In this line of business, it is not unusual to see peculiar human quirks. Infact, we're surrounded by them. After a relatively short amount of time, you become more or less immune to the general idiosyncrasies of nature.
Person changing their baby's diaper on the tray table? Alrighty then!
Old man attempting to take a piss in the back galley drain because he couldn't find the lav? Okaaaay. (Yes, this really happened.)
And yet, even so, it seems every so often I am completely confounded by what I see.
Such a case occured when I was introducing myself to my new crew members on a 4 day trip. So far I've had great fellow flight attendants to work with (okay, with a few exceptions) and I was pretty excited to see what the roll of the scheduling dice had brought together.
This time around it was a double testosterone dose; one straight, one gay. The straight guy, was a tall goofy dude, and the gay man...well...he was unlike anyone I'd ever seen before.
Because his beard was painted on. In black shoe paint.
I don't mean he had dyed his facial hair. I mean, he had no facial hair and he had overcompensated for this by putting some sort of paint on his face in a full beard design. Goofy noticed this right away, and shot me incredulous glances. He relentlessly made fun of the poor guy behind his back (which is probably why the Bearded Fairy stayed in the back the entire trip). I, on the other hand, could not find it in my heart to stare awkwardly at this thing that was absolutely impossible not to notice.
He almost seemed to be begging for somebody to say something, yet he never brought it up himself. So, for the duration of the 4 days, my conscience was wrought with the dilemma:
Do I say something? Or do I pretend to pretend its not there?
OH, THE THINGS THEY DO NOT PREPARE YOU FOR IN FLIGHT ATTENDANT TRAINING!!!!
I ended up deciding to go with the polite option, and not say anything (despite multiple questions from the captain, and several passengers).
When it got hot in the back of the 737, and the paint started to run down his chin, I practically had to shut my own tongue in a galley drawer to prevent myself from making an awkward comment.
I had hoped after awhile, I'd stop noticing it; much like someone who has a giant mole or a one eye larger than the other, or a peg leg. But no! It got progressively more difficult, as BF seemed to be oblivious himself.
"Why are those TSA boys staring at my face? I can't help it if I'm pretty. Haters."
Yeesh! What would you have done in my situation?!
{A flight attendant's memos from her office in the sky}
Monday, July 29, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
How To Negotiate With Flight Attendant Scheduling Like A Pro
As a reserve flight attendant, the #1 thing you can do to get the best trips is learn to negotiate with scheduling. They pretty much have your life in their hands—there's no way around it. I've only been on the job about 4 months, so by no means am I a pro, but if you're also new (or thinking about becoming a flight attendant), it might behoove you to take notes on some of what I've learned so far.
1. Stay updated. I made this #1 for a reason. Get a mobile app that allows you see all open trips (ours is called Catcrew and can be found here); when they're leaving, when they're coming back, where they're going, who is flying, what type of aircraft, the layovers, the total hours you'll be paid, etc. I do this throughout the day to see where I am in the lineup to be called ("what number are you today" is a very common question among reserves) but most specifically at around 3 PM I check and see what trips are available and watch them slowly disappear as future scheduling starts calling. That way, when it comes time for me to be called, I know exactly what trips are open, and I don't have to keep my scheduler on the phone asking all the questions that I could've found out on my own by simply staying updated.
2. Be polite. Don't think for one minute that scheduling personnel don't put notes in your account about you. If you're rude, or late, or let your temper show, you're bound to get a reputation.
3. Be in the know. Read your contract, and be aware of what is required of you, and what is required of scheduling. Example: take your 90 minutes when you get quick called. If you get asked how quickly you can get to the airport, say you need all 90 minutes, even if you are 15 minutes from the airport with packed bags. Do it.
4. Take the long trips. A 4 day trip might sound exhausting, but remember that you took this job because you wanted to travel. In addition, you'll notice a huge difference in the amount of per diem ( a specified hourly amount your airline will pay as reimbursement for various expenses during the trip) on your paychecks. Those layover hours add up, people. Usually to the tune of a couple extra hundred bucks. So, I say again, those longer trips are worth it!
5. Put yourself on international quick call if you have a yearning desire to go overseas. This way, as soon as a trip comes up and they need a reserve to fill it, you'll be in the first line of duty. However, this could mean getting called in the middle of the night for a 10 hour trip to London. This can suck. But I have a good friend who has gone to Dublin, London and Barcelona right after getting hired, just by putting herself on the international quick call list. Another way to up your odds of getting the international trips is to sit OPR a lot. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.
