Italy Part 1 - The Venetian Trip

It is everyone's dream to go for a wander round Italia. Fortunate we were to have it come true as we found ourselves amidst its history and romanticism.

Saudia does operate a flight to Milan. I went to Milan already in September last year, which I have yet to blog about it though. It was a beautiful city, no wonder! And for the second time, I was blessed to have had a layover in this city again. I actually was even more blessed because it's almost a 3-day layover. So, I needed to make the most out of it. Since I saw Milan before, this is a great chance to go beyond and see the other wonderful parts of Italy.

My flying partner for the month of April happened to be a batchmate, too. Crisselle and I schemed our itinerary only a day before our flight. I advise you to search information and prepare all necessities ahead of time, the transportation for instance, because if not, you would end up with no more available seat or paying pricier one.

Italy has a train network that connects every major city. Moreover, there are buses that hop from city to city.

We arrived in Milan on April 6, in the morning. We checked in to our hotel and immediately changed clothes and dolled up. That's usually how cabin crew roll on every layover. No rest, go on a tour directly! Haha!

First stop, Venice. We booked a rail pass through TrenItalia. Actually, our hotel concierge told us that we booked the wrong railway station which was Venezia Mestre. Since we wanted to be in Grand Canal, it should be Venezia Santa Lucia instead. The trip took 2 and a half hours. Thanks to the spectacular view seen through our window as it lessened the boredom. The ample space of the train and its mini store and toilet room give comfort to the passengers. After the train, we got on board of a bus. It is a 20-minute ride from Venezia Mestre to Venezia Sta. Lucia. We were so excited to wander as we stepped out of the vehicle. You cannot imagine how big our smiles were! Venice is like a city on a sea. The Grand Canal is surrounded by many antiquated buildings and bridges. There are water taxis, water buses, and the iconic gondolas.

What is Venice without the ride on a gondola? So, we blithely hopped aboard the genteel, black and red, hand-built wooden boat. Our gondolier slash tourist guide was Mr. Adamo. He rowed us around the lagoon. He even told us stories about some buildings along the canal. Like he pointed to the apartments of Marco Polo and the Cassanova family. He showed us the first and smallest church built in the place. It was entertaining!

You would perceive in your eyes the oldness of the place. Well, that is the touch of history. The only thing I dislike is the green moss that covers the wharf, bridges, and lower part of the buildings. You could smell it, too.

How we ended our trip? We stuffed our tummies with tasty Italian pizza and gelato.

It is definitely a once in a life time experience in the most romantic city. You would feel kilig even without a lover beside you!

(Wait for the 2nd part!)

FAQ - Saudia Recruitment

I've been receiving a lot of inquiries about Saudia recruitment from numerous aspiring cabin crew. I apologize to those whom I was not able to accommodate. It's either because I am very busy working or busy sleeping. I am sorry for those unanswered questions posted on my pages. You could see me active on my social media accounts, but believe me, I need to use that free time to lift my sinking social life.

All questions I get are mostly the same. Thus, I decided to compile all FAQs here and provide answers. Basically, these answers are based on my experience and my colleagues' experiences.

Please note that this is only applicable for those FA wannabes residing in the Philippines. I will be posting another one for those who live in Saudi Arabia, as I am local hired.

1.) How to apply to Saudia?

Saudia's affiliated agency in the Philippines is IPAMS / Industrial Personnel and Management Services. It is located in Aurora Blvd. It has a Facebook page where the admins actively post about the recruitment that will take place. Visit the page frequently! If there is a recruitment, you may submit your CV on their website. But it's much better if you go and apply on the recruitment day itself.

2.) What are the requirements?

• CV
• Passport (2 years)
• Whole body picture
• 2x2 pictures
• Photocopy of birth certificate
• Photocopy of current employment certificate
• Photocopy of education certificates (diploma and/or transcript of records)
• NBI clearance

3.) What is the required height?

The ideal height is 5'2. The first thing they do is measure your height by asking you to reach the 212 cms line on the wall. You need to use both hands.

4.) Are scars, tattoos and/or pimples allowed?

Scars can be concealed. Please do.

Too much pimples is not allowed. If you can cover them with make up, then that's good.

Tattoos must not be visible.

5.) Do I need to be a swimmer?
At least, you can swim.

