never see that in Boston. We finally left that area and went to a gay club and had a blast dancing, this guy Derek in my class knew about it. He is from Houston, and he is so funny and so gay. I think he's my new best friend. He makes us laugh all day, which is much needed. I think a bunch of us are having a party in his room tonight.
March 18, 1993
Tim and I talk almost every night for a few minutes, I can't imagine what the phone bill will be! I'm too busy to really think about or miss him which is good. Seems like the tables have turned because he says he misses me pretty bad.
March 22, 1993
Today was fun. We did our ditching. We had to jump in the pool with our clothes on and board a life raft and go through all the procedures. It got to be claustrophobic by the end because you put up a canopy and you're under there with a ton of people. It was cool to learn about all the equipment but if I ever land in the ocean they better find us fast! I can't deal with that cold water!
March 29, 1993
We have service drills this week. We have to practice doing a service on a mock up airplane. I am going to be first class on a four hour flight at dinner time. It seems pretty easy, you only get two tries but it's not like next week when we do evacuation drills. I heard that is very stressful and hard. That's where the most people get sent home.
March 31, 1993
I am on my way home. I still can't believe I failed my service drills. Only me and one other person. I know it was because the instructor didn't like me. I corrected her on something I was right about and we kind of argued it out in front of the class. She is such a bitch, I hate her!
When they told me, I couldn't get out of there fast enough! I had to make this flight, the 1:30pm. Otherwise I would have had to wait until 6:00pm and I would have to see my room mate.
I called my mom collect from the airport. She thought I was kidding until I started balling over the phone. At this point I just can't wait to get home and see my mom, Tim and Louie. (Louie was my cat)
*Note to younger self: Where do you get off judging your room mate and that's too funny that she was "young" to you when you were twenty three and the thirty year old in your class was "old!" Your phone bills will be astronomical for the next several years, you would have been smart to save that money instead! And yes, the woman who sent you home is a bitch, I know her now and she cost us about 300 numbers in seniority! Oh yeah, they also dropped the weight requirement so, imagine how those people feel, and they no longer "test" you on service!
ANTICIPATING
These entries are from the few weeks I had at home until I left for training. Tony was my boss at the time. I worked at Land Mark realty in the North End of Boston.
February 11, 1993
I still can't believe I am leaving for training in a three weeks. Tim is over the top excited for me, which bothers me because he knows that I am going to have to move and I don't think he plans on moving with me. I have know idea what to think. I asked him if he would move to Denver with me and he said, no! He just keeps telling me, "I'm so happy for you!" Are we breaking up? I don't get him. I also told my boss, Tony today and she said, " Oh, my God! That's perfect!" That is the perfect job for you!" I guess she doesn't think me working for her is the perfect job for me. I don't know why I feel bad, it's true, I've been working in real estate for six months now and still haven't sold anything. I made so much money off the rentals, I wish that lasted. Well, I'm not going to let them get to me, I have way to much to do. I have to find my High School Diploma....who knows where that is. I have to fill out a gazillion forms for a government background check. The airline does a ten year background check, ummm, I was thirteen ten years ago. What do they want to know? Who I babysat? And, they already sent me stuff to study. I have to know the airport city codes before I even get there. I'm heading to my Moms tomorrow to find my HS Diploma.
February 17, 1993
I guess it is official, Tim and I are giving up our apartment. The lease will be up in two months. I'll be away at training which means I've had to start packing. I started today and I am freaked out by what I found. That psychic, Katrina that I went to two years ago, well, I found the tape. Freaky! I can't believe I thought she was such a rip off. I left there thinking she didn't get anything right...well I couldn't have been more wrong! I played the tape while I was packing up my apartment today and the beginning really didn't say much but then all of a sudden it caught my attention:
Katrina: "I see you going away, packing and unpacking. Then going away again, packing and unpacking." Have you ever thought about being a flight attendant?"
me: "Noooooo!"
Katrina: "Well, I see you doing this. you are definitely traveling and you will go to some sort of training, six weeks in length."
Guess how long training is? Six weeks!! How freaky is that?
February 24, 1993
Found my high school diploma...finally. In a box of crap. In my mothers basement.
February 27, 1993
Tim is going to move to the Cape for the summer and work at the coffee shop his sister is opening up. Guess he's not planning on moving with me. Hmmmm.
March 2, 1993
I'm packed and ready to go....six more days.
March 8, 1993
I'm here! I am at the hotel and I start training tomorrow. I almost didn't make it! I really almost didn't make it. I got to the airport and realized I didn't have my new passport wallet. The wallet that has all of my I.D. I couldn't let that stop me, I would lose my chance of being a flight attendant for sure. Tim and my mom were with me and I thought about sending one of them to get my wallet but we didn't have time. I asked a female gate agent for help, I told her my wallet was stolen. ( I had to!) She was not too nice and I don't think she was going to help me. I was about to give up when my mom said, "go ask the male gate agent, he'll help you!" When I gave her a look, even Tim said, "yeah she's right go to the guy."
It worked, he gave me my ticket. My mom fed-exed my ID and passport after she left the airport!
