Flying High

Graduation Aftermath

2009-02-27T19:57:00.004+04:00

So, I've graduated.

Graduation night was a BIG night filled with loads of fun. Since then, I have managed to recover and have completed my two supy (supernumerary) flights and also done my first operational flight. They have all been turnarounds, but it has been good to get out in to the action. My supy flights went well. I managed to seem like I actually knew what I was doing which was, let’s just say, quite a surprise for me let alone all of the other crew on board my flight to Delhi.

I have an impressive roster for March, not as impressive as some but I think I’m fairly lucky to get these flights next month. I have a Venice layover, an eight day Bangkok-Sydney-Christchurch trip and a Nagoya layover. Luckily, I only have 3 turnarounds! Yay!

Just to keep you up to date, I don’t have much else to say, I will hopefully have some great photos soon and will have a lot to tell you all.

Hope all is well wherever you all are.

:)

The end is nigh.

2009-02-15T19:07:00.009+04:00

I have been incredibly busy of late and haven’t had the time between painting my nails, glossing my lips and doing my hair immaculately to post anything. But as people have been hounding me for some updates, I have made the time to write a brief post. So, here it is:

I graduate this Thursday 19th, February (fingers crossed), I have 4 more exams before then and then I’m in the skies.

My first flight is to Delhi on the 24th closely followed by Karachi on the 26th. I’m lucky enough to be doing my first flight with one of my batch mates. We’re both pretty excited because we get to sit in the cockpit for take off and landing for our first two supy (supernumerary) flights. I love the cockpit! No jokes required people…

These last few weeks have been challenging to say the least. We’ve had highs, we’ve had lows and to be honest I can wait to graduate this week. I think we’ve all had enough now. 4 days to go and I’m definitely counting.

I went to the beach two weekends ago. We went to JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) – Adrian, you will love it. They have all kinds of activities there; a fun fair, camel rides, all kinds of water sports, a market and bungee jumping from a dodgy crane into the water which I would NEVER do. One fatty could tip the whole crane over. It was my first time to witness a man in a kilt at the beach but I couldn’t get a very good picture to show you all. I simply love the idea that we are still in winter yet we’re all heading to the beaches. No doubt I will die in summer in 50 something degrees. I’m going to melt.

I’ve also been for a boogie to get my funk on and dance the night away. It was good fun and I can’t wait to do it again on Thursday with free drinks for the graduation people.

Other than that, I haven’t done too much recently, I’ve been too knackered. I have bought some little paintings for my room to give it more of a homey touch and it’s starting to really be MY room now.

This is just to let you all know that I’m still alive and when something more exciting comes my way, I will be sure to post about it.

Until then, buh-bye ;)

P.S. For those who aren't as computer savvy as myself (parents, this means you), please note that you can click on a photo to enlarge it and see it in more detail.

One down, five to go.

2009-01-17T20:32:00.001+04:00

So, five weeks to go. I’ve received my uniform, have completed my medicals, have started training on the Airbus and I’m wearing red lipstick everyday.

The paperwork in the first week is intense. I think we’ve finally finished for a while but I can’t be sure. We did our first day of training on the Airbus on Thursday; it was heaps of fun but a hell of a lot of information to take in all in one day. I guess it’s all down hill from here and then comes graduation when it should all start getting better.

I’ve decided to put my head down and bum up and study properly. I don’t want to have to go back home because I haven’t graduated. I couldn’t think of anything worse. I’ll get there, I just need to put my mind to it and as I’m not all that good at studying, it’s going to take some effort for me but this time, I’m determined.

I went to IKEA yesterday to get some things for my room to make it resemble something more like my room, rather than a hotel room. I’ve studied my little tail off today and have even had time to watch some DVDs. I have a sneaking suspicion that this freedom isn’t going to last very long.