6.) What is the acceptable eye vision?

As I heard, the acceptable vision is 20/40. But if you have a problem with your eye sight, you may still apply. This will only be declared after passing the final interview, which is during medical exam in SM Lazo. Actually, it is not a problem at all because it will not affect the result. The clinic will just ask you to undergo an eye laser. It is expensive, but I guarantee you, it's worth it. You will get the amount of money you spend for the surgery on your first official salary.

7.) Do they accept applicants with scoliosis?

The angle of the scoliosis must not be more than 12 degrees.

8.) What to wear during recruitment day?

IPAMS required applicants to wear corporate attire. Preferably, skirt, long sleeves covered with coat, high heels, full make-up and hair in bun. Note, employers prefer pink lipstick.

9.) Is it okay to apply for applicants with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?

Unexpectedly, I received this question thrice. So, I might as well post it here. Having this condition is not a big deal. There is no part of the medical exam where it can be detected. Two of my batchmates have it. Worry no more!

10.) How does the screening go?

Honestly, I did not personally experience the screening conducted by IPAMS. As I said, I am a local hired in Saudi Arabia. It's totally different. I got this information from my colleagues. First, they measure your height. Once you passed, you would be directed to IPAMS personnel for the initial interview. But there are days when they are up for public speaking. They give you a topic which needed to be discussed in front of your co-applicants. If passed, they inform you ( via text, call, or e-mail) to come to their office again for final interview. On FI, you would have a one-on-one interview with Saudia employer. Then, another public speaking or a role-playing.

11.) What is the required age?

Strictly, you should be 22 years old or turning 22 in a few months. You can still apply up to 30 years of age.

12.) What are the possible questions asked by the interviewer?

They ask the usual questions; like "Why do you want to be a flight attendant?", "What are your strength and weaknesses", "What can you contribute to the company?", "How do you see yourself 10 years from now?".

13.) Can I say I have family, relatives, or friends working at Saudia?

It doesn't count. Remember, the interviewer assesses you, not those people related to you.

14.) Do I need to be a degree holder? Do I need to be an experienced cabin crew?

Being a degree holder and/or experienced cabin crew can be an edge. High school graduates and first timers are welcome. As long as you are at the right age, are able to understand knowledge instilled in you, and good personality, you go girl!

UPDATE!!! I have learned that Saudia/IPAMS no longer accept undergraduates.

15.) Can married women and/or mothers apply?

You are most welcome, sisters!

I, myself, went through what you are going through right now. Do not give up! Strive more to thrive more.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

Turkey - I got the best of both worlds!

I just wanted to savour an authentic Turkish shawarma with Turkish tea and visit the Blue Mosque. That's all I ever wanted to do in my Istanbul layover. I had no idea that a lavishness had been awaiting me.

It was my Egyptian flying partner's idea to go cruising at night. I was hesitant at first, but excitement eventually felt.

On August 18, 2015, the crew arrived at Titanic Hotel. Hend and I immediately booked a Turkish cruise on Bosphorus Turn A Tour through the help of the hotel reception.

At 6 pm, a van picked us up. It took us to the port together with other tourists. The traffic was awful. Oh my gosh! It took 3 hours that I already slept and dreamt on my seat. However, it was worth it!

Our sea voyage started  with a sumptuous dinner at the upper deck. There were several tourists from different countries, bust mostly were from gulf. After the dinner, we went down to unlax. Oh dear! It was so amazing. On our right side, we could see Asia. On the other side, it is Europe. At that moment, I recalled Mandy Moore's "A Walk to Remember" movie where she wants to be in two places at once. I experienced it! I was in between the two beautiful continents. Cool breeze gliding over my skin, city lights beaming on my eyes, lovely music playing in the background... Ah! It made me miss the man of my dream.

A few minutes later, the program started. There was a dance floor at the center and cruisers were seated around. Different performers showcased different talents. But my favorite among them is the belly dancer.  She was very entertaining. She interacted with audience captivatingly and even goofed around. After the program, they gave the dance floor to the cruisers. Hend and I tripped the light fantastic. I turned into a belly dancer overnight. Haha!

We returned to the hotel at 1 am already.