6. Give them a list on your days off of places you'd like to go. Note that you can only do this on your days off, not when you're already on-call. This way, if something comes up, they'll put you in the queue to get that awesome long overnight in Seattle, or Paris, or Tel Aviv, etc, etc
7. Ask to be released the afternoon before your off days start. I usually call around 7 PM, and ask to be released, so I can leave Charlotte and get an early start flying back to Chattanooga to see Darcy and friends. Or, go on a birthday vacation. It saves you from spending valuable down time commuting to the place you want to be. Also, its a way to cover your butt. If you just skip town while you're on reserve and they catch you off base, you can get fired. Spare yourself the worry and risk and just ask to be released.
8. Never answer the phone on your OFF days. Unless of course, it's the last day of a set of your off days and there giving you a courtesy call about trips that will be available once you go back on call the next day. I usually just let it go voicemail and then playback their intent. Consider your options here; if you answer on an off day, they can give you a trip! So don't answer unless you need the money more than the leisure.
9. With that said, a courtesy call on your last day off around 3 PM is a wonderful opportunity to see what trips are available and get one you'll actually enjoy. Keep your eyes on the open trips screen and when they call, see if you can get one with a late check in. If they call on a Sunday at 3 pm and you get a trip with a check in on Monday at 7 pm, you just basically bartered yourself another day off!
10. Remember they're human, trying to do a job just like you. It's easy to try and villify the person who wakes you up at 3 AM to take a trip across the country, but they have a prime directive just like you do. They have to wrangle flight attendants and pilots and make sure trips are covered. Even if they aren't particularly perky or helpful, remember they are a means to an end and that end is your job. It's not hard to get along. I've seen so many flight attendants get their britches in a wad over scheduling dilemmas, but you should always keep your cool. Once you understand the system, and master the little nuances, you'll be well on your way to getting the trips—and time off—you so want and deserve.
I'm still far from being a pro at this, but I'm learning more and more each day and I want to share that knowledge with people who are even more green at this than me.
With that said, if I forgot anything, or you have some good advice to add, please comment!
Carmen's Tips for Rocking It At Scheduling
1. Stay updated. I made this #1 for a reason. Get a mobile app that allows you see all open trips (ours is called Catcrew and can be found here); when they're leaving, when they're coming back, where they're going, who is flying, what type of aircraft, the layovers, the total hours you'll be paid, etc. I do this throughout the day to see where I am in the lineup to be called ("what number are you today" is a very common question among reserves) but most specifically at around 3 PM I check and see what trips are available and watch them slowly disappear as future scheduling starts calling. That way, when it comes time for me to be called, I know exactly what trips are open, and I don't have to keep my scheduler on the phone asking all the questions that I could've found out on my own by simply staying updated.
2. Be polite. Don't think for one minute that scheduling personnel don't put notes in your account about you. If you're rude, or late, or let your temper show, you're bound to get a reputation.
3. Be in the know. Read your contract, and be aware of what is required of you, and what is required of scheduling. Example: take your 90 minutes when you get quick called. If you get asked how quickly you can get to the airport, say you need all 90 minutes, even if you are 15 minutes from the airport with packed bags. Do it.
4. Take the long trips. A 4 day trip might sound exhausting, but remember that you took this job because you wanted to travel. In addition, you'll notice a huge difference in the amount of per diem ( a specified hourly amount your airline will pay as reimbursement for various expenses during the trip) on your paychecks. Those layover hours add up, people. Usually to the tune of a couple extra hundred bucks. So, I say again, those longer trips are worth it!
5. Put yourself on international quick call if you have a yearning desire to go overseas. This way, as soon as a trip comes up and they need a reserve to fill it, you'll be in the first line of duty. However, this could mean getting called in the middle of the night for a 10 hour trip to London. This can suck. But I have a good friend who has gone to Dublin, London and Barcelona right after getting hired, just by putting herself on the international quick call list. Another way to up your odds of getting the international trips is to sit OPR a lot. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.
6. Give them a list on your days off of places you'd like to go. Note that you can only do this on your days off, not when you're already on-call. This way, if something comes up, they'll put you in the queue to get that awesome long overnight in Seattle, or Paris, or Tel Aviv, etc, etc
7. Ask to be released the afternoon before your off days start. I usually call around 7 PM, and ask to be released, so I can leave Charlotte and get an early start flying back to Chattanooga to see Darcy and friends. Or, go on a birthday vacation. It saves you from spending valuable down time commuting to the place you want to be. Also, its a way to cover your butt. If you just skip town while you're on reserve and they catch you off base, you can get fired. Spare yourself the worry and risk and just ask to be released.
8. Never answer the phone on your OFF days. Unless of course, it's the last day of a set of your off days and there giving you a courtesy call about trips that will be available once you go back on call the next day. I usually just let it go voicemail and then playback their intent. Consider your options here; if you answer on an off day, they can give you a trip! So don't answer unless you need the money more than the leisure.
