Saturday, September 29, 2007

Three down!

Hey, everyone!!!! I can’t believe it is the end of week three. Over half way there. So much has happened this past week. My training flight was wonderful. There were three of us on my flight (trainees) and we all got to work. It was really cool. Our team went to Denver (which is cool since that will be my domicile). My class was all over the country that day!! At the Chicago airport we got to use our United employee privileges and go thru employee security, we were able to go down to the domicile at the airport and on the way to the plane for our pre-flight briefing, we got stuck in the elevator!!!! It was kind of crazy. The inside doors opened but the outside ones wouldn’t. We weren’t able to go anywhere for a few minutes. Needless to say, when we finally got back downstairs to the domicile we took the escalator! Working the flight was interesting, there was an FAA agent on board (of all things to have on our first flight, but we were in compliance so there were no worries – yeah, right!!) and the flight attendants were kind of lazy. In the pre-flight safety checks I was following a particular F/A and she looked a little awkward with her FAOM (F/A Operations Manual) and she said she doesn’t usually use it, but of course had to with the FAA on board. Wow! That’s reassuring! Don’t worry, I will perform all of my safety checks by the book – you’ll be very safe. We had a delay in Denver because of mechanical problems on the plane arriving in Denver from LaGuardia that we would be taking back to Chicago. Fortunately they stopped in Chicago and picked up a new plane before coming to Denver. On the return flight, the pilot got real involved with us and had us in the cockpit and he showed us a lot of emergency stuff. He told us to visit during the flight. Well, we were waiting for someone to tell us when to go and we didn’t get it, so we figured it didn’t work out, but when we were walking off the plane the pilot said he thought we were going to come visit the cockpit during the flight, I told him we were waiting for an invitation and he said we had had it. Damn! That’d been cool! I’ll have many opportunities, because there is a two person rule for the cockpit meaning there always has to be two people in it, so when the pilot or First Officer has to go to the bathroom, a F/A has to sit in there! I’ll take my turn.
Okay, other than the trip it has been lecture after lecture although we did have our wide body fams at the hangar on Thursday. We went on a 777, Airbus A320, and the 747 again, but this time it was thorough. We took more pics, so I will post some when I get some. We had fun. When we got back, though, our instructors told us they were going to meet with us for a few minutes in the classroom; however, it was at the request of one of our other instructors, Reuben. He wanted to address our class. Our class is down to 36 people and we’re split into 2 groups, 1-22 and 23-36. The 23-36 class is very vocal and like to sing and joke and laugh and party. Our side seems to be much quieter and laid back. Anyhow, the day before (Wed), all of us had had Reuben for our widebody classroom and no one ended up happy. In the other class I think they were asking unrelated questions and being their exuberant selves and our half was trying to learn and had a problem with his teaching technique… Not only did he call everyone the weakest link if we gave a wrong answer, but he wouldn’t help us find the answer to a question in our packet that may or may not have been in our FAOM. Anyhow, more to the point, he was apparently unhappy with our reaction to him and with the other half of the class and reported several people to Chad, our supervisor. The meeting he had with us was to tell us as a group that he had never done this before and that he thought we were an excellent group and there were several of us he wished he could pin our wings on us and put us on the line right away, and yet it only takes one bad apple to make the whole group look bad. Anyhow, it went on and on. Today, we had our practical exam for PA & Demo and our suprv. called a few people aside that Reuben had named (4 from my class) and gathered the info. Apparently, he was unaware of the ‘meeting’ that was called by Reuben and the fact that he called people the weakest links. Chad called a team meeting this evening after class and we discussed everything. Who said drama was for soap opera’s only????
I don’t know the point of telling you all that, but I guess I just wanted to share how my life is here at United’s training facility. I do what I am supposed to do and I try to avoid confrontation, because as a F/A we are going to ‘meet difficult customers’ and may not always like our co-workers, but we will have to be able to deal with it. Catch 22.
On a good note, Quiz 2 was Thursday morning and I got a 100%!! And I passed the PA & Demo with flying colors!!!
TK (Emergency training) starts Monday (we have to be waiting for the bus at 5:45) and will go into the middle of the next week. This is going to be fun, but stressfull. Wish me luck!

Friday, September 21, 2007

Week 2 is done!!


OK, I've made it through week 2, it feels like week 6 though!! Wonder what week 6 will feel like. This was a long week, but then today I thought it went fast. Who knows. Since there is no time for TV and school all day and we do stuff on Saturday, you never know the day of week!