The next day, we just had a quick breakfast buffet then betook ourselves to Meydani to visit Sultan Ahment Mosque. This was actually Hend's second time to see the holy mosque. But it was my first time, so, I had to take hundred of pictures. Haha!

This city has a lovely landscape because of the abundance of flowers. You would see different types of flowers, but tulips are the prettiest. I heard they change the kind of flowers and its landscape every season.

We met a businessman along Meydani street. He owns carpet shop and cafè, where he toured us around.

Our last activity was souvenir hoarding. Then, went back to the hotel to prep for our flight back to Riyadh.

Oh! By the way, Turkish people are very beautiful and handsome. All of them! Hihi!

FA Sruggle

It's been 3 months since the last time I posted a blog. And now, I'm back... For the meantime, I guess???

I have a lot of things in mind. I have so many stories to tell. I have several ideas to share. I have all this that I could post on my blog page. But I'd rather sleep than do so. But this time, I sense the need to log in to my blogger account and compose anything!

I've been working this dream job for almost a year now. I would say that I'm deeply grateful about it. However, as I work, I feel like I'm losing something piecemeal. Please don't get me wrong. I am not underestimating my job. Definitely, not! It is totally tough to be a flight attendant. It's just that I feel like my knowledge has been lagging behind the curve.

I was an honor student back then. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication. We did role plays, news reports, journals, articles, commercials, prints, etc. This course basically requires creativity. Let me add "good memorization"- this is for all the dialogues and scripts I memorized for role playing, hosting, and news reporting. Humbly, I did a pretty good job. My first job was in the office. I dealt and conversed with professional people from different countries thru e-mail. All of this gave me growth in every aspect of my life.

Presently, I am living out of the suitcase. Like what my colleague's status says,  "Eat. Sleep. Fly. Repeat." This is so me. This is my life. But hey! I don't mind doing this everyday. I don't complain at all. But I find it so weird and baffling. I'm having a hard time putting my ideas into words. I have lost my creativity. I cannot memorize scripts perfectly. I tend to lose my train of thought in the middle of conversation. I find it hard to explain stuffs. I was a valedictorian before but now I feel like I am a slow-learner during our training class. My ability to understand and absorb topics/lessons rapidly is not what it used to be. Things just have not been the same. Why do I feel like I'm becoming less and less intelligent? Is it because my life became routine and I don't experience new things? Is it because of the physical demands, roster shifts, and long working hours? Is it because of the pressure and artificial oxygen I breathe in? Do these factors affect my intellect? Moreover, I cannot speak English fluently and articulately anymore. It could be because most of our guests' on board native language is not English. I have to use the simplest words or even mix English with their languages. I don't put the blame on my guests nor the nature of my work. I am just wondering why I feel this way and worried at the same time. Really...

I need to figure this out. I seek advice. Anyone?

Flying Solo at Kuala Lumpur

Home feels - that was my state of mind during my layover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last August 9.

My layover in this city took place on my birth month - August. It was my first time to bid alone, which means I would have a random flying partner. I got the same line with the pretty Egyptian girl. Her name is Hend.

Considering it as a long-haul flight, crew are given short rest while in the sky. They are divided into two. Half of them rest while the other half look after the cabin. I was able to sleep for 2 hours in the so-called OFAR or overhead flight attendant room.

All my colleagues in this flight have been to this Malaysia's sultry capital already. It was only me who haven't seen it, who haven't laid eyes on the popular skyscraper, Petronas Twin Tower. So, each and everyone had various plan. As for Hend, she planned to pamper herself in a salon. So, I opted to stray away from the group and roam around by myself. I was hesitant about the idea at first. I was scared to go solo in a place I am unfamiliary with. At 6 pm, I was all set. I already asked hotel personnel where Petronas is and how to get there. The moment I stepped out of Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur hotel, I fidgeted and ran back to my room. Haha! I got nervous. I messaged my housemate Andrea and him to boost my enduring drive.

It was already 8 pm when I had the courage to go out, even though one personnel reminded me to take care of my sling bag for it's already dark outside.

I passed by a cafeteria. There was one local whom I asked for the direction to the metro train. He showed me the way. Then, I asked him if it was safe to walk alone through the bridge. You know what he did? He left his food and directed me to the metro train. He looked very generous and he really was generous! Inside the metro, I approached another local so as to know how to get a ticket and know which station should I go off. He was a nice Muslim guy. I got off at KLCC.