9. With that said, a courtesy call on your last day off around 3 PM is a wonderful opportunity to see what trips are available and get one you'll actually enjoy. Keep your eyes on the open trips screen and when they call, see if you can get one with a late check in. If they call on a Sunday at 3 pm and you get a trip with a check in on Monday at 7 pm, you just basically bartered yourself another day off!
10. Remember they're human, trying to do a job just like you. It's easy to try and villify the person who wakes you up at 3 AM to take a trip across the country, but they have a prime directive just like you do. They have to wrangle flight attendants and pilots and make sure trips are covered. Even if they aren't particularly perky or helpful, remember they are a means to an end and that end is your job. It's not hard to get along. I've seen so many flight attendants get their britches in a wad over scheduling dilemmas, but you should always keep your cool. Once you understand the system, and master the little nuances, you'll be well on your way to getting the trips—and time off—you so want and deserve.
I'm still far from being a pro at this, but I'm learning more and more each day and I want to share that knowledge with people who are even more green at this than me.
With that said, if I forgot anything, or you have some good advice to add, please comment!
Sunday, July 21, 2013
It's not the years, it's the mileage
“Your flight has been cancelled.”
These are the five words I like least to hear. Ever. Especially when it means I no longer have a way to get back to Charlotte for a 4 day trip I’ll be working early the next day.
Well, curses, I think to myself. What do I do? A quick perusal of my employee flight scheduling website tells me there is a 5 am plane from Chattanooga to Charlotte the next day, but there’s no guarantee it won’t also be cancelled due to this ridiculous weather. Or worse— full from all the people who missed the aforementioned flight that was just cancelled. I can only get on a flight if there is an open seat that hasn’t been sold.
If I don’t get back to Charlotte in time to check in at 8:30, I am royally screwed.
I could take a chance, and hope for the best.
“Or, I could drive you back, and guarantee you make it on time,” said Darcy.
I shake my head.
“It’s a 5-and-a-half hour drive, and we wouldn’t get there until 3 am,” I object. “That would be exhausting for you.”
He shrugged. “We’ll do what we have to do. Bottom line is you need to be back in Charlotte.”
We checked every reputable weather site for information on whether or not the 5 AM flight to Charlotte would be a safe bet, but the results were mixed. Some said it would be clear, but others showed ominous signs of storms moving around the general area.
It looked like driving would be the best option.
The entire way back (and 2 red bulls later) Darcy never complained. I was talkative and excited to go on a “road trip” together at first, but then I passed out asleep for the remaining hour or two of the trip. I had asked him to wake me if he got too fatigued, and needed me to drive awhile, but he never took me up on the offer.
What’s funny is he wasn’t trying to earn “boyfriend points” or use it to lord over me later in some douchey power play. I’ve known couples who do that to each other. It ain’t pretty.
He views it as a part of his duty to the people he loves, and does it without question.
2 hours after we arrived in Charlotte, and crashed in bed, we got a notification that the flight to Charlotte from Chattanooga had left on time. So, the bet we took didn’t pay off. Technically.
But that’s not the point. I’m not even trying to prove that Darcy is the best boyfriend to ever grace this planet (although he is).
One of the toughest things about this job is the relationships we try to maintain back where we came from. A lot of the people I went to training with have gotten divorced or broken up over being a flight attendant. Jealousy or ego or any number of other hidden/ignored relationship problems seem to surface when you require this much freedom in your job. A lesser man would’ve told me I was on my own in the above situation. But he didn’t. Instead, he gave up a weekend night that he could’ve spent with his friends or family, and selflessly made sure I got back to where I needed to be.
If I didn’t make it back to base on time, as a reserve, I could’ve gotten in huge trouble—even fired. It’s no-nonsense in the flight attendant world!
Get with someone who supports you, and doesn’t make you pick between them and your job. Get with someone who compromises and communicates with you. Get with someone who doesn’t have envy issues, or control issues, or any number of other issues that crop up when you have a long-distance relationship.
Anything less isn’t worth your time. As the saying goes, “its not the years, its the mileage”. Aka, its not how long you’ve been together; its how far you’re willing to go to create a healthy relationship that lasts. Trust your instincts. If there is passive aggressive guilt tripping going on, there may be more to the story than your partner is telling you.
I’m not going to sugar coat it for you; having a relationship as a flight attendant doesn’t always work. In fact, it usually doesn’t. As I mentioned before, this job is the end to most romantic relationships because it asks so much of the person you’re leaving at home.
Consider what you need, what you can offer, and what you should/shouldn’t expect from another person. I got very, very lucky with Darcy, and I’ll never take that for granted. When you gamble with your heart, and win big, its worth all the risk in the end.