It was hard to say goodbye. Tim said, "I think I've been so happy for you, I hadn't thought about how this is going to affect me." Ughhh, what have I been trying to say????
I got on the plane and sat next to two other girls going to training. Marcy and Jill. Marcy, who became my roommate was sitting at the window, Jill was in the middle and I sat on the aisle. I know I was wearing a blazer and maybe my face looks chunky but I was surprised when Marcy looked at Jill and said, "I know you're not worried about the weight requirement, but are you?" (directed at me!) Ummm, no! I'm 117 lbs and at my height they allow you to be 138! Well when we got to our hotel room and I changed my clothes, she then said, "Wow, you're so skinny, I can't believe I said that to you earlier!" Phewww, I thought I looked fat!
I can't believe I am here, this is too exciting! First test tomorrow!
*Note to younger self: You've come a long way baby! Did you really need all that luggage? If you look closely you can see another full size suitcase to the left....what you can't see is another huge duffel bag, which was filled with just shoes. Love the mis-match too...lovely! I'm proud to say you can now do a week anywhere with just your one roller: )
February 11, 1993
I still can't believe I am leaving for training in a three weeks. Tim is over the top excited for me, which bothers me because he knows that I am going to have to move and I don't think he plans on moving with me. I have know idea what to think. I asked him if he would move to Denver with me and he said, no! He just keeps telling me, "I'm so happy for you!" Are we breaking up? I don't get him. I also told my boss, Tony today and she said, " Oh, my God! That's perfect!" That is the perfect job for you!" I guess she doesn't think me working for her is the perfect job for me. I don't know why I feel bad, it's true, I've been working in real estate for six months now and still haven't sold anything. I made so much money off the rentals, I wish that lasted. Well, I'm not going to let them get to me, I have way to much to do. I have to find my High School Diploma....who knows where that is. I have to fill out a gazillion forms for a government background check. The airline does a ten year background check, ummm, I was thirteen ten years ago. What do they want to know? Who I babysat? And, they already sent me stuff to study. I have to know the airport city codes before I even get there. I'm heading to my Moms tomorrow to find my HS Diploma.
February 17, 1993
I guess it is official, Tim and I are giving up our apartment. The lease will be up in two months. I'll be away at training which means I've had to start packing. I started today and I am freaked out by what I found. That psychic, Katrina that I went to two years ago, well, I found the tape. Freaky! I can't believe I thought she was such a rip off. I left there thinking she didn't get anything right...well I couldn't have been more wrong! I played the tape while I was packing up my apartment today and the beginning really didn't say much but then all of a sudden it caught my attention:
Katrina: "I see you going away, packing and unpacking. Then going away again, packing and unpacking." Have you ever thought about being a flight attendant?"
me: "Noooooo!"
Katrina: "Well, I see you doing this. you are definitely traveling and you will go to some sort of training, six weeks in length."
Guess how long training is? Six weeks!! How freaky is that?
February 24, 1993
Found my high school diploma...finally. In a box of crap. In my mothers basement.
February 27, 1993
Tim is going to move to the Cape for the summer and work at the coffee shop his sister is opening up. Guess he's not planning on moving with me. Hmmmm.
March 2, 1993
I'm packed and ready to go....six more days.
March 8, 1993
I'm here! I am at the hotel and I start training tomorrow. I almost didn't make it! I really almost didn't make it. I got to the airport and realized I didn't have my new passport wallet. The wallet that has all of my I.D. I couldn't let that stop me, I would lose my chance of being a flight attendant for sure. Tim and my mom were with me and I thought about sending one of them to get my wallet but we didn't have time. I asked a female gate agent for help, I told her my wallet was stolen. ( I had to!) She was not too nice and I don't think she was going to help me. I was about to give up when my mom said, "go ask the male gate agent, he'll help you!" When I gave her a look, even Tim said, "yeah she's right go to the guy."
It worked, he gave me my ticket. My mom fed-exed my ID and passport after she left the airport!
It was hard to say goodbye. Tim said, "I think I've been so happy for you, I hadn't thought about how this is going to affect me." Ughhh, what have I been trying to say????
I got on the plane and sat next to two other girls going to training. Marcy and Jill. Marcy, who became my roommate was sitting at the window, Jill was in the middle and I sat on the aisle. I know I was wearing a blazer and maybe my face looks chunky but I was surprised when Marcy looked at Jill and said, "I know you're not worried about the weight requirement, but are you?" (directed at me!) Ummm, no! I'm 117 lbs and at my height they allow you to be 138! Well when we got to our hotel room and I changed my clothes, she then said, "Wow, you're so skinny, I can't believe I said that to you earlier!" Phewww, I thought I looked fat!
I can't believe I am here, this is too exciting! First test tomorrow!
*Note to younger self: You've come a long way baby! Did you really need all that luggage? If you look closely you can see another full size suitcase to the left....what you can't see is another huge duffel bag, which was filled with just shoes. Love the mis-match too...lovely! I'm proud to say you can now do a week anywhere with just your one roller: )
WHAT DO I WANT TO DO WITH MY LIFE????
