Till Next Time, Embraer.

Two days ago, Aug 21, was my last day to operate Embraer 170 as I am about to have my transition training for the Airbus 330 aircraft, in addition to the Boeing and other Airbus aircrafts I also usually fly. It is like dropping off the E70 for the A330. I am not really this kind of emotional when it comes to changes in work, but you know that feeling when you have to leave something that never did hurt you in any way. It's more like giving up a nice and sturdy chair you loved for the promise of a soft and pretty couch. I can be more emotional than that, I must say.

 

I wanted to keep this on record because I never want to forget how my last day for E70 was. It was a fast JED-EJH-JED roundtrip and God listened to my prayer to give us a good crew. From the cockpit crew to us in the cabin, everything went so smoothly, this was one of the rare flights where you never felt as if you're working. Takeoff and landing were perfect. I even asked my flying partner again and again if she noticed it too because takeoff and landing on an Embraer 170 can mostly be harsh as it is such a small aircraft, fighting the wind with a small body as it has would sometimes mean grabbing the airsickness bag.

 

Service in E70 is always a breeze. That is why I loved this aircraft so much. With 60 passengers in the Guest Class and 6 in the Business Class, you don't have to break a finger if everyone would ask for everything. Only in this aircraft that I won't get annoyed for every "Ding" from the passenger call button. Yes, I can be very grumpy when I'm hell tired. :)

 

Another thing I liked about E70 is the crew complement, it only needs 3 flight attendants for a full crew. The Purser, and the other two flight attendants. And as for me who flies with a flying partner, it feels like we're the bosses of our own office, hehehe... but in a good way, of course. And for our last flight for this aircraft, me and my flying partner were just so thankful that we were given a wonderful purser, who never minds whether we took almost a thousand pictures as remembrance.

 

I may never get to operate this aircraft again in exchange of another, but I will never forget how E70 made things easier for me. It may have been the smallest aircraft I have operated but it got the highest of my respect.

 

Masalama, Embraer.. till my next DHD flight with you.

 

Erikka (my flying partner) and Me!

 

My First Birthday 33,000 Feet Above Sea Level

I don't want to forget the details of my first ever birthday in the skies so I am taking record of it. I know most flight attendants have a list of their own, so here's mine!

July 30, 2012

I operated Flight Number SV 1903 and 1902, Riyadh-Taif and then back again.

Aircraft Operated: Airbus 320

Position Taken: R1 - which was quite a shock since I was forced to take it, as no senior would want to during that time. But then as the flight went on, I indeed enjoyed being R1, and would definitely love to take it again given the chance. :)

Days before that, I met Amira, a beautiful, sweet and funny fellow flight attendant who had the same flight schedule like mine, so I was with her from July 28 until the 31st. By the way she is Egyptian.

Amira and me before the flight

This girl Amira is such a sweetie. In the morning of my birthday, she ordered from the hotel room service for an Egyptian breakfast for me. She wanted me to try Om Ali, a buttery, milky, sweet soup-like breakfast prepared with different kinds of nuts. I love love love it! :) Well, yes I love anything sweet but this is special. I would like to show how it looks like but I'm sorry I finished the whole stuff right before thinking of taking a picture of it.. haha.. :) Thanks to folkmann.ca, here's a picture of it's goodness:

Warmed in the oven until the outside turns brown, but sweet and soooo creamy inside. Hmmm.. :)

I enjoyed the whole day as everyone was so nice. From the cockpit crew with whom I got the chance to serve, to every single crew in the cabin, all of them were so nice, we worked altogether harmoniously.

**********************************************************************************

Another surprise took my heart away when I finally reached my flat after my flight schedule. My close friend Erikka, who is more like a sister to me, brought out the child in me with this "New Year Cake", as I call it.. This was the first time I had a cake complete with fireworks!! :)

Erikka and me

Erikka and me, and some of our few close friends here had been through a lot. From Day One of application for this airline until now and until the end, we only have each other here as family. **Grouphugggggg**.

**********************************************************************************

Over the distance, a lot of my friends also extended their love and birthday greetings and wishes, which I am so thankful for. Mkaye and Eds, thank you for having that Starbucks Moment "with me" though I was not there physically.