These are the five words I like least to hear. Ever. Especially when it means I no longer have a way to get back to Charlotte for a 4 day trip I’ll be working early the next day.
Well, curses, I think to myself. What do I do? A quick perusal of my employee flight scheduling website tells me there is a 5 am plane from Chattanooga to Charlotte the next day, but there’s no guarantee it won’t also be cancelled due to this ridiculous weather. Or worse— full from all the people who missed the aforementioned flight that was just cancelled. I can only get on a flight if there is an open seat that hasn’t been sold.
If I don’t get back to Charlotte in time to check in at 8:30, I am royally screwed.
I could take a chance, and hope for the best.
“Or, I could drive you back, and guarantee you make it on time,” said Darcy.
I shake my head.
“It’s a 5-and-a-half hour drive, and we wouldn’t get there until 3 am,” I object. “That would be exhausting for you.”
He shrugged. “We’ll do what we have to do. Bottom line is you need to be back in Charlotte.”
We checked every reputable weather site for information on whether or not the 5 AM flight to Charlotte would be a safe bet, but the results were mixed. Some said it would be clear, but others showed ominous signs of storms moving around the general area.
It looked like driving would be the best option.
The entire way back (and 2 red bulls later) Darcy never complained. I was talkative and excited to go on a “road trip” together at first, but then I passed out asleep for the remaining hour or two of the trip. I had asked him to wake me if he got too fatigued, and needed me to drive awhile, but he never took me up on the offer.
What’s funny is he wasn’t trying to earn “boyfriend points” or use it to lord over me later in some douchey power play. I’ve known couples who do that to each other. It ain’t pretty.
He views it as a part of his duty to the people he loves, and does it without question.
2 hours after we arrived in Charlotte, and crashed in bed, we got a notification that the flight to Charlotte from Chattanooga had left on time. So, the bet we took didn’t pay off. Technically.
But that’s not the point. I’m not even trying to prove that Darcy is the best boyfriend to ever grace this planet (although he is).
One of the toughest things about this job is the relationships we try to maintain back where we came from. A lot of the people I went to training with have gotten divorced or broken up over being a flight attendant. Jealousy or ego or any number of other hidden/ignored relationship problems seem to surface when you require this much freedom in your job. A lesser man would’ve told me I was on my own in the above situation. But he didn’t. Instead, he gave up a weekend night that he could’ve spent with his friends or family, and selflessly made sure I got back to where I needed to be.
If I didn’t make it back to base on time, as a reserve, I could’ve gotten in huge trouble—even fired. It’s no-nonsense in the flight attendant world!
Get with someone who supports you, and doesn’t make you pick between them and your job. Get with someone who compromises and communicates with you. Get with someone who doesn’t have envy issues, or control issues, or any number of other issues that crop up when you have a long-distance relationship.
Anything less isn’t worth your time. As the saying goes, “its not the years, its the mileage”. Aka, its not how long you’ve been together; its how far you’re willing to go to create a healthy relationship that lasts. Trust your instincts. If there is passive aggressive guilt tripping going on, there may be more to the story than your partner is telling you.
I’m not going to sugar coat it for you; having a relationship as a flight attendant doesn’t always work. In fact, it usually doesn’t. As I mentioned before, this job is the end to most romantic relationships because it asks so much of the person you’re leaving at home.
Consider what you need, what you can offer, and what you should/shouldn’t expect from another person. I got very, very lucky with Darcy, and I’ll never take that for granted. When you gamble with your heart, and win big, its worth all the risk in the end.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Sky Snippets: Local Time
One of the worst phone calls a flight attendant can ever receive goes something likes this. Your alarm clock just went off, and you think you have an hour to get ready and your butt down to the hotel lobby to start another day of flying the friendly skies. All of a sudden, you hear your room phone go off.
Its the worst feeling in the world— a sinking sense of dread, anger, dismay and confusion all rolled into one. You bolt out of bed like a ninja and get ready faster than you ever have in your entire life. Belongings are tossed into your bags, and you fervently hope you didn't leave something important behind.
Your crew is uncomfortably nice about it.
"It happens to everybody",
"we wouldn't have just left you."
"We care about you and were worried something had happened"
....yet it doesn't do a thing to make you feel any better about setting the alarm for the wrong time. You make an oath to always check local time, and set your clock accordingly.
*Ring Ring*
Me: H-hello.....?....
Caller: Carmen?
Me: yeah...?
Caller: Where are you? The shuttle is about to leave!
Me: ?!?!?!?!....I thought we were leaving at 5:30! It was written on the envelope with the room key!
Caller: That was written in eastern time. Local time we are leaving at 4:30, aka now.
