RocketJim's

Mean Girls

I am officially done with my trainee status. It's both a congratulatory effort and a forecast of doom (touchwood!). I've only been flying a month and I am beginning to detest it; I really can't handle the ugly side of humankind. I just don't get why some seniors are so downright nasty. What right do they have to be so unkind? Experience? I think it's way over-rated. Sure it comes in handy in emergencies but I don't like how some act all high and mighty for a job so...banal. Gosh. If I were a senior and I had a junior to tutor, I would aid her to the best of my capabilities and help her adjust to the job and its expectations. In short, I would be nice. It wasn't me who was ill-treated by my seniors but I have witnessed class-girls of mine who got it real bad. Seniority in the skies is a HUGE thing and it's pretty much bullshit to me. I sure do respect my elders but there are people who demand very silly things. Kinda like the stars of time before - before the starlet sits, someone would dust her chair and bark at someone to get her tea. You know, something to that effect. Why do people feel that they have to do all these to...I dunno, feed their complex? It's really beyond me. Perhaps all or most jobs are similar. There will be wolves like that, waiting and preparing for a sudden ambush to get you down. I hate it. I really think I am too nice for a job like this. Maybe I am naive. *shrugs* All I wanted to do is to serve the people on board and help make travelling a more enjoyable experience. I have seen passengers land in Changi Airport with wide-eyed looks of bewilderment so...why don't I switch to helping them in the airplane? It was fun at first until I witnessed the ugly seniors. *sigh* Reality sucks. I do wish I can just swim around the Pacific observing whales and dolphins. Arg! Still, I think I just have to get used to it huh? Maybe it was tough since I was a trainee and every eye was on me. I will give my job a chance, aferall I could do with more money.

Was in Los Angeles this time and it was great. I am lucky to have an enthusiastic friend (thanks Ben!) who drove me around the city. LA is huge and unlike NYC, it is very sprawled. It is near impossible to get to anywhere without a car. We had lunch at a vietnamese restaurant where I had very healthy spring-rolls. Next, it's a supermarket experience (*laughs* I love those) and back to his place to get the direction right. Let's see...we went to a huge Aquarium where I saw a variety if jellyfishes. I even managed to pat a stingray! It was so cute and it kept flapping it's wings (?) when it was being stroked, kinda like a puppy. I never knew marine creatures were so interesting. For the first time in my life, I saw a cowfish and man, were they cute. They are practically floating boxes. No tails too, only fins that move so fast they look like shadows. Then there was an otter which basked in the limelight and spinned in its tank for hours. I wonder if that bloke is still spinning now. Unfortunatelly, all pictures are in my cellphone...yeah I know, maybe next time I will remember to bring a real camera. Next, we went to The Block which is essentially where the young and hip hang out. It's an outdoor mall with a huge cinema and many many shops. Lovely place. Had a seafood dinner with Ben before he decided we should watch Harry Potter. (Very sorry to say I fell asleep for throughout the Triwizard Champions cuz I was too tired!) Finally went back to my hotel around 2am, man I was bushed. And I had a flight to catch at 8am!

I like LA with its mellow, friendly people. New Yorkers are so rude in comparison. I even made a friend in the Hallmark shop. Hehe and her name's Barbra! I'm so proud of myself. It was a great trip in general since I finally bought myself a bubble bath concoction (festive hot chocolate! yummy). It was so good to soak in the hot water after a whole day in the cold. I guess these little episodes of simple pleasures could erase the hours stuck with lousy seniors. One should always be positive ya?

Have a whole week to myself this time and I am more than pleased. Flying is pretty lonely. Hope I can share my adventures and finds with someone soon! (someone as in the plural form)