Finally! The word's tallest twin towers came into sight. It was surrounded by bunch of tourists. I was one of the tourists who struggled getting the perfect picture with the tower. I got my DSLR and selfie stick with me, but they were not enough. That's when I realized that I really need to purchase a GoPro. Haha!

After having dinner at Nando's, I went back to the hotel.

 

 

And by the way, I just want to commend Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur hotel for its beauty, cleanliness, and friendly staff. I also enjoyed their breakfast buffet, just like in Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila's Spiral. I was able to devour Malaysia's very own anchovies. Yay! What I enjoyed most was the dessert counter.

 

For me, Kuala Lumpur is like a big version of Makati in the Philippines. However, there are several tourist spots that I have yet to visit. And hopefully, I will roam around it with my loved ones. Plus, a better picture with the twins.

 

Crew on Reserve

Reserve line is one of the peeves of cabin crew. Sometimes, it can be advantageous, but most of the time not. Reserve means being on standby or on-call, waiting for a call from the check hostess or crew scheduler who will assign you a flight to any destination.

There are 2 shifts given to us. A Shift starts from 3 am until 3pm, whereas B Shift is from 3pm-3 am. You should be ready in between. Because sometimes, you only have 10 minutes to prepare. Usually, you are the substitute for crew who is sick or simply cannot operate the flight.

I, myself, never wanted to see this on my roster. But I did last July.

My supposed-to-be flying partner Jessica and I unfortunately had reserve lines. We were not the most junior thou! But marked by my lack of responsibility, we passed the bid sheet after the deadline (which we were not aware of).

Gloominess pervaded in us.

Our schedule was a headache. We even got low flying hours, which is equal to low salary. Cabin crew are paid an hourly wage after reaching certain minimum flying hours. We prayed to get 2 or more layovers. Jessica got Cochin layover. And guess what? Manila layover was given to me.

I spent my days off in the Philippines from July 13 until 19, 2015. On October 22, I was sleeping soundly. I had been snoring since 6 pm. Suddenly, I received a call from the check hostess at 3 am, telling me I need to prepare within 10 minutes because I will be having a 47-hour layover in Manila. Yay! I was shaking while packing my things. I got rattled and giddy at the same time.

Manila flights are mostly operated by our Filipina seniors who are flying for 5-15 years and are already Manila-based. Of course, I was nervous working with these highly experienced crew. Everything was smooth and organized. Wow!

Before the aircraft took off, I just inboxed my sister about my unexpected layover and also asked her to relay it to my parents.

 

Rain was pouring when we landed. The supervisor, purser, and I were accompanied by Sofitel personnel to their hotel. When I disembarked the van, I saw my parents, cousin, and Uncle June all smiles and all eyes on me. I could feel how proud they were as they eyed me on my blue uniform. It was their first time to personally see me in it.

I just took my room key card, had dinner at MOA and went with them to Pampanga. The could stay in my hotel room. However, due to this sudden occurrence, they were not able to bring clothes and my little sister was still in school. I slept at home and went on an errand the next day. Jet lag has no room for flight attendants like me. Lol!

In the afternoon, my whole family with my cousin and his daughter drove me back to Sofitel. They mellowed out by the pool. After 2 hours, we dined at MOA. Then, dropped me back to the hotel.

 

I had wonderful Zzzzz's. I woke up early the next day to have my breakfast at the Spiral. Woooow! I was stunned by their buffet. They serve different dishes. And I like the idea of this crew biking around and offering newspapers PLUS the magtataho inside. Yay! The only thing I hate about Sofitel is the prohibition of DSLRs. One lady guard forbade me to use my DSLR. The reason she said was the camera creates a high-resolution images that can be zoomed in closer to the people in the background. Sofitel must be supporting the Anti-Selfie bill. Peace!

 

Afterwards, I just prepped myself for a flight back to Riyadh.

Before, I was not attracted to roster with Manila flight. I was like "Been seeing Manila ever since. There's nothing special about it. I'd rather choose Europe flights". But I ate my words! It is one for the books.

That's how I ended month of July with a reserve line. I am very, very happy with the layover I got but please no more reserve lines for me. Please? I will be responsible. I will always submit bid sheet before the deadline. Please?