Me: $%&^*#@
Caller: Yeah. Can you be downstairs in 10 minutes?
Its the worst feeling in the world— a sinking sense of dread, anger, dismay and confusion all rolled into one. You bolt out of bed like a ninja and get ready faster than you ever have in your entire life. Belongings are tossed into your bags, and you fervently hope you didn't leave something important behind.
Your crew is uncomfortably nice about it.
"It happens to everybody",
"we wouldn't have just left you."
"We care about you and were worried something had happened"
....yet it doesn't do a thing to make you feel any better about setting the alarm for the wrong time. You make an oath to always check local time, and set your clock accordingly.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Flight Attendant Approved Shoes
When I went into flight attendant training, I bought a beautiful pair of comfortable pumps. They were kind of pricey, but I did my research; they were made by a trusted, quality brand (Clarks) and all the online reviews said they were super comfy. However, this turned out to be only partially true.
Flight Attendant feet do not just need a shoe that is comfy for "being on your feet all day"
Flight Attendant feet do not just need a shoe that allows you to walk briskly.
Flight Attendant feet do not just need a shoe that looks good with your uniform.
Flight Attendant feet do not just need a shoe that is in compliance with regulations.
[caption id="attachment_495" align="alignnone" width="440"]
image courtesy Dansko.com[/caption]
I'm going to let you in on a little secret:
Flight Attendant feet do not just need a shoe that is comfy for "being on your feet all day"
Flight Attendant feet do not just need a shoe that allows you to walk briskly.
Flight Attendant feet do not just need a shoe that looks good with your uniform.
Flight Attendant feet do not just need a shoe that is in compliance with regulations.
rather:
Flight Attendant feet need a shoe that cushions the foot as your body expands and contracts with the pressure of ascending and descending thousands of feet several times a day in a pressurized cabin.
If you've been a flight attendant for awhile, you'll understand this phenomenon. Your shoes will seem stretched like they were worn by someone 2 sizes larger than you. Your body will feel kind of bloated and your toes will be red and sore.
It's not from the 15 minutes or so that you served drinks, or stood there and did the safety demo. It's the pressure, I tell you!
So, do yourself a big favor and save some time, money and a great deal of foot/leg/lower back pain and buy these shoes!!!
[caption id="attachment_495" align="alignnone" width="440"]
image courtesy Dansko.com[/caption]I was skeptical at first. I thought these Dansko clogs were kind of ugly—like an old lady shoe. I affectionately call these clogs my "Dutch Lesbian" shoes. But now, I'm a believer!
Now I am one of the many ranks of flight attendants who swear by this shoe: it is the most comfortable thing you will ever walk in. They are used by professionals who stand on their feet for hours at a time—nurses, chefs, waiters, etc. They all love them!
But in addition to being super comfortable on the ground, they move with the natural movement of the foot. This is a very big deal.
In other words, your foot expands, the shoe expands with it. The material and shape of the shoe is extremely flexible. You will thank me for this advice. Forget how they look—imagine yourself with sore tired (but fabulously shod) heels, and ask yourself if its worth the pain.
I've come to the conclusion that any shoe, no matter how comfortable they swear it is, that puts the majority of your weight on the ball of your foot is no bueno. It will be painful. Get the clogs, and nix your vanity. They will be more beautiful than you could imagine when your feet aren't aching like your joints aged 7 decades while in the air.
The best news?
These Dansko shoes typically run $120 in stores (believe me, I did the research for the best deals) but through your airline, you can save big $$$ with a company discount. I bought my shoes for about $73. That's over 60% off, people! They last forever, too. I flew with a lady who had owned hers for 10 years, and they were still in great shape! Consider it an investment in you! Check out your company discounts page. Mine had a direct link to the online store, but you may have to print out the discount form and take it to your local Nordstrom, Belk, wherever they're sold in your area. It's absolutely worth it, trust me. They are the most comfortable shoes you'll ever own. And no, I am not getting paid by Dankso to say this. Experience has made me wise!!!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Birthdays at the Beach (Savannah & Tybee Island, GA)
Hello all!
This story started about a month ago when my good friend Schyler decided we were going to party it up in Bermuda for our mid-July birthday (her's is the 12th, mine the 16th) along with her boyfriend Steve and friend Jessie. Incidentally, Jessie also runs a very cool blog about her nomadic lifestyle all over the world. I highly recommend everyone give it a read!
Anyway, Schyler and I have been friends for years, and I credit her job for a regional airline as the original inspiration behind me applying to be a flight attendant. In present day, she and I often chat about the adventuresome places we get to go using our flight benefits.