We’re back tomorrow to do more training, and I think we’re doing ditching this week. We were in the simulator on Thursday which was heaps of fun. Mum, I made a dumb comment (quelle surprise) and my blonde was shining through so much that the instructor laughed and asked if I was actually blonde… I recovered quite well though and all was fine again. I’m looking forward to more training, although I know it’s going to be intense, I find it all very interesting which will help me in the long run.

I have managed to acquire some friends and study buddies who live close to me so the study future is looking fairly bright. We went out for dinner and drinks last night. I also went to Dubai Mall yesterday. It’s insane! Crazy fountain, starlit ceiling. Everything is scattered EVERYWHERE and it’s so hard to conquer and half of the shops aren’t even open yet! We ended up giving up and going somewhere else. But the aquarium is fantastic and one day I’m going back to go ice skating.

On another note, I’ve managed to get the urine smell out of my cupboards and now it resembles more of a lily of the valley toilet smell than a dirty toilet smell. I have also been unlucky to have been standing downwind to the Dubai Abattoir on the corner of my street.

And on one last note, I have finally met my housemate. A girl also from Melbourne, so we’re a good match (at least I think so).

Not much else to report. Please feel free to send me emails/messages!

Until the next post, bye bye!

Sand and Urine

2009-01-10T15:13:00.004+04:00

I've made it! I am currently unpacking all of my hard work that I did yesterday. I'm exhausted and would really like to hit the hay but it's only 1500 here at the moment and I am aiming for a 1900 bed time. I start induction and training tomorrow. I can't wait. It's an early start of a 0645 pick up from reception but I'm still really looking forward to it.

I have been one of the lucky ones to be placed in permanent housing in a great apartment. Quite a few people have been unlucky enough to be placed in temporary housing (hotel rooms) for three months until apartments come up or are built.

My bedroom is massive, unfortunately my wardrobes smell a bit like stale urine. However, I've been airing them out since I got here and they seem to be getting better, unless I'm just becoming accustomed to the smell. Who urinates in a wardrobe anyway?

Upon arrival there was a welcome amenities pack and a welcome food pack for me - I've already finished the chocolate. I have not yet met my housemate but she did leave me a nice note saying she would be back tomorrow. On quick inspection of the grocery cupboard I have deduced that she is Australian; there's Vegemite in the cupboard. I have also managed to work (I think properly) the alien washing machine. I have no idea but I think I've pressed all of the correct buttons.

Anyway, I'm going to venture out to find a supermarket now. It might wake me up a bit more and then I can continue on with and complete my packing.

Looking forward to my 7 o'clock curfew tonight! Ciao!

Leaving on a jet plane... tomorrow.

2009-01-08T08:31:00.004+04:00

It’s packing day today; I’m leaving tomorrow. I have just spent 20 minutes eating beef curry things and untangling a Newton’s Cradle that wasn't tangled until I touched it. I’m procrastinating again today and it’s not good. I despise packing; it has always been on my Top 10 list of things I don’t like. Why? Well, even though there is often a new and exciting adventure once you’ve zipped the final zip on the suitcase, before that comes the following: weight restrictions, running around, finding out you're over the weight, pulling everything out and trying to decide on what not to take and then finally make a decision that you probably don’t need three types of body lotion, so many pairs of underwear or your little teapot that you have become attached to.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about my up and coming trip but I’m also cacking my pants just a bit. So much to do, not enough time. So much to take, too little room. I think I’ve finally finished all of my running around, so all that is left to do tonight is the packing. I have an evening flight tomorrow, so last minute things can be done tomorrow morning. Ticket and visa have been received and little piles are starting to form on the lounge room floor arranged accordingly, and resembling Les Pyrénées, sans snow.

Anyway, I must get cracking. Head down, bum up.

See you in Dubai!

The best update thus far.

2008-12-18T10:59:00.003+04:00

Whilst packing today in preparation to move out of my apartment on Saturday, I've found I am particularly good at procrastinating. I have cleaned everything, found things to play with, looked at my carrots growing and improved (I like to think it's a bit of an improvement) my blog.

During one of my many trips back to my computer between boxes, I received the email I have been waiting for... my final confirmation! Yippee!!

