“In 2019, I was chosen to be one of the many candidates to become a Flight Attendant among the THOUSANDS of applicants. I flew to the Middle East, a 10-hour flight away from my hometown to BECOME a Flight Attendant.

I learned about CPR, how to carry and transfer a bomb to the least risk area of the aircraft, what shade of foundation suits my skin and yes, even how to brew coffee.

At the end of my 6 week long training, I was able to convince them that I can tell the difference between a heart attack and a heart burn and give the proper first aid. How to kill a fire and deliver a baby. I showed them that I can evacuate a fully loaded flight in 90 seconds - that was a lot of screaming and acting and opening heavy aircraft doors too. The most challenging part for me was to memorize the exact location and number of all the first aid kits, fire extinguishers and the rest of the equipment inside the aircraft that are too many to mention. So, after sliding down a mock up plane, swimming and erecting a canopy, I passed the training.

I finally earned my wings.

Yes! I travel the world. I get to see the most amazing cities, but what no one told me though was there will be many times I would choose sleep and in-room dining over the museums and parks because my whole body would just be so exhausted. No one told me that a Delhi sector can tire me from my nails to my soul. No one told me that the jetlag from transatlantic flights can put me down for a day of amazing unproductiveness plus put my hormones into chaos. No one told me that a Flight Attendant doesn’t have weekends, her time is not her own. She is always but a fleeting visitor wherever she goes. That at any given time, I would always be missing someone...

BUT those wings must fly.

Oh but those wings! The power it brings! Fancy hotels and breakfast buffets. Perks my wings afforded, not I. The wings also gave me a team to belong to. There is a special bond between Flight Attendants because of the unique kind of life we live. It is a life like no other! We never say I’m flying to Maldives, we say I HAVE Maldives. We trade too, and say things like “Who wants Barcelona? I need London..” Yes, like we own the whole damn world!

We drink soup from paper cups like it’s coffee, we use military time to set our alarm, we can finish a meal in 30 seconds, standing up between meal service and clearance. We hate when you stand up after the plane lands, we laugh when you clap after the plane lands. We love when you thank us. ‘Aircraft’ is for Flight Attendants, ‘Airplane’ is for passengers. We talk in dates even if its just the next day. We never know what day it is but we remember what supermarket is closest to our hotel. We may especially have loved working with someone specifically without knowing that person’s name or if we will ever fly together again. R2 or R5 may be our names for the day. We all have woken up in the middle of the night with a mini heart attack forgetting where we are. We see beautiful places but no one to share the moment with. We are many times always alone in a crowd.

In my short 9 months of flying, my wings bravely soared...

And then..
2020.
Novel Corona Virus.
Lock down.
Containment plan - Immobilize.
The world is standing still.
But MY world, the world I know is shaking.

“Global airlines to lose $113 Billion in passenger seat sales.” - IATA.

Flight Attendants all over the world are being grounded, hundreds and hundreds being laid off. For the rest of us hanging by a thread, never have our wings ever been so threatened.

But let us put our wings up. I know its difficult. I feel you. When your heart breaks, so do ours. But don’t forget - you have wings! They are yours, you bested thousands to get it, you earned it. No virus can take that away from you. Remember your strength. You can smile even when your heels are killing your feet. You can take care of many even when you’re sick or hungry. You were trained to SURVIVE the most forbidding situations in your lipstick and stilettos. What can you not do? You, my dear, are meant to fly!” And we will return to the skies once this is all over.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
They will run and not grow weary,
They will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31

Forever grateful for this job and all it has taught and given me. From crazy life experiences to the friends I’ve made, this has been the best journey of my life so far and I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to this life yet. Here’s to the next 2 weeks of quarantine!

 

Not written by me - Author unknown