There's the saying "the best laid plans....oft go astray" and those words were never more truly applicable than this trip. First, there were scheduling issues. We both had to coordinate our schedules to be available for going on this trip. Schyler lives in Newark with Steve, and I live in Charlotte, but somehow the fates aligned so we were able to get the right days off.
Next, Bermuda didn't work out because there weren't enough seats on her airline's flight there. Major bummer—especially since she told me this the day I would be leaving to sail over the ocean blue and I was thisclose to getting on the flight!
Fortunately, we had a back up plan—Savannah, GA and the beaches at Tybee Island. What we didn't expect was how it would rain almost the entire time. Or how the room would have only one queen sized bed instead of two. Jessie ended up opting to sleep on the floor (which sends shivers down my spine remembering the roach which visited us) and I took the reclining armchair (not meant for restful human sleep).
All in all, it was a fabulous trip. When we made it to Savannah, we went straight out to the beach while it was still sunny and enjoyed an entire afternoon of swimming in the water and burying each other in the sand. The next day it rained, but undeterred we spent our time visiting historic houses and popular venues in the downtown area—equipped with an umbrella and indefatigable traveling enthusiasm.
Savannah is a fantastic town to visit; it has such a great vibe of modern trendiness mixed with historic Southern roots and beautiful buildings. If you are into cobblestone streets, cozy B&B's, savory cooking and charming pubs, Savannah is the town for you. In addition, Tybee Island is just a short hop away. I love how the sloped beaches have large tide pools left by the ocean in the morning, which heat up to near spa temperatures during the summer. If you are not an ocean swimmer, you can hang out in the waist-deep tide pools and be just fine.
I'm so glad I got to hang out with Steve, Schyler and Jessie and was a little sad to return home. I've said it before and I'll say it again; I have the best friends anyone could ever hope for, and I can't wait to celebrate my actual natal day back in my hometown of Chattanooga.
As I'm sure you know by now, I'm a huge camera nut, and so of course I took a ton of pictures. You can click thumbnails to enlarge the pictures. I have a shorter gallery of pictures below for your perusal, but if you'd like to see the full horde (and outtakes) of pictures from this adventure, check out my Picasa album here.
[gallery ids="439,475,470,472,465,473,474,469,463,467,464,471,461,456,454,468,460,455,450,449,446,445,447,452,453,448,444,440,441,442"]
As always, thanks for reading! Until next time, catch me if you can!
—Carmen
This story started about a month ago when my good friend Schyler decided we were going to party it up in Bermuda for our mid-July birthday (her's is the 12th, mine the 16th) along with her boyfriend Steve and friend Jessie. Incidentally, Jessie also runs a very cool blog about her nomadic lifestyle all over the world. I highly recommend everyone give it a read!
Anyway, Schyler and I have been friends for years, and I credit her job for a regional airline as the original inspiration behind me applying to be a flight attendant. In present day, she and I often chat about the adventuresome places we get to go using our flight benefits.
There's the saying "the best laid plans....oft go astray" and those words were never more truly applicable than this trip. First, there were scheduling issues. We both had to coordinate our schedules to be available for going on this trip. Schyler lives in Newark with Steve, and I live in Charlotte, but somehow the fates aligned so we were able to get the right days off.
Next, Bermuda didn't work out because there weren't enough seats on her airline's flight there. Major bummer—especially since she told me this the day I would be leaving to sail over the ocean blue and I was thisclose to getting on the flight!
Fortunately, we had a back up plan—Savannah, GA and the beaches at Tybee Island. What we didn't expect was how it would rain almost the entire time. Or how the room would have only one queen sized bed instead of two. Jessie ended up opting to sleep on the floor (which sends shivers down my spine remembering the roach which visited us) and I took the reclining armchair (not meant for restful human sleep).
All in all, it was a fabulous trip. When we made it to Savannah, we went straight out to the beach while it was still sunny and enjoyed an entire afternoon of swimming in the water and burying each other in the sand. The next day it rained, but undeterred we spent our time visiting historic houses and popular venues in the downtown area—equipped with an umbrella and indefatigable traveling enthusiasm.
Savannah is a fantastic town to visit; it has such a great vibe of modern trendiness mixed with historic Southern roots and beautiful buildings. If you are into cobblestone streets, cozy B&B's, savory cooking and charming pubs, Savannah is the town for you. In addition, Tybee Island is just a short hop away. I love how the sloped beaches have large tide pools left by the ocean in the morning, which heat up to near spa temperatures during the summer. If you are not an ocean swimmer, you can hang out in the waist-deep tide pools and be just fine.
I'm so glad I got to hang out with Steve, Schyler and Jessie and was a little sad to return home. I've said it before and I'll say it again; I have the best friends anyone could ever hope for, and I can't wait to celebrate my actual natal day back in my hometown of Chattanooga.
