GHOST Can Go Everywhere!!!!!

Ghost Stories are every where....even in Japan. This is the real experience from my colleague who used to fly with me very often and this happened in Nagoya port.

And the story Begins....

In Nagoya, we fly there very often, we stay in many different hotel. But the renowned hotel that we, stewardess, wouldn't want to go most is this one ( the hotel name is reserved ).

This haunted hotel is situated in the middle of the city, its lobby is connected to the subway station and shopping center at the basement level with thousands of people walking around. Now, you're thinking that what kind of hotel that is in the middle the city with shopping mall and subway station can be that haunting?

The hotel's room: The first moment that we open the room's door. First thing that we noticed was the very very dimmed light from the old light bulbs. On our right hand side, there stands old wooden closet attached to the wall along to the TV Table. The bed is some years old and it looks like it has not been changed for sometimes and for some reasons. Even though the weather is cold outside. Inside the room, the room's atmosphere is very uncomfortable. We will usually feel we can't breathe and that's why we try to open the window in which once we open it, we will see the wall ( another building ) less than 2 meters away from the window.

We're now talking about my colleague. She was alone in that night, exhausted from the long flight and service hours trying to get some sleep. She lied down on the bed and closed her eyes. Not a long moment to go. She felt a hand on her shoulder in which she swears that she didn't fall as sleep yet. At her very first thought, it should be the doll that she usually bring with. So then, she tried to wipe it off from her shoulder. But the hand wouldn't go away!

She then felt very frightened and scared. Got up from the bed and turned on all the possible lights around. Grabbed the room phone and called the other friend in the room next door saying she wanted help. She then tried to run out of her room, once she reached the door and opened it. The vision of her first sight told her that that's " IT's not the same hotel ! ". The corridor looks hundred of years old and it looks like she's dreaming. She didn't dare to walk out of her room even a single step. Shut the door, sliding her back down on the floor and prey until the sun rise.

This is one of the experience that even though I haven't had them for myself. But this is true that we shouldn't be looking over things and places to stay or even study the review of the hotel that you're going to stay on your trip. When we know this that we need to review the quality of the hotel first, it could be funny sometimes.

One of my junior knows about the room and will not willing to stay in there even a second. She walked to the front desk and say she wants her room changed. The reception then say " Ghost Can Go Everywhere....You know? "

PearL HarBoR

Bang Bang!!! War is over!!! Let's go to Pearl Harbor. After we landed at Honolulu around 11:00 am (GMT -10), we rushed to get our room's key, changed our clothes and rushed out from the hotel before noon. We travelled by local bus which took us about 40 minutes from the hotel to Pearl Harbor and cost only $2 for round trip. After we arrived, we had our stuff left at the locker which cost the same price as the bus fare for $2 because camera and small purse are the only things that are allowed to bring in with. Then we walked to the museum where we can take a memorial picture of a big anchor before we walked up on the renovated battleship.


Now we moved the view into all the rooms in the battleship. These rooms are whereas we used to see all the marines living their daily life. There are small size kitchens along the length of the ship, washrooms, beds, and control rooms as seen in the movies. We now move the camera up to the roof top. In every battleship, there will be binocular that is attached to the ship itself. For those who wants to study the background of the ship or wants to know the history of Pearl Harbour, there'll be headset that can be rent.


Those who would want to see real ship's carcass. They can always sail along to the middle of the sea ( at some point ) to see the live ones. Now come to the tragedy part. I have visited memorial stones in which all the casualties's name were carved on them.


After taking all the memorial pictures we now then take the bus back to the hotel.

Tentionally or Intentionally?

I shall include "Boarding" as top five most tiring time of the flight for an air crew. During this time no matter the early morning or late at night, you had to keep smile on your face. I wondering, once passenger get on board with thier belongings which they carry for the most of the time from their home to the airport and the aircraft. But once get on the flight, they leave the baggage for the aircrew to keep it for them.

I once had a bad experienced on this, a guy with a big and heavy baggage ask me to store his baggage for him in the overhead stowage bin. I was a junior and just started to work at that time so I rarely refused or ask him to help me storing his own baggage!!! But in my mind I murmuring to myself what a selfish man and no sense of gentleman at all (oh... by the way just to remind I'm just a little 158cm. girl!!!) Finally I help stored his heavy baggage with all my streight but no gratitude or any thanks word spoken to me at all!!!!

