more than halfway there

It is Tuesday night. Wow, I guess that means we've made it through two weeks of training. Just over a week to go! Hope I can make it. It feels like Survivor, with people leaving at least every other day. Our group started at 47, and we're down to 35 people. Of course, some have chosen to leave on their own because it was just too tough. I am hanging in there. I thank God for every day that I wake up and am here at training another day! Training so far has been so much about emergencies and evacuations and safety stuff - they teach you stuff that they hope you'll never have to use. Different than training for a lot of other jobs. =) Things here have been intense, but prayer is getting me through for sure.

I don't even remember everything we've done... there is so much! Today we finished the last of our aircraft tests - on the EMB120, the little tiny plane. 3 different configurations and much different from the jets so lots to learn! I was stressed about our test today as we were told yesterday that it is the one that many people fail. Went to bed late and got up early to get my studying in. Got a 96%. So relieved. Did our last evacuation testing. Glad that's done too!!

Training has definitely had its ups and downs, but I have met some really great people. It's interesting to see the dynamics of the group... Thanks to some good advice from a friend who went through the training earlier this year, I have mostly managed to stay away from the drama and try to keep away from the stress-cases (although I have the tendency to become one myself). Something I need to work on.

Last Saturday we had our first day off in 10 days. There is definitely a reason God rested on the 7th day! That day was wonderful... Friday night we walked down to the mall... I felt so guilty, like I should be back in my room studying, memorizing announcements, or doing homework. Instead, I had dinner with Morgan at an island grill... totally my style! Had some great conversation, then we went to see Shrek the Third. Cute movie. Got back to the hotel after 10pm, so not too late. It was good. Relaxing, chill. I'm glad I didn't go out anywhere.

I called Salo in New Zealand that night and had a fun time talking with her, as always! It was so wonderful to actually be able to sleep in on Saturday... until Abi called me and woke me up. =) I like those kinds of wake up calls. Very refreshing talking with him, plus I was up in time to go down to breakfast. Spent much of the morning just chilling then studied in the afternoon and evening for the CRJ700 test we had on Sunday. Nailed it and got 100%. We had another evac test Sunday, then a test on the CRJ900. Another 100%. A super looooooong day, but good test-wise.

So, we only have 8 days of classes left until we graduate... praying for strength to make it to the end! Need sleep... Looking forward to another day off Saturday. =)

Training in SLC

Well... I've been in SLC for 3 1/2 days now... Got here on Monday afternoon and it's Thursday night. So I've survived day 3 of training without failing or getting kicked out!! Let's see... in a nutshell...

Monday. Got to the airport. Was on the shuttle with 4 others who came from Chicago for training. Got to the hotel. On the 4th floor. Lugged all my stuff up to my room. Met my roommate - just a little younger than my mom. =) She's really nice. I like her. Lots of different kinds of people here, from lots of different places. Just a handful of guys. Anyway, got unpacked and met a few people. Saw a bunch of people who have been in training for 2 weeks already.

Tuesday. First day of training. Welcome, powerpoints, video, fingerprinting, computer registration, drug testing (man I had to pee so bad that my PBA (Public Bathroom Anxiety) didn't have an effect on me like it usually does during those situations - especially when I'm under that kind of pressure!), physical agility test, paperwork... Oh yeah, and the 30 question test, and the announcement test. Helen was the one who listened to my announcement, and I was already able to go and say hi to her in a more personal way thanks to Jason, who is my lifesaver with all this flight attendant training stuff. Huge blessing. Anyway, Jason told me to say hi to her for him and told me that she was cool. So I automatically felt more comfortable around her because of all that, and was a little less nervous for my announcement test. =) Was super tired and had a headache all day, because I couldn't sleep the night before. Time change, hungry, and NERVOUS. Was glad when the day was over!! I was sooo exhausted though.

Wednesday. Uniform compliance and all that fun stuff. I hate tucking shirts in. Wait... did I say that? No bad attitude here! I love it! ;-) They are super strict about stuff, so you have to be really careful... about EVERYTHING. I forgot to take one of my "6 required items" - my passport. Thought I was done for sure. Don't even know why I forgot it, because I knew I was supposed to have it all the time. I wasn't the only one, and Helen gave us a pretty friendly reminder that we were supposed to have it with us at all times. We did uniform stuff then ordered our uniforms then finally came back to the hotel.

Man. I'm forgetting the days... What did I do Wednesday night? Oh yeah, watched the end of American Idol and COULDN'T BELIEVE that the Melinda didn't make the top 2!! What in the WORLD! Went to the gym and worked out a little while I listened to my announcements on my mp3 player. Put them on my computer too and have been subliminally listening to them all night. =) Love it. Oh yeah, got to watch Lost Wednesday night too which was awesome... watched it while I was checking my manual for completeness.

Thursday... what was Thursday...? Ha. More powerpoint and stuff with Helen. FAR's. Then today we did some stuff on passenger handling with Fusaka. Long day. Bus broke down. Less time to do all the homework and learn the announcements! About to put them on and listen while I go to sleep... and am sleeping. A fun filled day of First Aid and CPR tomorrow! wooooo...

Late nights before leaving town

It is inevitable for me, that no matter where I go or for how long, or how much time I've had to plan and pack before I leave, that I will stay up late the night before I leave. So here I am, at 12:40am... not too bad. Pretty much packed up. Just a few last minute things to do in the morning. Mom has taken the day off so we can hang out in the morning and then she can take me to Long Beach for my flight to SLC at noon. Ah yes, Utah... if I've been there, it was just driving through. But tomorrow I will begin my 24-day stay in Mormon country, to train for my new career.

Agh, the anxieties! Will I be able to recite my announcements to the stone-faced instructors? Will I have a crazy roommate? Will I pass that 30-question multiple choice test? Will I go insane? Am I taking too much stuff? (Last time I went to a training, I took everything for 5 weeks in a carry-on... Yeah... I have a little more this time.) You know what's funny though? The thing that is stressing me out the MOST is the clothes. How do I know what business style is? Call me stupid... silly... whatever... but seriously, when I had to wear a suit for the interviews I went to for the airlines, I felt like I was playing dress ups. Yeah, not so confident. Just feeling ridiculous. So all I can think about right now is 24 days of ridiculous-looking-ness. I'll post some pics sometime and then you'll see what I'm talking about!!

More from SLC...