Month: February 2013

  • Those last two weeks in photos!
     Just in case you don't stalk me on facebook and foursquare and instagram (like I wish you would) ha ha jk, not really...
    Here are some photos from my recent life:
    This flower arrangement is pretty, so it must have been done before all the barfy pink and red carnation vase arrangements took over.

    The owner of the flower shop recently got really into backyard farming, so he has been raising all sorts of animals; quails, geese, rabbits, etc etc.  Here I am with a baby duck.  

    ...and then a week when I guess I was too stressed out to take any photos AND here I am looking out at my first desert sunset in Phoenix a week ago.  Look at the mountains in the background!  Living in Florida for the past 7 years really makes me appreciate any changes in topography.  If I am really, really tired after class and I kind of squint my eyes, it almost looks like I am in Japan.  Wow... I really want to go back to Japan for a visit soon.

     

    This is what I saw when I first landed in Pheonix!  Welcome to the company!  Actually, come to think of it, the gate agent welcomed me to the company and with a broad smile on his face, waved my bags through to security without even weighing them.  Oh... the benefits are already kicking in!
    This is one of the demo planes we sit in and practice different things.  I love walking past rooms full of equipment and half airplanes.  The novelty of this all still hasn't worn off.
    We learned a lot of company history the first day... I found that the smaller airlines that eventually merged to become USAir (then USAirways) got their start in Pittsburgh!  I'm so proud of my home-region.  Go Western PA!
    I've gotten pretty creative with food... here is my cereal-to-go one morning.  
    In I went to the mall on Sunday!  Our only day off is Sundays.... and there a shuttle to the mall.  I needed to go and find some company-approved footwear and knee highs... but it was fun looking around.  OMG, I keep thinking, I am SO in 'The West'!  
    This is totally different from Florida in every way.  One, it's really dry.  Yes, everyone at the mall is speaking Spanish, but they are Mexican, not Cuban.  SOOOO different out here.
    The other trainees are really cool.  Here's a photo of me and some of them today.  There are 72 people in my class, but we are divided up into 2 groups.  I think I have everyone's name down... maybe
    The instructors are nice!  It was someone's birthday today so we all got cake!  Hooray for cake!  
    I have my 2nd test tomorrow, so wish me luck!

  • most intense

     ...couple of weeks in my life.  probably.  most likely.
    I pretty much just worked everyday straight from Jan.28-Feb. 16.  I worked my ass off at my regular office job and tried to get weeks ahead on work so I could leave on a good note.  Meanwhile, Valentine's Day happened and I was at the flower shop (either the main one or my friend Cappy's shop or BOTH) for a week straight after and during normal working hours.  
    In sum, I worked.  I worked a lot.  I worked too damn much.  And then I had to pack up my office, where I had been stowing all sorts of nicknacks and god-knows-how-many hand lotions for the past 3 years and move on.
    Did I cry?  When didn't I cry?  I think I started to cry Friday morning and pretty much didn't stop until I was on the plane headed to Phoenix Sunday at 5am.  43 hours of straight sobbing.  Did I sleep?  Yes.  I got a solid 3 hours of sleep Friday night and didn't go to bed Saturday.  If I were to tally the hours of sleep I got from Wednesday to Sunday, it would be about 12-13 hrs.  I'm not joking.  Did I get sick?  you bet.  
    That said, I didn't hate Valentine's Day as much as I usually do this year.  Maybe it was working with Cappy?  Maybe it was knowing I wouldn't be doing flowers for while after this?  Maybe it was something else 
    Buket and Katie helped me pack for my month of training because I was far too much of a train wreck to  handle putting clothes in a bag by myself.  Even so, it's hard to imagine doing a worse job packing.  Oh well, I'll live. 
    _________________________
    And now I've just survived week 1 of flight attendant training for USAirways (soon to merge with American to become the world's largest airline co.--yes, everyone is really excited) in the freezing desert that is Phoenix, AZ.  I was excited to be in 'The West' for the first time, but honestly I am outside maybe 40 mins a day.  This is not as much fun as I thought it would be.  Yes, the hotel is nice, and I do get free breakfast and dinner (which is why I might even have enough money to support myself after this month-- that is, if I am able to steal any of the towels)
    My typical day of training:
    5am:  wake up
    6:30-7:00 (variable) eat breakfast and get on the shuttle to the training center
    7:30-5ish or 6ish or 8ish:  TRAINING
    whenever - 10pm: dinner, homework and study
    10ish: bed
    I know that being a flight attendant probably seems really cute and all... I thought so too, but there is SO MUCH to learn.  This is really no joke.  Delta and United (rumored) take 8 weeks to train.  USAirways gets it done in 4.5.  Shit just got real.  I'm glad it is short though.  I miss Gainesville so much right now even 3 more weeks seems like a lifetime.  Wow, I actually just typed that.  I guess I am homesick and friendsick.  I'm not really a home-sicky type of person though... so what's up with me?  
    Luckily, I think I've fallen into a pretty good study group.  The hotel is really like a dorm too... there are over 140 trainees here right now and at night lots of people are in the lobby studying and running through various 'flight demo choreography' as I call it.  It's actually really cute.
    When I wake up tomorrow, I'll have been here a week.  I've digested an insane amount of information.  I've ordered my uniform and my luggage.  I've put in my bid on my choice of base locations.  I know FAA rules and regs.  I know what to do in a crash.  I know shit about airplanes that I didn't even think about before.  
    GOD, this is really happening.  This is the liminal period of the next big chapter in my life story.  