WHY? WHY ME? People might misunderstand about this point. Actually this is not the cabin crew duty or responsibility to do so. But instead we're there to help storing or finding the proper stowage to store it!!!

One Early Morning...

PEEP!! PEEP!! PEEP!! PEEP!!

OHAYOGOZAIMASU!!! Wake up! Wake up! Its 3:30 in a morning, the alarm is turned off while the eyes still close, walking to bathroom, take a bath, put on my make up, have my hair done, get dressed and ready for the flight. Its now 4:50am rushing out the house in time for the showup at 5:40am, arrived the airport around 5:20am. I had my luggage loaded at the crew check-in counter then hurry to go to the office luckily I be there just in time for a briefing! We need to had our pre-flight briefing al least 1 hour 30 minutes prior to the aircraft depart.

My pre-flight briefing took about 20 minutes. During this time, I will know my assigned duty whether galley duty, cabin duty or the in-charge duty on that particular flight. So I have to make sure my seating location, the location of emergency equipments on the aircraft that we will operate on. The senior cabin crew will talk through the passenger information, service procedures or any special meal or service request by passengers. We will be assigned to help assist and take care of the special care passenger if there are any on the flight such as blind passenger or the passenger on the wheel chair, to instruct them how to use cabin facilities and explain the procedures in case of any emergency. Later on, after we will boarded the aircraft again we will have the briefing with the cockpit crew as a final briefing on the day. Till now, we will be ready for passenger boarding all that’s left to do is smile and greet the passengers on board (bearing in mind its 7.30am in the morning). Remember you are the face of the airline and boarding is the first interation between you and passenger which can make an impression on passengers so smiles are essential throughout the whole flight even you're tired!!!.

ALOHA! HaWaii

Aloha!!!

It is the common word use in the greeting and farewell of the Hawaiian who live in Hawaii. No wonder why my airline had the flight to Hawaii because most of the population here is Japanese. My airline had a daily flight to Honolulu; the largest city and capital of Hawaii for which two or three times a month for me to go to Hawaii. So I had a chance to go to many famous interesting sightseeing such as Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Dole Pineapple Plantation etc. The Hawaiian Island's tropical weather is very consistent throughout the year with only moderate changes in temperature, little winds by the beach and little cold at night which is most desirable for me. One more interesting point is the Traditional Hawaii Dance which can convey the traditional style of Hawaiian.

SuSHi ARiGaTou...

When you hear or talk about Japan, "Sushi" would first come to your mind or even the first kind of food that you wanna try. As it is the most famous dish outside Japan and among japanese themselves. Either do I, first thing first I tried Sushi as my first meal in Japan.

Many crews were recommended about a turntable 100YEN Sushi restaurant nearby the hotel so I go for a tried on my day off. Here, the sushi plates had the standard price of 1ooYEN and are placed on the rotating belt that moved through every table and seat. You can easily pick the one you like or you can make a special order for the desired Sushi through the speaker phone that directly connect to the preparation section. Normally it comes in one or two pieces in a plate, this is up to you how many you want!! The selection is not limited to Sushi, but may include stream egg, juices or desserts. Finally the bill is calculated based on the number of plates you had. Have you tried the Sushi yet?

1st FLiGHT in My LiFe as A CaBin CReW

I got a pattern flight of 9 days fly to Japan-Hawaii as my first flight in my life as a Cabin Crew. Being the junior on the flight, do as what senior told you to do, being polite and obedient. As a junior I was the last one to get on the bus, head count the crews, collect the tips for the bell boy etc. This was not I actually get used to. My duty on the first flight was a galley duty at the backmost compartment of the aircraft and we got a fullhouse on that day. Working against the clock....rushing the preparation for other crews ready to serve passengers. What other crews do I have to speed up twice!! No idea where all the service items were, no idea what to be done next. What a messy life!!!

