April 10, 2008
If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been lately, I’ve been spending the past few days administering oxygen, fighting off terrorists, and shouting emergency evacuation commands - otherwise known as Flight Attendant Ground School.
Every year, flight attendants must go through a series of classes, examinations, and role playing in order to be re-certified by the FAA to fly. I always dread attending these classes and I’m relieved when I walk out the door on the last day. Why? It’s not because I don’t know my stuff but more because it reminds me of all the stress and clickiness of high school.
For example:
- You need to arrive early on the first day so you can get a good seat preferably not in the front row.
- If you have friends in class, you try to save them seats near you.
- When it’s time to partner up for the self-defense course, you don’t want to be the odd man out without a partner.
- You get stage fright when everyone is watching you practice your on-board announcements even though you know it by heart.
I guess some things just never change.
22 Comments on “Bend Over, Heads Down”
6:00 am
Yup. Some things never change.
Mike
http://somethingaboutparenting.typepad.com/
Mike’s last blog post..Wii
11:47 am
My brother just returned from this last week. Funny, he said sort of the same thing
Lissete’s last blog post..A Love Story For Your Life
12:02 pm
I suppose this is where the saying, “That is so high school” comes from. Hmmm.
Cathi’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday - Palm Beach, Florida
1:08 pm
That’s funny! Why would you get nervous when you say it all the time? When you say it to the passengers do you get nervous or just in from of your colleagues?
I can see it being like high school! I would want to save my friends a seat too!!! =)
I think the class would stress me for the simple fact you are reminded of all the bad things that could go on with your flight?
I really don’t think I could do this job…even though I love to fly!!!
Jeannie’s last blog post..The Biggest Loser…Roger Needs You!!!
1:26 pm
Why is it that we never grow out of those feelings from high school?! I skipped my reunion for that very reason. I didn’t want to feel like I had to try to “fit in” all over again.
Jessica K’s last blog post..Bedtime Snacks, Grant Style
1:32 pm
Such a provocative title!
witchypoo’s last blog post..More Perverse Parenting
1:33 pm
Thanks so much for making sure you are well prepared to take great care of those of us who sit in your airplane seats. I appreciate knowing someone knows what to do if say…the wing falls off! : )
2:22 pm
I would think it would get easier, after all, you do perform those announcements all the time. Strange how we get nervous over weird things, huh?
Qtpies7~’s last blog post..Oh, Baby Einstein!
2:30 pm
I can understand… it seems the highschool times always come back one way or another throughout the years.
Jen @ One Moms World’s last blog post..Children Do Dream Big As Well
2:48 pm
way to go with the title! LOL!
and yes, some things never change!
4:20 pm
Oh, that brought back some old high school memories.
Well, glad you are finished with those series of classes.
Rach (Heart of Rachel)’s last blog post..Buying a Used Car
4:41 pm
So true….
Gloria @ Saddeyezz Scraps & Snaps’s last blog post..Love Thursday
4:44 pm
Ugh, high school is definitely something I’d not want to re-live again.
Deb - Mom of 3 Girls’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #36 - Blogging giveaway winnings
4:50 pm
I can see all of that happening. But we know you did it all just right and scored a perfect 100% right?
so glad that you do get trained though.
Renee’s last blog post..The gym’s response back
5:30 pm
I’m glad they have classes like this! That means that I feel safer flying
5:30 pm
My friend and neighbor is in her last week or so of training school to become a flight attendant. We sure have a lot of protocols anymore don’t we?
Hugs,
Holly
8:37 pm
Having flown a lot, I’ve always wondering what flight attendant school is like. The part about not wanting to be the one left without a partner really reminds me high school!
Chief Family Officer’s last blog post..Two recalls today: Fake teeth and seasonal pens
12:07 am
I HATE when you have to say things in front of a group and it’s not new to them. Then you know that instead of listening to what you’re saying they’re all critiquing you. Ugh.
We just got back and were flying on Virgin America. They have cool video screens in the backs of every seat and all their announcements are in a small cartoony video that’s actually not too annoying. I bet the flight attendants love not having to say it anymore, too!
BTW, on the way back we had a totally flaming crew. very weird to say the least.
Krista’s last blog post..SBP2 - Wild Crazy Hiking Adventure
1:51 am
All those things you mention remind me why I would never want to go back to school again. It’s hard enough to watch the my son go to school.
BeachMama’s last blog post..Park Day
5:33 pm
Sounds Icky. I hate being put on the spot too! For my counseling training, we have several practicum classes that we have real clients and our class and prof is behind the glass watching us…
Crazy Daisy’s last blog post..RSS Feed
9:05 pm
Watching Marissa go through all the teenage drama, some things never change.
I wouldn’t want to go through it again.
Christine’s last blog post..Aloha Friday
1:01 am
Lol!
Summer’s last blog post..A True Fairy Tale
(I'll take good care of it.)