February 24, 2013

• 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.  

  • 1:41 am
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