After the flight you find yourself more time off than any other job. Time to go around dinning, shopping, sightseeing etc. But I'm not getting used to the life of Cabin Crew yet. Living alone, eat alone and shopping alone in other country was an awful feeling for me at that time. Imagine you have to live on your own in a country that rarely speak english like Japan (because most of the time we get day off at japan) while other crews they know where to go, what to do esp. with their Friends. You will be lucky if you landed on the same day or stay at the same hotel with your friends from your classmate whom you can hang out with feeling more enjoyable during your stay. But that's not happened to me at that time. I always was alone but not all the time as some nice senior crew also ask me to go out with them sometimes. Of course! I'm not denied for the kind invitation......No man can live alone!!!

LiFe as OJT

OJT -- On The Job Training: At First there were 30 members on the same ship. However, 2 of them did not pass some of the test during the progress. 28 were there for OJT.


28 of us were being paired as single group. Some were 3 persons, and some 2 persons as a group. Guess What? I was lucky, I was having another 2 members in group. First time on flight as cabin crew. Three of us were soooo excited, of course we were nervous ( of being OJT unit, of course not the being afraid of the flight ). The feeling was like when you apply for a certain job and that is your first day seeing hundreds of different strangers plus this Cabin Crew job is the first job in my life.


As being an OJT unit. Every single personal must act & work as if they're on the real working situation from what they've been trained. Like other Stewardess job, before taking flight, there will be

Pre-Flight

- Pre-flight briefing
- Emergency Equipment Check & Inspection
- Security Check
- Cabin Facilities Check ( Eg. Reading Lights, WC )
- Ground Work Preparation
- Ready for boarding

Before the plane Takes Off

- It's mandatory that the safety video must be displayed in front of the passenger before taking off.
- Stowage Check, Seat Belt, Seat Back, Lavatory, Window shade
- Double check with the passengers if they're all good to go and not using any electronic devices


In The Sky

Now the Battle has begun. After seat belt sign has turned off, we'll be rushing (neatly) to galley preparing the hot towel ( Oshibori ). 70Kgs Drinks Cart is being released from the galley after all passenger's got towel. Now we're talking about many different roles in doing our job. At this point, people are confused who's doing what? Ok...There're 2 types of task designatically assigned to each individual since before the pre flight briefing. First is " Galley Duty ". Person who has been assigned at this role. Their main duty is in the "galley" or what ordinary human that has enough oxygen calls " kitchen ". They are to prepare all kind of supplies; foods, drinks, towels, cart, snacks and etc...to the passengers. Now....how all this supplies should be served to the passengers? " Cabin Duty " is the supporting unit who deliver or serve the passengers directly by taking all the mentioned supplies to the table. After the serving, cabin duty must handle all of the immigration documents and etc...


Normally, the flight time is not a couple of hour short from one destination to the next. The service length that all the cabin crews are really active are averagely 3 hours after took off. After all the service given to the passengers. Now it's time for a little brake, we'll be having our meals, looking after the washroom. A lot of people are wondering why we need to take a good care of the washroom. There are reasons behind this.........


When you're thousands and thousands feet above ground. Some people are familiar with the air pressure condition and everything. However, some people aren't. Passengers will get up from their seat, and on the long and narrow way to the washroom, they will pass out. Of course, we're not being hired to look after those passing out passengers only. We're here to makesure there's no people violating the airline regulation by smoking in the airplane especially washroom.


Now we're talking about rest......in the " crewbunk " ( Place for air crew to take rest, will explain how it looks like later on ). The time length of our rest is also depends on the flight time. The rest will be splited into 2 times, we'll assign crews as 2 groups to decide who go first. Then, after waking up....our battle begins again.....2nd service.


We've talked about pre-flight & during flight activities. Now when it's time for the plane to be landed at its destination. All cabin crew will be following the first protocal such as the back seat must be back-up up right. When the plane touches the runway, I feel the huge mountain out of my chest. Safely & Professionally!!!


After all of this OJT.....my new life & experience begin.

DiTchiNG @ FiNaL RouND!

Here come the most important and excited part of training "Emergency Training" This is primarily duty of Cabin Crew -- To ensure the safety and reliable operation helping passengers reaching their destinations of each and every flights. While serving and maintaining passengers comfort come second. At the same time, First Aid also play an important role of a Cabin Crew to give a basic first aid to passengers in case of medical emergency onboard . Once I have been recruited as a Cabin Crew, I have to complete a mandatory 2 week training course of Emergency Training and First Aid which is governed by the Civil Aviation Authority. During this time I will be trained on: Aircraft Evacuation, Ditching (ground and water), Decompression, Fire Fighting and Security Related Issues.