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I'm starting a new post series! I get a lot of questions about when, how, and why I started flying and since I kept journals for most of my life, I thought I would share excerpts from the beginning of my career. Each week I will add a few more entries and take you through my flight attendant training and beyond.
I'm starting with my journal entry from 2/3/93. I was twenty three at the time and clueless about what I wanted to do with my life. I didn't finish college, I had worked as a tour guide in Boston, driving sightseeing trolleys, and had my real estate license. Nothing was fueling me...I needed to find my passion in life. I was also, in a three year relationship with Tim and neither of us was ready for marriage...it was time to move on and I needed an excuse!
(the post pic is the original ad I answered from the Sunday Boston Globe...my mom doctored it up and superimposed my face into the ad)
February 3, 1993
Tim and I picked up my mom on the way down to the Cape today. I've been thinking about how I need to do something different with my life. I don't want to go back to school, I'm not really into this real estate thing anymore, rentals were fun and great money last summer but I can't seem to get into sales. We had a nice day, drove down Rte 6A had lunch, stopped in a few stores along the way. As we drove back I decided to let my mom and Tim in on my thoughts, I told them I am thinking about becoming a flight Attendant. I don't think they took me too seriously, the conversation quickly turned back to something else. I think it would be a good job for me, at least for a few years. I'll get the paper this Sunday and see if any of the airlines are hiring. Tim told me not to get too excited about it, because even if an airline was hiring, people try for years to get on with an airline,it's not just something you "decide" to do. I understand what he is saying but it can't hurt to try. I have to do something. Things with us are going no where fast, it's not like I want to get married, but he doesn't even want to think about it as a possibility someday. I have to figure out what to do with my life!
February 7, 1993
I got the paper today, and there is an open house for "dream job airline!!" It's on Tuesday at 8:30am and 1pm! I'm going to the 8:30!! I have to wear business attire. I can't believe they are hiring! I can't wait. I told Tim, he's excited for me. This is great, I can be a flight attendant and live on the Cape! February 8, 1993 I'm ready for tomorrow, a complete nervous wreck but ready. I have no idea what to expect. I wish I had someone to go with.
February 9, 1993
I can't believe it!! I have a second interview tomorrow, actually a third. Today, I got there at 7:40am and there were so many people there, at least 200! I almost left, they all looked like they knew what they were doing and I felt so alone. Two attractive women who turned out to be flight attendants, opened the doors at 8:30m sharp and invited us into the room. We all sat down and listened as they told us about the job (sounds crazy exciting) and what it is like to be a flight attendant.They said if we weren't willing to move, this was not the job for us. Everything they told us was great!! The flight benefits, traveling, meeting new people! I want this! Then came the scary part! We had to stand up in front of all those people and tell everyone who we are and then tell everyone about a customer service experience we are proud of. I almost left again, but I would have been more embarrassed getting up and walking out. When my turn came, I figured I could do it, I mean after all I gave tours of Boston to 35 people at a time for 3 years, I could do this! Wow, when I stood up and faced the crowd of about 200 people, I almost died! It is very different than talking to 35 people! I know I turned 100 shades of red and stumbled over my words. When I was done I wanted to ask them if I could come back at 1pm and try again because it was so bad. Now that I knew what to expect, I could do it! Only I didn't have to!!!! After everyone spoke they had us fill out self addressed envelopes, they told us this was how they would let us know whether of not we were hired. On the way out of the room we handed our envelopes to one of the flight attendants, well when I handed her mine, she told me she had a question about my address, would I please stand to the side for a moment. Five of us were asked to stay, and it wasn't for a question about our address, but they didn't say much to us. We were brought upstairs to another set of rooms and asked to sit in the hallway. After about ten minutes we went in a room and took a test. I think it was some kind of psychological test because it was repetitive and was asking questions about stealing from previous jobs etc. After we took the test we waited in the hallway again...it seemed like forever! Finally, three of us were asked to follow to another room. I have no idea where the other two went. We each had a one on one interview with one of four flight attendants there. And, guess what??? I am going back tomorrow for another interview! I have a feeling, no I know I am going to be a flight attendant. Again, Tim told me not to get too excited and his sister said the same thing. I guess she tried to get hired years back and didn't have any luck. It doesn't matter, I just know! For some reason I know!!
February 10, 1993
Exactly one week from when I decided that maybe I should be a flight attendant...I am invited to flight attendant training!! (I found out your not officially a flight attendant until you graduate from training.) My last interview was intense, I had two flight attendants interview me at the same time! So, nerve racking. I smiled the entire time, my mouth hurt from smiling so much. I met up with Tim at the Boston public library, I think he is more excited for me than I am, (I think) and I'm excited! We drove down to Plymouth to tell my mom, she is even more excited than both me and Tim together if that is possible. She told me it's like she just won the lottery, meaning she is already planning her trips with her free flights. All she could talk about was all the places she wanted to go! I still can't believe it, I can't sleep, I leave for training in three weeks, and I have a ton of things to do before I go!
*Note to younger self: You'll soon find out that although things come easily for you...the hard part usually follows, as in this case: stay tuned for Barbie Boot Camp!
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