I don't know if the rest of my birthdays will always be spent on the skies, but definitely I will never forget this first one. :) Thank you Lord for my good friends and for adding another year in my life.

My "Type" of Sunday

Having a job far from home is a very difficult thing that you have to go through everyday. And it can be even harder if we are talking about being hundreds and hundreds of miles apart, which gives you an option of being home only once in every few months.

Ever since I got this opportunity of having the job that will change our lives, I had to accept the sad truth that I will be missing a lot of things and people with whom I come to know as components of my daily life. I miss the waiting shed where I used to stay in at the corner of our nearby street, I miss the rain that gets me soaked up in my corporate attire even before I reach the office, I miss the sari-sari store where I buy my guilty pleasures of Marty's. Above all, I miss our church.

I am a 4th Watcher, (PMCC 4th Watch), a Born-again Christian in easier terms. Every Sunday, in Worship, we partake in the Holy Communion as a remembrance of Christ's suffering for the redemption of our souls and as a covenant between God and us. So when I started to live here in Jeddah, one of my biggest concerns is not being able to partake in that fundamental activity which really breaks my heart big time.

But God moves in our lives and that He keeps us able to think of ways for us to fulfill His will. One of my closest friends in the church has been continuously communicating with me, well, for moral support and of course, for spritual advises. He is an Elder in the church and he really wanted to help me out in having my communion over geographic distance. He then came up with an idea of officiating the communion through, guess what, the Internet.

In the situation that I am in, it is the best idea anyone can ever think of and I am really very thankful of having a friend helping me out to fulfill my duties as a Christian. I managed to open only one window in my desktop (and I demanded myself of this for me to have my focus), I prayed before everything else and I asked God to please bless this communion as this is going to be my first in the world wide web.

Skype was not very helpful at that time so we opened up a chat to have it done. I prepared my Bible, a small piece of bread and a small glass of grape sap. And through the authority that is vested upon him, he officiated the communion.

Officiating this communion is not that easy I must say. Because before proceeding, we need to be apprised first of the Word of God, and Alvin (my Elder friend) has to type and type contiuously in the chat as if he was talking to me personally while deliberating. And me on the other hand, needed to type my response. Ok, it isn't hard to type, right? But doing this is a bit unusual. 

After taking the communion and our prayer, he made me sing the Doxology, and I tell you, I really felt as if I am there at our church standing and singing my heart out. I almost cried. I thank the Lord for making me capable of this and for Alvin, for he was sent by God not only to be my friend, but also as a warrior of faith reaching out to me over the distance.

God never sleeps to make sure we take our breaths, what is a single act from us to show Him that we acknowledge?

Just For Fun: MakeUp Session With My Friend Jac

It is always exciting to play with make-up but it can be also even more exciting to do it for a friend. Jac is my best friend since college and we went through all of it together and until now, we share the same interests may it be on make-up or skin care.

I am a lover of make up and all the things that come with it, but I am not an expert. So I was so thrilled when she asked me to doll her up for her office event, and who am I to say no?? :)

Here is a Before and After photo of our playtime:

Haha, why was she so shy to smile for heaven's sake? I remember I'd have to convince her to say yes when I told her I'm gonna blog about this. :) I'm glad she was very happy with the end result (though she know that she must, or else...haha..kidding!).

" A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away." - Arabian Proverb

For A Change That Will Do Me Good

My new friends - during the orientation day
(Me, Erikka, Marj and Kikoh)

A month ago, I applied for an airline as a Flight Attendant. Luckily, I got selected after a series of interviews and assessments and I could not thank heaven enough for this wonderful blessing given to me. Until now, the fact still sits at the top of my head and I will have to rub it in to let reality sink in.

My brother is a flight attendant too working for a different airline and I can see how he enjoys the job. Years and years ago, he kept on convincing me to try my luck and join the bandwagon as he knows I will like the things that he likes and enjoy the perks he gets to enjoy. But being the "maton" that I am who prefers chucks over stilettos and jeans over skirts, I doubted. I said I will never get to live the lifestyle exuded by the glam that is of flight attendants and other than make-up, there is nothing I really like about them.