Well, tomorrow I am going on my first training flight!! There are three per flight and my group is going to Denver!! We're going on a 757 and we have trainee aprons and will get to help, but only with service. I'm excited. This is the only training flight where we will be out of uniform, we do our fitting Monday! I'm excited. Then we get our uniforms on the following Thursday (week 4) and will start wearing them daily beginning week 5.

It's been hectic and I feel like I am rambling, but, yesterday my roomate & I went to the mall to get our in-flight shoes before tomorrow. Well, as we walked in to the mall (supposedly the 6th largest in the US - it's called Woodfield Mall) there was this line of people outside this sports memorabilia store 'Field of Dreams' and there was security at the door. I asked a girl what was going on. Anyhow, long story short is that William "the refrigerator" Perry was there and was going to be signing autographs. We had just missed him.

On the way out of the mall, we called a cab and by the time we got outside this other guy had gotten in our cab (van). The driver asked if it was ok if he rode with us up front. Anyhow, on the way back to the training center we were talking to this guy (the back of his head) and he said he was in Chicago on business and that he had a store in the mall and had gone there tonight. Turns out this guy is William somebody (only remember what my 42 yr old mind will let me) and he owns "Field of Dreams' and was the one who brought the fridge to the mall. He took our email addresses and is going to send us some memorabilia (hopefully NASCAR and not the Refrigerator's autograph!!).

I have to get up early again tomorrow (Sat) so we can get to the airport for the crew briefing on time. I'm looking forward to it more than you can imagine. I am going to try and post a picture that we took when we did the FAM's last Saturday at the airport. It's my half of the class (we've since lost 2 more of those, though). Anyhow, if I can do it, it's (obviously) a 747 and we went through it that evening. Wish I'd have brought a camera, I'll try to do better next time!

I miss you all! I'll be home October 25th (the day I graduate) and I leave for Denver Tuesday the 30th. Make time for me that weekend on your calandars!!

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Whooo hooo!!! Week One is done!

Well, I did it! I made it through week 1!!! 5 1/2 to go!!! It sure has been interesting. Before I fell asleep last night I said I the one week felt like 7.

Since last I wrote, I have been going to class, studying and doing my e learning. I have learned more than I imagined I needed to know about United and airplanes. I also now know what the inside of a 747 looks like inside !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh My Goodness... I don't know what to even say. Yesterday was narrowbody class at the United hangar at O'Hare, we went inside of a 737 (those are the oldest planes we have) and were supposed to go through an Airbus (that is the A319 and A320), which are very cool planes. It's what I came back from Seattle on. Anyhow, there was no Airbus that was going to be there, but guess what was?? There were actually two. One was in the hangar and one was parked outside. Our class was split in 1/2 (as usual) and 1-22 is my group. We went in the 747 in the hangar. OK, not to mention the height, or that when we walked to the plane and around it that the wing is larger than the roof of my house, it is AWESOME! We walked all over it, learned about it. Went into the cockpit, saw the pilot sleeping quarters, sat in the 1st class seats and pushed the buttons so they completely reclined into their own little bed. Went up the stairs into the business class and sat in their seats (Wonderful on their own), went through all the galleys, went to the complete back of the plane and two of a time went up these narrow claustraphobic steps into the crew sleeping quarters - man, I think it'd be hard to handle that. It has 6 bunks with curtains, and 2 airplane chairs that recline quite a bit. It's SMALL. This guy Jason was going back down the stpes before me, you have to turn around and go down these steps you see, I said, "I guess we can't wear our skirts or dresses on our International flights on this plane!!!"

We were gone 2-8 and then one of the instructors did a review class until 10 because our 1st quiz is Monday. Long Saturday!!

Today many of us are going to the mall. We all have to get our regulation shoes and other reg's. I also need some warmer stuff than I have and a pillow, and maybe an egg crate mattress. Maybe I'll get a Tempurpedic bed, who knows????

So this next week will hopefully not be as overwhelming as this past one has been. I think it will probably be the same and by the end of week 3 they say we should be able to stop twirling (for those of us who are) and things will start to fit together.

I am still blessed with two great roomates! That makes life much easier being away from my friends and family! I miss you guys!!!

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Day 3

Wow, how slow the days go when you are sitting in class all day and the rest of the time you are either in your room studying or in the LRC doing E-Learning in the basement where you need your Artic outerwear!!