As I'm sure you know by now, I'm a huge camera nut, and so of course I took a ton of pictures. You can click thumbnails to enlarge the pictures. I have a shorter gallery of pictures below for your perusal, but if you'd like to see the full horde (and outtakes) of pictures from this adventure, check out my Picasa album here.
[gallery ids="439,475,470,472,465,473,474,469,463,467,464,471,461,456,454,468,460,455,450,449,446,445,447,452,453,448,444,440,441,442"]
As always, thanks for reading! Until next time, catch me if you can!
—Carmen
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Tally-ho Tampa! (Tampa, FL)
If you live on the eastern end of the US, chances are this is what it looks like outside your door:
[caption id="attachment_421" align="alignnone" width="650"]
the rain down in Charlotte NC[/caption]
In the South, our summers are filled with beautiful sunny mornings, and rainy, dark afternoons/evenings. Its just one of those things. Unfortunately, this often results in flight delays. Aint nobody got time for that!
About the only thing you can do when this happens is go run off somewhere sunny and precipitation-free. Dreary days lead to a bleak mood, and this is no bueno! It's summer! Time to have fun!
This week that delightful getaway happened to be Tampa, Florida.
The Florida flights are usually filled with vacation-hyper children, parents wrangling them, and old people. Lots and lots of old people.
This time around, pretty much everyone was asleep on our way down to the bay (which makes a flight attendant's job a breeze) and we made it to our hotel with plenty of leftover energy to get out and enjoy ourselves.
The first thing I did was check in to my hotel room. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, which is a very comfortable hotel, and conveniently close to the airport.
[caption id="attachment_424" align="alignnone" width="698"]
Image courtesy of Hilton Garden Inn[/caption]
My room sported a comfortable king sized bed, a flat-screen tv, a fridge, microwave and desk area. As all flight attendants who pack their own temperature sensitive food are aware—a room with a fridge and microwave is a huge blessing. Its a very kind consideration for these amenities to be provided by the hotel, so props to Hilton Tampa!
[caption id="attachment_415" align="alignnone" width="642"]
My king sized bed[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_416" align="alignnone" width="642"]
The room came with a microwave and mini-fridge—a very nice touch that not all value hotels offer[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_417" align="alignnone" width="642"]
My nice comfy little desk and chair[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_413" align="alignnone" width="642"]
my vanity area[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_414" align="alignnone" width="642"]
The soap was conveniently labeled for the body part it was best suited for[/caption]
Within walking distance were some strip malls, including a Target, TJ Maxx, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Macy's. I decided to bypass the shopping and went straight for the nearest beach. Tampa's beaches have beautiful white sand and blue-green ocean. In this July heat, the water feels amazing to just soak and swim around in. Remind yourself that you deserve this vacation, and life is too short not to abscond somewhere beautiful for awhile.
[caption id="attachment_428" align="alignnone" width="800"]
Ahhhhh yesss[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_421" align="alignnone" width="650"]
the rain down in Charlotte NC[/caption]In the South, our summers are filled with beautiful sunny mornings, and rainy, dark afternoons/evenings. Its just one of those things. Unfortunately, this often results in flight delays. Aint nobody got time for that!
About the only thing you can do when this happens is go run off somewhere sunny and precipitation-free. Dreary days lead to a bleak mood, and this is no bueno! It's summer! Time to have fun!
This week that delightful getaway happened to be Tampa, Florida.
The Florida flights are usually filled with vacation-hyper children, parents wrangling them, and old people. Lots and lots of old people.
This time around, pretty much everyone was asleep on our way down to the bay (which makes a flight attendant's job a breeze) and we made it to our hotel with plenty of leftover energy to get out and enjoy ourselves.
The first thing I did was check in to my hotel room. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, which is a very comfortable hotel, and conveniently close to the airport.
[caption id="attachment_424" align="alignnone" width="698"]
Image courtesy of Hilton Garden Inn[/caption]My room sported a comfortable king sized bed, a flat-screen tv, a fridge, microwave and desk area. As all flight attendants who pack their own temperature sensitive food are aware—a room with a fridge and microwave is a huge blessing. Its a very kind consideration for these amenities to be provided by the hotel, so props to Hilton Tampa!
[caption id="attachment_415" align="alignnone" width="642"]
My king sized bed[/caption][caption id="attachment_416" align="alignnone" width="642"]
The room came with a microwave and mini-fridge—a very nice touch that not all value hotels offer[/caption][caption id="attachment_417" align="alignnone" width="642"]
My nice comfy little desk and chair[/caption][caption id="attachment_413" align="alignnone" width="642"]
my vanity area[/caption][caption id="attachment_414" align="alignnone" width="642"]
The soap was conveniently labeled for the body part it was best suited for[/caption]Within walking distance were some strip malls, including a Target, TJ Maxx, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Macy's. I decided to bypass the shopping and went straight for the nearest beach. Tampa's beaches have beautiful white sand and blue-green ocean. In this July heat, the water feels amazing to just soak and swim around in. Remind yourself that you deserve this vacation, and life is too short not to abscond somewhere beautiful for awhile.