I'll be leaving on a jet plane in less than three weeks with only 50kg of luggage. How am I meant to move to another country with just 50kg?! I'll see how I go, I guess I can always just buy more shoes and clothes rather than taking them with me.

This is just to let you all know that it is official and I will be in the great big sandpit VERY soon.

A little update.

2008-12-16T16:09:00.002+04:00

I am leaving in three, yes THREE weeks and I’m freaking out. I’m moving out of my apartment this weekend and into a friend’s place for my last few days at work. I have resigned from my current job. I’m thinking about selling my car. I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on medical exams. I’m bidding farewell to friends. And I still have received approval of my medical exams, final confirmation or tickets!!!! EEK!

I have been reading Airboy’s (aka Sodwee) blog for well over a year now and thought that now would be the perfect time to make contact. I sent him an email mainly asking him how much time he had between when he received his final confirmation and tickets and when he was due to leave. Thinking that he would put my mind at ease a little bit, I eagerly anticipated his reply. He replied to my email within 24 hours and his response was “2 days”!!!!! He had TWO days between receiving his tickets and leaving. I couldn’t believe it. My mind is now in turmoil and I’m freaking out all over again.

In other news, I have my work Christmas Party this Friday and then three more days left of work and then it’s Christmas time. I can’t believe this year has gone so quickly, I have only been back in Australia for 8 months and I’m leaving again. When I told Mother that I was leaving the country again for an indefinite period of time, she started crying. As my brother is also moving to New York, she is “losing her babies”. I just laughed and told her that I would be back to visit and that I wouldn’t be gone forever (that could have been a lie). I’m really looking forward to moving on; I’m not cut out for a 9-5 desk job. It does my head in and I can’t stand office politics.

Anyway, busy busy times ahead for me. I have issued my family members and some friends a timetable for my last days in Melbourne Town. If you would like to see me before I go, I suggest you book now! Hee hee.

How it all began.

2008-11-27T08:18:00.000+04:00

Hello Kids! I am starting this blog for my friends, family, acquaintances AND enemies (just so that they can be jealous) to keep up to date with my new adventure. The new adventure that I refer to is none other than working as a flight attendant for Emirates Airline.

I haven’t made it to Dubai yet, my official departure date is 9th January, 2009 but I’m so excited that I thought I would write about the process up until now.
It has been a crazy journey so far and I haven’t even begun working for them yet!

I first applied for the job on the internet and found out that there was an open day in Melbourne on the 11th October, 2008. So, with my stomach in my mouth, I headed to the open day. As it was not my first time (I also attended one in Sydney a day after I got back from Japan in April - I'm almost certain that the bruises on my knees didn't help) I knew what to expect and was cacking my pants ten fold. I was up ~~Dawn’s crack~~ at the crack of dawn, my friend Katiy came around to pick me up, we drove to my brother, Adrian’s house to pick him up then we sped towards Beck’s (one of my brother’s friends) for her to do my hair and make up in that professional flight attendant way. Once we had done the preening, I armoured my hair and face with a towel and slipped on a very cute silk blouse which was closely followed by my suit. From Beck’s house we headed to Crowne Plaza, all the time with Adrian doing his drama queen thing in the back seat about how he was so tired that he was going to throw up. Katiy told him in no particular words to suck it up and get over himself.

They dropped me outside Jeff’s Shed where Katiy proceeded to do some final pinning in the hair as Adrian brushed the lint off my suit. And then, I was on my own, walking across the footbridge to the Crowne Plaza feeling VERY ill.

There were about 200 and something people there when I arrived, we had to fill out some forms and then we were shepherded into another room where we sat down in rows. The advice I had heard on the street was that you should of course, be there early and under no circumstances should you arrive late. Well, the amount of people who turned up late was ridiculous! About 15 people arrived late and not just by 5 minutes or so; a few were about half an hour tardy. I don’t think this would have helped them out much.