I am 1/2 way through my first week. I'm still not used to the ghost of a pillow, the bed is hard (not terrible), the bathrooms are still gross (I just am trying not to look up - the ceiling looks like it has rust stains on it???? and I don't touch ANYTHING in the shower!). Last night I was up very late trying to get some e-learning done, this is computer based homework that is assigned weekly and has to be done by the end of the week) and then we realized we had additional work that needed to be done before a class today. Anyhow, it was a late night and then an early morning. Today was a long school day. We started at 7am and ended at 6pm. Yes they gave us an hour for lunch!

We have 40 people in our class, they assigned us schedule numbers (I'm #3 - well, I think I'm #1, but you know...) and most of our classes are divided in 1/2, 1-21 or 1-11 in our class and the others are attending different classes (I'm sure for the ratio). Anyhow, the point is that we have gotten to know 1/2 of our class pretty good. The other 1/2 we know, but it will take longer. We have had fun with eachother in class. We've had to do skits (to understand about communication) and played Guesstures (to understand about body language) and create airline companies and marketing plans etc. I never knew how involved this would be. At least there is some fun in it.

Tomorrow we have our 1st uniform fitting. Mine is 9:30-10 and then we don't have another class until 1pm (preflight responsibilities). You'd be surprised to know all that goes on before a flight. This Sat we go to O'Hare and go to a hangar and go over narrowbody aircraft. How fun.

I heard today that a class that is 3 weeks ahead of us had 13 people sent home because of internal disputes (i.e. roommates). WOW!

OK, I've rambled and probably haven't been cohesive, but please remember I am functioning on little sleep and little food!

I can't wait to hear from you guys!

Monday, September 10, 2007

I'm Here!

Got in yesterday (Sunday) and I know both of my roommates! I met Juli when I came to Chicago for my pre employment physical, and I met Lisa when I came for my second interview. Crazy! Three twin beds and a very old dorm type setting. Gross shower stall (I keep my flip flops on) and the toilet is behind a stall door (like in a public restroom). The pillows are like what I assume they have in prison. I should have brought mine, didn't have room in my 10 suitcases! We had a couple of orientations and got to meet another class that graduates this Thursday. They look so cool in their uniform. I can't wait to get mine.
I slept ok, I took Tylenol PM,so that's probably why. We had to get up at 5:30 this morning so we could all get ready and go eat in the other building before class which started at 8.

Chad is our main whatever you call it for this class. He's pretty cool. Actually everyone is very wonderful. They are all nice and they tell you that their job is to make sure we pass. We graduate on Thursday October 25th and will go home that day. We have to report to work on Wed October 31 (start work on Halloween, I will always remember my start date!) It doesn't give me long at home since I'll have to get to Denver and be settled so I am ready to fly on Wed. I assume I'll have to get there Sunday (no later than). One of our domestic training flights will be to the east coast and the international flight will be either to Munich or Narita/Tokyo. Very cool. They split us up in to 3 groups (there are 40 of us) so sometimes we have different classes at different times. My group went to FAOM class ) which is Flight Attendant Operating Manual) and had Charlie, United's most senior flight attendant, as our teacher. He has flown for 41 years. Because of his seniority he can fly any flight he wants. Anyhow, this manual is our bible and we have to have it everywhere. If we are on a flight without it or if we have not added the updates, we will be pulled from the flight and could be fined $1000 per flight that we flew ant the manual was not up to date. Serious stuff. All of our tests will be open book from Jeff Greenman, United's manager of onboard service training division, told us all to call, email, or text our friends/family to let them know that only 1% of the people appling for this job make it to where we are. He said to tell you all that we are 'the best' (his words not mine,but who am I to argue).

Tomorrow we have class from 8-12 then 1-5. It is so hard to sit there for that long. We do get breaks and that helps, but I was totally trying to keep my eyes open by the time my last class was over this evening at 6. That, by the way, is a big NO NO.

OK, I'm sure that you all are tired of hearing my blog about a day in the life, but I must add that the weather yesterday was beautiful.. 70's, maybe 40% humidity, a light breeze. Today I didn't see too much, but it started raining around 3 and it's dreary and I am cold. Mike, I told you I'd need warm clothes! And I didn't bring an umbrella and it is an outside walk from the training building to the main office where the cafeteria is.

I can't wait to share more with you in a few days.