[caption id="attachment_428" align="alignnone" width="800"]
Ahhhhh yesss[/caption]Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Human Tofu
When you become a flight attendant, you’re told you need to be flexible in order to do well in this line of work. What they don’t tell you is you’ll need flexibility outside of the aircraft just as much as (if not more than) inside it. In fact, I would argue that being a limber-minded individual has very little to do with the actual job, and everything to do with attitude.
For example, a major fork in the road appeared for me and Belle here in Charlotte recently; Jasmine and Aurora will no longer be our roommates. I won’t disclose too many of the details, especially since we’re still in the thick of it, but when push comes to shove, Jasmine didn’t manage her money well and can’t afford her spot on the lease, and Aurora wants to split off and find a place of her own— a much easier undertaking since she was our “crasher” and has never been on the lease. In the mean time, we’re looking at a replacement for Jasmine, and possibly another crasher.
My initial reaction was “are you f*cking kidding me?!” We’re 3 months into the lease, and I was irked that Jasmine thought you could just leave, especially with a week’s notice. As someone who has had experience living on her own for the last 7 years, I find it very irresponsible not to plan ahead and live within one’s means. The mere concept of leaving my roommate’s cheese out in the wind as a direct result of my inability to budget gets me very riled up (can you tell?)
As an accounting major, I’m big on constant financial vigilance and careful planning. This hasn’t always been the case—in my younger years I was a frivolous spender, mainly because I didn’t see the value of planning for a rainy day, but even then I didn’t spend more than I had. In those days I had never experienced “the pinch”, so to speak. Having monthly bills, a credit card and student loans will sober you up quick.
What I have to realize (in more areas than just financial) is that everybody isn’t like me. Everybody doesn’t think like me— even if I’m right.
As Belle kindly reminds me every so often, this too shall pass. We’ve just got to take the right steps to cover our butts and make sure we dot all our i’s and cross all our t’s with bills in this transitory phase.
At the end of the day, the lesson is simple. Flexibility is absolutely essential to survive when you move in with people you’ve known for a month, in a city you’re completely unfamiliar with. Of course gears are going to get warped in the crazy hurdy-gurdy we call flight attendant life. The key is to be what I whimsically call human tofu— blend in with your surroundings, and learn to adapt quickly. Control the factors you can, and don’t give yourself an aneurism over the ones you can’t.
For example, a major fork in the road appeared for me and Belle here in Charlotte recently; Jasmine and Aurora will no longer be our roommates. I won’t disclose too many of the details, especially since we’re still in the thick of it, but when push comes to shove, Jasmine didn’t manage her money well and can’t afford her spot on the lease, and Aurora wants to split off and find a place of her own— a much easier undertaking since she was our “crasher” and has never been on the lease. In the mean time, we’re looking at a replacement for Jasmine, and possibly another crasher.
My initial reaction was “are you f*cking kidding me?!” We’re 3 months into the lease, and I was irked that Jasmine thought you could just leave, especially with a week’s notice. As someone who has had experience living on her own for the last 7 years, I find it very irresponsible not to plan ahead and live within one’s means. The mere concept of leaving my roommate’s cheese out in the wind as a direct result of my inability to budget gets me very riled up (can you tell?)
As an accounting major, I’m big on constant financial vigilance and careful planning. This hasn’t always been the case—in my younger years I was a frivolous spender, mainly because I didn’t see the value of planning for a rainy day, but even then I didn’t spend more than I had. In those days I had never experienced “the pinch”, so to speak. Having monthly bills, a credit card and student loans will sober you up quick.
What I have to realize (in more areas than just financial) is that everybody isn’t like me. Everybody doesn’t think like me— even if I’m right.
As Belle kindly reminds me every so often, this too shall pass. We’ve just got to take the right steps to cover our butts and make sure we dot all our i’s and cross all our t’s with bills in this transitory phase.At the end of the day, the lesson is simple. Flexibility is absolutely essential to survive when you move in with people you’ve known for a month, in a city you’re completely unfamiliar with. Of course gears are going to get warped in the crazy hurdy-gurdy we call flight attendant life. The key is to be what I whimsically call human tofu— blend in with your surroundings, and learn to adapt quickly. Control the factors you can, and don’t give yourself an aneurism over the ones you can’t.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)