This training was conducted within different simulators to practice the drills and procedures needed to deal with different types of emergencies and aircrafts. Once I have successfully completed the emergency training. For the First Aid course, basic first aid assistance was provided by the well-trained nurse. I was trained to handle any emergency situation espeically illness or injury among passengers during the flight such as passenger's unconciousness, Heart Attack, Bleeding situation, vomitting, fever, and etc.... I've also learnt how to use "AED" tool, Resuscitation kits, and first aid kits.

I will then be put on a probationary period of 1 month so called "OJT - On the Job Training" where my performance will be assessed by senior cabin crew. Also in my airline, every cabin crew member has to undergo recurrent training and be re-tested every 12 months.

ToUGH TRaiNiNG!!

After passing through those self presentation processed. Now come to the real talented and self intelligence part of tough Training. It took about 6 months completed all the course required by the company; Japanese Language, Aircraft and In-flight Services. There are almost 30 members in my class but we were divided into two classes. But in the end we had only 26 members left to go on the real flight.

We have started from basic japanese lessons, day to day conversation, vocabulary, polite inflight conversation and also japanese culture. Its been a hard time for me and my classmates studied a third language to be able to communicate with a passenger on the real flight professionally! KONNICHIWA! ARIGATOUGOZAIMASU! Everyday, all day writing, speaking, pronouncing japanese words and sentences and a weekly test. Two months after that we started studying our next subject on aircraft types and cabin facilities that we will be flying on. I didn't sleep much at all as I was up all night studying! Not even the lesson and test but also early wake up, late sleep and faced a bad traffic from home to downtown office Monday till Friday continued like that for many months. "What a world!!!! Be patient! Don't give up and determined to succeed!!" I murmuring to myself. The first 3 months was a very tiring time with long hours and lots of studying. But all the hard work paid off as I've passed all of the exam.

There're still a lot of hards ahead of me to pass the next two months of training. The In Flight Services course is very intense and we were being assessed every day by what we are wearing, our hair and make up, attitude, posture, the way we walk and sit etc. We had all our practical training on cabin services side of the job - how to serve the meals, drinks and deal with passengers etc! During that time japansese language being used together with the serving skill which make it more intense . Luckily we had a cabin and galley mock up at the office so we can imaged ourselved serving to the real passengers in the familiarise atmosphere. On the last day of tough training we had given a chance to tried real meal served on the flight, real japanese style food umm!! Six months has flown by and I've made lots of friends on my course. Next be prepared for the first time on board the aircraft not as a Cabin Crew but as a passenger because we had to go and visit the aircraft at the headquarter in Japan to familiarise ourselves with it.

PhySiCaL CHeck UP!!

The end of Time? Its the waste of time if I don't pass this stage. On this physical examination stage, if you fail to pass, all the hard works that you've been doing will be gone in a matter of second. Physical can be horrible, imagine when you've to be naked in front of stranger ( of course the physician ), also you to lay down on the bed bending your knees, then there's an alienated stick ( cotton bud ) sticking up your back door.

The examination was very detailed. Almost every single area of your whole body will be inspected and invaded for example, blood test, skin, urine, stool, cardiac check, and your spinal cord must be in-shape in the certain ankle degree that they've specified. I've seen many people passed out during blood test and that was terrifying. Luckily, I'm not a type of person that can be scared by a piece of needle.

The examination test results will be posted to the airline headquarter in other country in order to run thorough re-check for qualified person. Fail to meet even a single check qualification, you'll be out of the game instantly.

Months passed by, I was waiting and waiting and waiting...........and I passed the test!!!

APPLiCaTioN + INTeRViEW ExPeRieNCe

Next be prepared for the Application, Group Discussion on 1st interview , 2nd Interview and Physical Examination etc. As I've told you long long way to go...... Let me start with the Job Application, Fortunately or Unfortunately I found job vacant on the newspaper so I told two of my friends who were interested to be a Stewardess to go apply for the job and they also invited me to apply for this job with them as well. At that time I was like "What the hell with it, it wouldn't hurt anythings anyway!!! So three of us decided to go apply for this job while we on the last year of university.

