The end of training... and the beginning of this crazy new life
After the last test (aka the last chance to get kicked out) was over, everyone started to relax. The pressure was mostly off and people were actually having a little fun. I would either gulp down my 3 free drinks at the hotel before the 7 pm deadline and then hop in the jacuzzi OR the most fun was to drink 2, take one for the road and catch the shuttle to Target.
Yes, living in a hotel room for a month with little escape made even a trip to Target seem like the most fun event ever.
We continued to wear our uniforms through week 4. Here I am with Martin at the receiving end of first class service training. :)
Finally, it was graduation day. Everyone was so happy. I must have taken about 1000 photos for people. Because I am completely unable to deal with change and goodbyes, I've never really been able to enjoy graduations. Actually, I hate them. I sulked and avoided people. Hence, NO 1000 photos with all my friends for me.
We received our wings at the ceremony. This may have been my proudest graduation to date. Maybe it was because training was so hard or maybe it was because I would be moving on to a job with this graduation (unlike the pit of despair and part-time employment I was looking at after college and grad school)
At any rate, I finally felt like I had accomplished something.
Here I am with one of my besties, Brian.
OK, I found another version of our graduation performance on youtube:
don't laugh. They made us do it!
Our graduation cake, which was awesome!
Our graduation portrait. I'm 4th from the left 2nd row
After having just arrived in Phoenix the night before from my practice flight, I was once again back at the airport ready to go to Charlotte for more training. MORE training after graduation. Argh.
In Charlotte, my mood lifted. I met the CEO, Doug Parker above, by being in the right place at the right time, the trees were all in bloom (below), and I wouldn't have to say goodbye to all my friends for a couple more days.
Plus, we found this great Mexican place by the airport with $2 beers. AWESOME
We all had enough beer that playing with the wall decorations seemed like an appropriate idea.
Everything was fine until the last day. We all had to haul our our stuff to the van AGAIN then check it all in at the airport again. I was beginning to feel like a pack mule. Now I really had to say goodbye to all my friends. It was awful. The worst part is the almost all of my favorite people from training are based in Philadelphia, while I am in Charlotte.
Me, on my first commute back to Gainesville. I'm smiling here, but in about 10 minutes I would be crying like a baby on the plane with some Rilo Kiley playing on my iphone.
I got back in time to totally surprise my friend, Buket. I lied and told her I would miss her birthday, but then burst through the door to surprise her and eat some cake with friends. It was great.
The next day, I stopped into Viva Europe, the festival my old workplace at the University was putting on. Here I am with a Scotsman, because, as you know, I am now Scottish.... and kilts are hot
The festivities continued later with some Turkish folk music
I am not a Turkish folk musician (yet), but I love this instrument-- the Saz
My time at home should have been a lot of fun, but unfortunately it was filled with drama and emotion for me. I'm sure I've stained my public image forever, but hopefully my friends will forgive and forget and I can go back to being the fun party girl that I identify myself as.... I hope.
On Wednesday, it was back up to Charlotte for a day of orientation and then I was to be "on duty" I had no idea what to expect, but I was in one of those moods where I didn't want to be anywhere. I didn't want to be in Gainesville, I didn't want to be in Charlotte and I couldn't think of a single place I wanted to be. Luckily the universe knew the answer was Las VEGAS!!!
My sadness over my week in Gainesville and partings of ways coupled with my stress over not having a salary yet OR a place to live OR any idea how much I would be paid melted away when I stepped on the runway and saw 'The Strip' in the distance.
This job is awesome, I thought. I was already lucky enough to get to take the 4-day trip with my training friend Natalie, but Brian was also in Vegas that night. Amazing luck!
We started the night with Brian's captain buying us all beer and shots and then hit The Strip.
Since none of us have any money to spare, we didn't really gamble (except for me at this penny slot machine), but we did have fun walking around and seeing the sights while drinking giant skull-shaped mugs of liquor.
Stingray sighting!! 
It was my first time in Vegas, so it was pretty incredible. I hope I get to go back if and when I ever get some money.
After that we stayed overnight in Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando.
I finished up my 4 day trip and hopped on the first plane back to Gainesville on Monday night. I was only there for 2 nights, but it was nice to sleep in my own bed and do some laundry. I still don't feel like I have my legs under me yet, so to speak. I have to figure out how to live this new life where I'm basically a nomad. I still haven't managed to find a place in Charlotte. I probably could have, but now I've made this agreement to live with some other friends...so I'm kind of waiting for them to come around. The problem is, we probably will never be in the same place at the same time....maybe, I mean, what do I know about this stuff?
I spent last night in a hotel and luckily got called for another 4 day trip this morning. Hooray! That is 3 more nights I can sleep for free This time I'll be in West Palm Beach, DC and Tampa. YES!
Nomad life!