Everything changes with age. After years of brushing my brother's advise, I realized that I am NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER. Ouch. 5 years from now, it will no longer be cute for me to be "maton" and speaking of being work-wise, I must now decide whether to remain in the so called "technical environment" I used to live in and rot here forever. That sends a not-so-happy thought in my head and a voice in me kicked in saying, it is now or never.

So that's it, a month ago, I checked online, looking for an airline open for hiring and I was able to see one. Immediately, I took all the necessary steps and thank God my heart wasn't broken on this one. Weeks from now, I will be leaving for training and that means that I will have to relocate near the airline's base. Another challenge, yes. Another phase of my life that I will be very excited to discover.

But then again, there are still a lot that I have to learn. When I get to think of what is ahead of me, I feel the fluttering of butterflies in my stomach. Maybe I am just so excited.. It's like the act of preparing to jump in bungee jumping, nerve wracking but with full excitement. :)

When Giving Up Is Not An Option

Tired. That's how I feel. And this, is the kind that no bedrest can fix. The people around me think I am strong enough to handle just about anything. But deep inside, I seek for a pillar to whom I can lean on and rest my worries. I can cry but I must not let them see. I can stop but I have to make it unnoticeable. For these times, it is hard to show strength when mine is nearly used up. But I have to go, go, go..

Because giving up is not an option.

End Of The World??!

Will the world end now that it is finally 2012? I think not. Because for me, it has just started hours ago. The world has started over again to give new chances and new beginnings. There is always something so renewing every New Year and the world is very much thankful that as 11:59 PM of 2011 stroke its final second, 12:00 AM came in with full excitement, shaking the ground with roar and lightning.

The world is old and is subjected to end, we all know that as a fact. But that stays at the back of our minds. Because we, as hopeful human beings would rather face the New Year morning with childlike hearts, keeping prayers in our pockets that in this New Year, we can now get things right, that this is another chance for us to finally set our marks.


For the bad things that broke our hearts in the past year, we now just put them behind and brush them off our shoulders. What didn't kill you only makes you stronger, right? So that makes everyone of us, alive and existing, stronger ones than what we were before. And that single thought of strength is enough for us to keep us going, keep us fighting. For after the 365 days from today, we can once again say, another battle has won.

Inspired By Tara: 5 messages to 5 different people without using names

1. Today marks your first year there in Heaven. Thinking of you still makes me feel very very sad because I can remember all of our happy days together like it was just yesterday. We all miss you here so much. I know how much you'd want to show how beautiful heaven is, just as you were when I was a little girl.. always wanting to show me all the beautiful things in this world. Someday we'll meet again.. and until that day, I will hold my tears as much as I can. I will be the bravest daughter a great father like you could ever have. I love you more and more each day, through life and beyond.


2. I don't hate you but I don't like the truth that you delayed my career growth, with the help of your judgmental thinking. It's not that I trust myself so much. I only think I could have done more than what you think I can.


3. I miss you! Let's have a blast this weekend!


4. I know you're a dog but I treat you as my friend. Don't worry; we'll have your sight checked by the vet. Don't eat too much! I sometimes think you're a pig and not a dog.


5. Not long from now, soon we'll get married. I have forever been waiting for that day, just in case it doesn't show. I am happy because you always make me laugh, and happy that sometimes you make me cry. For it may be of joy or of pain, in every tear I only find my soul inch by inch closer to you. I love you forever.

Nobody Did It But Me

Four days ago, when we were in Singapore, we stayed at Universal Studios to enjoy the remaining hours of the day before they close it out in preparation for the F1 Race. All of the rides were nice and good enough for kids to enjoy and the mascots around were like actual fairy tale characters taken out of a story book.

I was in awe with each sight but there is this one thing giantly standing in an area in a manner somewhat daring me straight in the eye saying "Can you handle me?". And this,


dared me like a monster ready to eat my heart out.

I know, I know this may seem easy to look at.. but seeing this face to face is like a challenge. "Will I try this or not?" "To ride or not to ride?"

*******

Battlestar Galactica^®
(as taken from the Resorts World Sentosa site)

Choose your side – HUMAN or CYLON - as you engage in the ultimate intergalactic battle between good and evil on the world's tallest dueling roller coasters! Themed after the hit television series Battlestar Galactica, these spectacular, intertwined coasters offer a truly exhilarating adventure as you twist, turn and drop in an intense aerial dogfight.