On the day of application, three of us woke up early morning (which was not usually happened to us) going to the beauty salon nearby the Hotel held as an application place, get our makeup, hair salon and get dressed, taken photo to be ready for application. Though, deep inside, I didn't expect to try to get this kind of job. I'd been thinking of getting other ordinary "on the ground" job. However, at some points, I was becoming more serious on how to pass all the TEST! Especially the point of height qualification as I've told you in the last topic of my diary, I still remembered that moment of not qualified for an Stewardess because of the height! how unlucky I am? Again from the voices of people around me encourage me to go there again on the next morning. Its my day today, I easily passed all the qualifications. Going there again for the 1st interview which was a week or two after that.

As Usual As it should be, Gorgious, Knowledgeble and a Smile on my face entering into the interview room with four more applicants as a group discussion under the topic of "Friends" Keep on going with discussions, others tried to impressed four judges sitting in front of us, represent themselves as much as their can; japanese language expert, past experienced on their job bla bla bla....while I was talking about two of my friends who also applied for this job and they were waiting for me in the robby and keep on smiling (the best in me SMILE...........) That's it!, the only conversation I've said on that day of discussion. What if you were the judges, will you choose me? May be, may be not but not them, I passed into a 2nd interview which was more serious as it was the one on one interview with three of the company's senior representatives. The interview goes on well as I hope and the only question that I can still remembered until now was "What should I do on the flight if I fall asleep? Again and again an innocent me? I answered "I have a candy!!!" I remembered they all laughed on my answer (at least it become more relaxed on the onward interview) After that, I have to wait in the waiting lounge to have the final interview with two executives of the company. Oh My God! this isn't the end yet? Ok! Lets finished this quickly and smootly.

A few months after a long time waiting for the answer , the same feeling as you saw your name listed on the university entrance board. YES!!! One step closer to get a Stewardess Life started.

JuST BeGiN!

Why Cabin Crew?

"Fate" or "Destiny"?

Depends on what people think. But for me its the way to make a living while traveling at free cost and a perfect opportunity to get away from the routine job and a limited weekends off like the rest of the world! Isn't it great!!! But before become a real professional Cabin Crew there a long way to go......

Which airlines? This is the first question that come to my mind. Many choices to chose? NO! The only choice I have, airline that need the minimum height lower than 160 cm. Is this because of my low height? The answer is definitely YES!!. Not many airlines in the world that qualified people with low height to work as a Cabin Crew. Lucky for those living with 158 cm. Lucky for me? Finally fate or smth. or someone lead me to applied for this Job in one of the Japanese airlines. This is the beginning of how my life as a Japanese Airline Cabin Crew has just began!!!

Who Am I?

Im a Cabin Crew or also known as Flight Attendants/Air Hostess; are primarily on board an aircraft for the safety and welfare of the passengers and secondly for their comfort. If there were no services of food or drink during a flight, there would still have to be a minimum presence of cabin crew for safety which is a legal requirement.

Because Cabin Crew members are the face of the airline they are expected to excel in customer service and always remain friendly, approachable and enthusiastic with a good sense of self presentation. The role of cabin crew can be physically demanding and you must be prepared to be flexible to work day and night and any day of the year. This does however give me a perfect opportunity to get away from the repetitiveness of a routine job! Cabin Crew can encounter many different situations while working on board an aircraft and must be an excellent team player with the ability to work on their own initiative using quick thinking and organisational skills.

10 ReASons To BeCome A "CaBiN CReW"

• Enjoy a great deal of time off.
• See the world and stay in some beautiful hotels whilst being paid.
• Have a fantastic social life and meet new friends.
• Enjoy unmatched variety - Forget the predictability of 9 to 5 cube life!
• Enjoy maximum scheduling flexibility - You're not limited to weekends off like the rest of the world!
• Meet new people with different cultures.
• Get free or reduced-cost travel benefits for yourself, immediate family and friends.
• Feel more independent.
• Feel more responsible.
• Feel a sense of pride and accomplishment when helping passengers reach their destinations