We sat in that room from 0900 until about 1300. We watched many videos and did some talking. A general question and answer time came next and then it was down to business. There were two recruiters and one by one we each had to go up to one of them, hand in our résumé, a photo and tell them about ourselves, all in the space of 30 seconds. Well, after my 30 seconds was up, I didn’t think I had made it through. I walked out of there not thinking much. After the “interview”, we were sent home with the promise that if we had made it on to the next stage the next day, we would receive a phone call by 1700 that day.

I met up with Katiy and we went out for lunch. I was just in the middle of telling her that I wasn’t too fussed whether they called or not because I was happy with where I was in life at the time and then ~~Edith started singing~~ my phone started ringing. It was one of the recruiters telling me that I had made it on to the next stage and I was required back at Crowne Plaza the next day at 0900. Well, Katiy and I were stumped. We celebrated for a little bit longer and then went our separate ways to go home for a well earned nap.

Katiy had offered to come over to do my hair the next morning whilst I was doing my make up. I thanked her and then proceeded to give her a lecture on where to position her phones for the next morning. She has never been one for being punctual. I told her that I would call her at 0630 just before I had a shower and told her to have both her home phone and mobile phone on loud and positioned by her head so that she would hear it. We decided that was a good idea, said our good nights, set our alarms and went to sleep.

So, the morning rolled around and the time had come. It was the big day. I was woken up by the vibration of my phone. (DAD: I didn’t tell you about this bit because I knew you would freak out and give me a lecture.)

Justine: “Hello?”
Katiy: “Um, Justine? Hello?”
Justine: “How are you ?”
Katiy: “Um, Justine… it’s 8 o’clock….”
Justine: “F*#&! EXPLETIVE EXPLETIVE EXPLETIVE etc.”

I ran to the shower, my heart pounding, my hands shaking, my knees knocking, my mouth explete-ing. Katiy drove like a bat out of hell, parked in the loading zone, put on her hazard lights and ran up the stairs to do my hair. I was doing my face, she was doing my hair, I was swearing, she was telling me to calm down, I was swearing and telling her that I couldn’t EXPLETIVE calm down. Both of us were watching the time like hawks. 0840 we left my place. The EXPLETIVE road was closed because of some EXPLETIVE marathon. We went flying down the back streets, Katiy on the horn telling people we had an Emirates interview to go to. Me…swearing.

Five minutes to 9 we arrived at the hotel, I ran up the stairs and the briskly made my way to the designated room and blended in with everyone else waiting, puffing quietly. I had made it. I did a head count and they had narrowed it down in one day and a few 30 second interviews from 200 and something people to 44. AMAZING! I breathed a sigh and waited. I was hoping to see a guy I met the day before, Francesco. Then there he was, waltzing in, cool as a cucumber.

There were 4 stages to get through that day, all different kinds of group activities. Both of us got through all 4. Then, the group was down to 15 people. We had to do a personality test and then select one of two dates for our final interview. Mine was a couple of days after the Sunday screening, so I had a bit of time to prepare the forms and documents they needed.

The final interview didn’t leave me feeling too bad or too good. I was sitting in limbo. They informed us that in 2-6 weeks’ time we would either get a phone call if we had been accepted or an email if we had been rejected. They were the worst 2-6 weeks of life.

I went away to Warrnambool with Katiy for the long weekend. And one night I missed a phone call from a Dubai number. I felt so sick but luckily the next day they called back and they informed me that I had made it in and that I would be leaving on the 9th January 09, provided I passed all of my medicals. My phone bill was big that month; I had a lot of people to call to let them know.

I received the email and it has taken me about 3 weeks to complete all of my medicals, I have my final vaccinations tomorrow. Once I’ve done that all I have to do is have everything signed off and then scan all of the documents and send them to the Cabin Crew Recruitment. Once I’ve done that, I think it’s another 2 weeks before I get the final OK and tickets and such. I heard from Francesco the other night and he has made it through too. He requested that he leave on the 9th January. So, we’re both leaving on a jet plane to inevitably end up working on one.

It’s all VERY exciting.