Riders on both coasters will experience unbelievable thrills as they race towards each other and nearly collide!

Battlestar Galactica: HUMAN^{® - Red}
Zooming at speeds of 82.8 km/h, the HUMAN Viper Mark II is a seated coaster that propels you 14 storeys into the air while pursuing your enemy


Battlestar Galactica: CYLON^{® - Blue}
The CYLON Raider is a suspended roller coaster that will turn your world upside down as it runs through a vertical loop, corkscrew and cobra roll.

*******

And I have chosen my side - CYLON!!! and never did I regret it. We came in a pack of seven and I was the only one with the nerve to take the joy ride (Proud Smile).

For a good minute that I was suspended in air with my legs fighting the wind (good thing not a shoe went off), I did nothing but scream my heart out. It felt good to scream as loud as I can, the loudest that I can belt out under normal circumstances. I enjoyed the ride but most of all, I enjoyed the feeling of being detached from land, up there 14/15 storeys above, defying gravity. Gravity of all kinds that keep on bringing my soul down.

For a good minute, my heart was numbed by the thrill Cylon brought me. Just this one time, thrill devoured the hurt I have been keeping even before I set foot in Singapore. But it was only a minute. After that, soon as the ride was over, a little bit dizzy I walked out of the exit gate, wishing I could just stay there, up there trading hurt for thrill and tears for screams.

The Struggle That Never Stops

Sometimes, things are just not right. Like why the heck you'd have to go back to square one and start all over? It's just not fair, thinking how much you've given and how much you've lost over someone or something then after all, you have to accept that everything's null and void.

I guess that's what the world is all about.. for not getting what you've worked for.. and not having what you deserve. Time after time people complain (like I do) about not getting what's supposed to be given to them. And it's a common dilemma. A battle between ego and reality. Life and Love.

Then we all end up being quiet. We all fall into the bed of accepting what was given, fair or not fair, much or not much. Because we'd rather stand up with the resolute mind that was left of us to continue and never stop. The world was never fair anyway, never.

Hanggang Sa Muli, Daddy..

Dear Daddy,

This is the very first time I'd have to send a letter for you to an address with one word, "Heaven". It still breaks my heart like nothing else can, but don't worry, I'm trying to be strong just like the way you taught me to.

You went away with the wind without me knowing and in the next minute, I was left with nothing but to accept the truth I'll never hear your husky voice again, or even feel the warmth of your big sturdy hands.

I will never forget you Daddy. :( And I miss you so much. I can give years and years of my life in exchange of a minute with you. And in that minute, I just want you to keep silent and hear me shout in the entirety of this world how much I love you. Let me see you smile once again, please Daddy. I can go on in my whole life pleading just to see you smile.

And remember what you said before? That you'll shoot the guy who'll make me cry? I want you to take it back. I don't want you to shoot yourself coz no one, no guy has ever made me cry like I do when I think of you. I know you didn't see it coming and I blame no one for that. I know God needs you there, so He had to take you away from us.

Someday, I know, I'll get to see you again. Your handsome face, your wide smile that once brightened my life. And until that day, I will patiently wait. When that day comes, I'll sing with you there like we always did here. And we'll fly high through the clouds like how high our dreams were.

Hanggang sa muli Daddy, Happy father's day.

Random Things About Me (and an award!)

Thanks to Miss Fru-Gal for this award, I am so surprised! I mean this is my first Blog Award so I think you have an idea of how exciting this is to me. hihi. :)

The Blogger Luxury Award!

Seven Random Things About Me:

1. I'm scared of thunders and lightnings.

No, I'm not acting like a child here, but really, I feel so uneasy deep inside when there's lightning and thunders. It also feel so scary when lightning strikes like a giant camera flash, under a dark and gloomy sky. I'd rather bang my ears with full blast music just so I couldn't hear the roar of thunder.


2. I have a broken heart that will never heal. :(

I lost my dad months ago. He died of cardiac arrest while working abroad so I really felt betrayed. I never knew it was the last hug, last smile, last "I Love You" when we separated at the airport. During his wake, I requested for him to wear an "Americana", just like the way he and I talked about what he'll wear on my Wedding. (A Wedding he'll have to watch from above someday). And it really is very painful, like there's no word to explain the feeling. It's so hard to lose a dad when you are a daddy's girl.