  • paper

     remember that Turkish final I was in crisis mode about?  Well, my professor submitted it to this online community newspaper of sorts and now it is published on CANADATURK

    http://canadaturk.ca/koseyazilari/emrahsahin/43072-sara%E2%80%99n%C4%B1n-t%C3%BCrkiye%E2%80%99si.html

    My boss read it on google translate...so if you are really bored...

    Oh all those posts I was going to do on my trip to Turkey.  Alas (Heyhat!) 

    So... some photo favorites:

     

      

     

     

    yeah Turkey!

  • details!

     I got the details of my flight out to training-- I'll be leaving Sunday, February 17 at 5:20am (yuck)

    Please send my mail and presents from now through March 22 to:

    Drury Inn & Suites - Phoenix Airport

    3333 E University Dr.

    Phoenix, AZ 85034

    website

    Oh thank GOD-- just checked the amenities:

    • Free Hot QUIKSTART® Breakfast
    • Free 5:30 Kickback® - Hot Food & Cold Beverages
    • Free Wireless Internet
    • Free 60 Minutes of Long Distance
    • Free Soda/Popcorn in Lobby (daily 3-10 pm)
    • Free Local Phone Calls
    •  
    • HBO, Our Exclusive Premium Movie Channel
    • CNN, ESPN, Weather Channel & More
    • Flat Panel LCD TVs in every room
    • Free 24 Hour Airport Shuttle to Sky Harbor
    • Free Parking
    • Free In-room Coffee Service
    • 2-Room Suites Available
    • 24 Hour Business Center
    • 24 Hour Fitness Center
    • Fax Services
    • Guest Laundry
    • Guest Pantry
    • Guest Voice Mail
    • Hair Dryers in All Rooms
    • Iron & Ironing Board in All Rooms
    • Jacuzzi Tubs Available
    • Meeting Rooms
    • Microwaves & Refrigerators in All Rooms
    • Outdoor Pool & Whirlpool (9 am - 10 pm)
    • Smoke-free hotel

    I might not want to leave :)

  • I am happy, I'm feeling glad
    I got sunshine, in a bag
    I'm useless, but not for long
    The future is coming on

    ...yeah, in two weeks I'll be in Arizona training for my new life.  Am I a little freaking out?  YES.  This is pretty accurate again:

     Here isyour Daily Chinese Horoscope forSunday, February 3
    You'll dream of a quite different destiny -- a brighter, more illustrious or more adventurous one. Be satisfied with your fate. You'll meet a person who will quickly take on a great importance in your life. Prepare the ground thoroughly before launching your great projects. Beware of awkward reactions due to excessive impulsiveness; it's certainly not in your nature, but this astral climate will incline you to act on the spur of the moment.

    But being impulsive is in the fiber of my being!!  [whine]

    In other news:  I went on a picnic and I would like some chocolate, please.

  • Best birthday week!

     This has just been so much fun.  Thursday Kyohei and I went out for a nice dinner, Friday my awesome friend, Buket hosted a Turkish-y themed dinner and drinks at her house:

    The spread!

    Buket and Asli are so cute

    Nail makes some killer karniyarik (eggplants and beef) LOVE

    And I worked on acquiring a taste for Raki, Turkish liquor.  Here I did it right-- as the saying goes; white cheese, melon and raki

    I woke up in a daze and with a slight headache on Saturday next to Buket on my actual birthday.  We ate, and then I tried my best to get down to Tampa in good time (fail)

    I had tickets to see Wicked with my good friend, Mandy.

    The restaurant was festive with a foaming green cauldron

     

    Yes! More cake!

     

    Ah, the show was so, so, so good.  One of the best I've seen.  I mean, I love everything Wizard of Oz- related anyway, but this was fantastic.

    Mandy and I drank a bottle of champagne, slept in and went to one of our favorite spots in St. Pete-- the Sunken Gardens.  Since my camera is in disrepair, I had to rely entirely on Instagram

        Year of the Snake!!  This was an awesome sighting.

    Next stop:  Cocktails and appetizers on the beach.  This weekend was just fantastic weather wise.  It really felt like summer.

     

    Then her family made this fantastic dinner + cupcakes. 

    It was dark when I hopped in the car to meet up with this handsome man who happened to need a ride back to Gainesville. 

    Monday I was greeted with one of the most fantastic flower arrangements ever!

    My Aunt ordered this from my friend's flower shop-- so you know it had to be fabulous.

     

    BUT, there was a little extra surprise-- cash rolled up and stuck into the arrangement.  $$$$$  Hooray!  My whole family gave me money for my birthday to help me through the month of non-salaried training I'll be going through in a bit.

     

    Gotta love these cool tropical flowers, right?

    Since then, its just been a week of hanging out with friends every night.  Oh, what fun!

    Dance and Pizza with Jackie on Monday

    Tacos with Roger, Ashley and Mike on Tuesday

    Ballet and dinner at home and drinks with the roommate on Wednesday

     

    and last night, for no reason at all, I was out until 2 with these 2.  I think we are intending to get up to no good again tonight... here's hoping.

justgotspaid

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