3. I wear Converse at work almost all the time and I don't care if the day calls for a dress up. Meet my Converse with my trousers.

I was once warned at work to follow "appropriate shoes" during dress up days, but still, I'd sneak and wear my beloved Converse, until the time came they have all accepted they can never do anything to make me ditch it for dress up days.

4. I can take medicines (may it be a tablet or capsule) with no water and swallow it straight up.

During my younger years, I was so sickly that I had to take maintenance medicines for specific time intervals. And for those times, water is not always present! Imagine stopping for a while during computer class just to take meds. These instances made me master the skill, hehe.

5. I don't eat eggs with salt.

Here at home, when they cook eggs, they always do a separate one for me - and that's without salt.


6. I love "see-food"

Yes, you read it right, see-food. I can and would always want to eat every "food" that I "see". :)

7. I am always a victim of first impressions.

I always earn the impression of being a "suplada" (snob). People most of the time think of me at first as someone so hard to approach or someone whom you can't talk to that easy. But hey, I am friendly! hehe.. I have so many friends who thought I was a "suplada" too, but now they can attest that I'm just as crazy and cowboy as they are.


There it goes! I guess I spilled some beans here and how I'd love to award this Blogger Luxury Award to:

1. Donna
2. Charry
3. Jacenda
4. Sugar
5. SophisticatedGlam
6. Mack
7. Hera
8. GingerSnap
9. Witoxichic
10. Alyson
11. C.Angie
12. Gem
13. Nihrida
14. Dee
15. Say


RULES:

1. Link back to the person who passed you the award.
2. Share 7 random things about yourself.
3. Award 15 blogs.
4. Drop them a note and tell them about it.


I really had fun doing this, thanks for visiting! :)

More Than Just a Starbucks Paper Bag

Just this Monday, I was surprised by a friend of mine when I arrived at the office. He gave me a small Starbucks paper bag, and instantly, I got excited.. hell excited. :)

I hastened to open it up.. lo and behold.. this cute phone charm sent an immaculate smile on my face and sense of happiness throughout the whole day.

He said he gave this to me as a token of appreciation for taking time talking to him when he felt so down and inconspicuously bothered. I said, at that time, I was bothered too.. and a bothered soul only needs another bothered soul for them to share whatever in the universe is quite bothering.. and eventually run away with it with grace and profound wisdom.

It really feels so heart-warming when friends appreciate you. With or without gifts, a simple thought that they appreciate you is more like an extra pump in the heart, making your existence a little more meaningful. :)

JC, this goes out to you.. let's just fight all the negative what-so-ever-it-is.. :) Life's too short, right? Let's beat all those boo-boo's with a happy heart. :)

Monday Morning Blah Blah.. :)

(A view of this morning's sunrise from my bedroom window)


January 17, 2011. I woke up so early this morning, I think at around 3:30am. Susmeng buhay to, pag walang pasok, di ako makatulog. Pag may pasok naman, kulang nalang pati sa daan humilata ako makatulog lang. I'm feeling so energetic today (again, this may change in a couple of hours, since pati body chemistry ko may pagka-moody din haha. ) I feel like I can kill CSOne later at work like thunder.



or.. siguro inlababo lang meee!!! OMG. yes I have this huuuge room for love inside my fatty heart. :) I love to love. I am so missing Larry like crazy coz it has been weeks since we last saw each other. :(



I'm still contemplating on what to have for breakfast. Bakit ba naman kasi ang tagal dumaan ni kuyang nagtitinda ng pandesal. Pag ayaw ko ng pandesal, ang ingay ingay niya dun sa labas. Ngayon naman na gusto ko, asan, tulog pa yata. Buhay nga naman..



Ayun, I'm still wondering where in the world this energy came from, daig ko pa pumapak ng Enervon. :)

Mr. Make Me Swoon Forever and Ever

Ohhh.. How can you be so immaculate, Richard Marx? How dare you make us all swoon and dream while you sing "Right here waiting" and "Hold on to the night"? I've been hearing you sing since I was a kid, and after how many years, you still look like the man every girl wishes to marry some time soon..

Try checking this out, and let him sweep you off your feet.. *sigh*

One Sunday at Starbucks.

Last Sunday, before going to work, I decided to drop by Starbucks to get my usual coffee fix. Like always, Caramel Macchiato, hot. As I wait on the line I looked at the time and another more minute, I'm going late. But I don't care.. :)

Then here goes Mr. Barista..
-even before he could open his mouth and say anything, I hasten to say "Caramel Macchiato, hot".. kasi nga late na ako diba, kaya inunahan ko na..but this guy started me with some kind of a small talk..hay, o sige na nga, habang ginagawa yung kape ko...

Barista: "Maam, parang kilala kita.."
Karla: (medyo kinabahan ako..) "Talaga?..hmm.."
Barista: "Sa Libis po..around 3 years ago."
Karla: (((edi lalo naman akong kinabahan.. Libis?.. anong nangyari sa Libis?)))

I was a bit looking awkwardly because I cannot remember anything!

Barista: "Ako yung nasa Country Style dati. Dun ka laging nagbbreakfast after work"
Karla: "Ahhh.. oo nga.." (Then I suddenly remembered him as the guy who works in country style.. way back before when I was at IBM)

I kind of laughed at myself deep inside. Kabahan daw ba? Hehe.. But seriously, I was amazed with this guy. Really. Super Memory. As he gave me my coffee, I remembered he never asked for my name..(to put on the cup, of course) I just saw it right there, written: Carla. Wrong spelling, pero pwede na.. haha. In all fairness he even remembers my name!

Tsk,tsk.. pumapapak yata 'to ng Memo Plus Gold... :) I waved goodbye as I head out and he said, "Have a good day, Carla/Karla" -whichever.

Naks, nice accent.. pang call center si kuya.. hehe.

Heather Feather will be in my Heart Forever..

A few days from now, 8 days to be exact, Heather will go back to Utah and live her life just the way it was 2 months ago before she left and work temporarily here in the Philippines. I don't even want to think about her leaving. :( But days pass so fast, we hardly can tell and the only time we realize it's over is when it is -over.

Now I believe that friendship is really something that can change someone's heart. Before I met Heather, I always have this "weirdness" inside of me that I kept holding back because I know that no one will ever understand. In the meantime maybe, some may pretend that they do, but in the end of everything, they might always think that I am "not normal".

Not with Heather. We have the same wavelength. She taught me to care less of what others will think or say as long as I'm not doing anything wrong. I love my Filipino culture and I love my race. And I would love it even more if some of us will try to learn that there are things that we should stop giving attention to.. -like living a life from a set of standards created by people with a dogmatic rather than a conservative point of view.

I love her so much. It breaks my heart thinking I'll be coming to work but won't be seeing her pink mug elsewhere. I'll miss having lunch with her, as she would always ask "What's that?" or "What is this?", pertaining to the food usually served at the pantry. Oh how I'll miss her voice telling me how stupid I am not to take care of my escalations.. :) I will miss her to pieces. *sigh*

It's not right to have a heavy heart at this time. I have to make her last week of stay as happy as it could be. For I'll never know when will I get to see her again. How I wish to work my butt off like crazy so I'll be able to visit her someday there in her far away land and meet Dill and her grandma.

....let me end this one now before I even start crying.. :(

Taking a Deep Breath..

It's not "us" anymore. I admit, my heart is still aching thinking I have hurt him like I never imagined I could.

But everything will be better now. I know everything will be better.

Attitude Problem

Today, on a Sunday morning, I have an attitude problem. Well, I can't talk about what problem that is about my attitude for I am just too lazy to type and discuss how unpleasant I am to deal with today. Sometimes you really wake up at the wrong side of the bed and the next thing you'll know is that you piss off each and every person you are with. I don't know. I am not going to eat till I figure out and fix what's wrong with me.

Taylor Swift - Breathe ft. Colbie Caillat [Video]

I am loving this song right now... I don't know, I can't stop listening to this.. Everybody calls me the Dakilang Emo as of the moment but I simply don't care. This is such a very very beautiful song in my opinion.