Sakura

It's almost a year since we last stepped into Flower Dome. My card feels a little dusty from being kept in my wallet for long. I hope Tulipmania, sunflowers, roses floral display will resume this year to make my membership more worthwhile. 

Brought mom to see the cherry blossoms. Che-che found it boring coz most trees are botak. It wasn't boring to me at all coz I usually like to go on the first day to capture some pictures BUT I think I shall go on my own, won't feel pressurized to rush through photo-taking as I feel embarrassed for them to wait for me.

Some snapshots from the trip today.

   

On This Day - 23rd Feb #Reminders from FB#

 23rd Feb 2011

Tension headache!  I mark Che-che's work, want to vomit blood. Few days ago, 7 marks/questions due to : 4 marks/questions workings do nice nice for me, MCQ can choose wrongly. ?!?! 3 marks/questions workings correct, transcript final answer wrong! If not perfect score. 2 days ago, blind girl nvr read question properly. Challenging ones can answer, giveaway ones can make mistake. lost 6 marks scored 90%.

Today, science questions, she did cross out the correct answers but when she answer the MCQ she answer wrongly. she scored 98%.   

How?how?how? She's extremely careless. Going to start penalizing her alr- take away her water stickers n cute papers. 

I AM GOING TO BE A ROARING TIGERESS MOM ALREADY!!

On This Day - 16th Feb #Reminders from FB#

16th Feb 2011

I wanna cry.......my lil girl shoo-ed me away. Saying "u dun follow me mummy. I can walk in to school myself. I'm a big girl alr?" keeps turning to check if ive moved one step.

Footnote : She was on her way to kindy. (K1 then) 

16th Feb 2011

FASHION OF 2011

Hat fits all sizes and season. Don't hesitate. Buy now!

Pomelo Hat by Lilyann, clothes models own, Model Aricia

16th Feb 2014

10th Mar - Piano exam 

18th Mar - SYF

19th Mar - Ballet exam

        忍 忍 忍

Can't wait for all to be over. Our Term 1 is extremely busy. Ballet 3x a week for this month n next month. OMG!! 😱 I'm already so exhausted just rushing through work to put in time for more piano practices. Especially rushing home for only 1hr plus just to sneak in time for Aricia to practice, then rush back to school.

And Athena was suppose to hv her swim test sometime in March too. But I gave up, cannot cope. I'm way too exhausted coz I only drive a car, I don't fly a rocket. And I'm a human, not a robot.

16th Feb 2017

Lil' one was relating to us how slow the P3s are during the fire drill that even Ms R had to ask them to walk faster. Then next sentence made me tickle "aiyoh! If there's real fire 🔥, we P5s sure die one."

On This Day - 15th Feb #Reminders from FB#

15th Feb 2011

Kids are REALLY honest. Girl came back saying that she had to bring the Catholic Welfare ticket back to school tmrw. The due date is 20 something Feb, so surprised it's early submission. (she's suppose to bring to mom's place to try to sell to my family) When I went back to room and gave her $10, she looked at me "oh! so you buying everything?" 

She then told me the real reason for bringing back tix.

"Becoz' I told Ms R tt my mummy only bought $2. N I cannot sell anymore. She asked me can u buy any more. I told her my mother's not working n she has no more money (haha! tt's what I always say when she bugs me 2 buy rubbish 4 her).

She asked where's daddy, I said my daddy is outstation. So she said I can bring the remaining tickets tmrw."

Wah.... I sound very poor. No money 2 survive in Singapore without hubby. But think abt it, really innocent remark

15th Feb 2012

HW! HW! HW! When will there be a day she comes back with no HW?? 

I'm not being paradoxical, yes I love when teachers give HW. But.... To the extent that I hv no time for her to do my work? To the extent that on her MC day, she had to do my work??

15th Feb 2012

Asked lil' girl "a millennium is a 1000 years. What is a 100 years?" *shrugs shoulder n smile ever sweetly* "it's a cen..." "century!" "how about 10 years?" " a de-ker-deh" "a what?" "a de-ker-deh. It's d-e-c-a-d-e what. So it's de-ker-deh." 

Funny moments to tickle me pink.

15th Feb 2012

My lil' girl 昨天读书一半又在白板偷画画。This time I caught her in action.

*she's guilt stricken*

15th Feb 2015

THESE!! Gotta go in for wash too!

🐮 HAPPY 牛 YEAR! 🐮

Can you guess who's bowl are these for?

With peanuts as how che-che likes it, and lil' one all plain.

 

Getting house ready for CNY 2021

Still in the covid days, but the house needs some livening up. Need some RED to sweep the bad luck away. Go away covid! I want to travel again. 

Very very simple.

Two wall decos, mirror sticker (cannot be seen in this pic) + this pathetic patch of red.

This year didn't put anything in balcony coz for the previous year and the year before, the wind always blow down my hanging red

Then realised I forgot abt the living area and the walkway to rooms. 🤦🏻‍♀️

When I chanced upon leek yesterday.

After that I realised I'm so cheapskate buy so little, should have a bigger bunch for main door and forgot about the balcony.

Busy busy in the beginning of the year

The trend is that I'll always be so busy at the end of the year and the beginning of the year, just like accountants rushing to do the year-end financial reports. 

End of the year
Usually will be clearing the year's academic stuffs. Will throw if no need to keep for future reference. Well, I'd scan in some stuffs before throwing them away. For what? I have no idea. It's either for them to retrieve when they need it or for keepsake, where they have their schoolworks to show their kids/grandkids?
For che-che's stuffs, I'd usually keep for lil' one. Take them out from bomb shelter when lil' one reaches that level. But I'm slowly getting rid of stuffs that we have nothing to pass to lil' one. Lil' one doesn't want to go JC, so there's no need to keep for her. Will slowly scan and throw JC materials this year.
End of the year is also the time I'll be finalising the holiday itinery. Preparing a travel journal for lil' one as well. Oh well, I didn't have to do that last year. No drafts at all so if we decide (and if possible to travel in 2021) to go for a trip, I'd have to start from the beginning. A little research was done though so 1/10 of the work is done. 

Beginning of the year
Beginning of the year will be the time I try to clear backlog work. No joke lah! One person how to manage so many things?   
This year, I've already started scanning JC materials. So 辛苦一点 scanning in all J1 and J2 stuffs. Damn! It's alot! And I'm amazed she's able to keep in her side cabinet.   
My feelings
I'm happy the storeroom is cleared of academic stuffs coz it's all in AR's bookshelves now in prep for her major exam next year
Although my girls won't have anything physical left behind to show their kids except their uniforms (I will be keeping their school's face mask as well). Though I can be a sentimental person but I want tidiness too. At least I left some scanned stuffs behind, I took some pictures for them before I junked them away.

#tryingminimalistliving#

What 2020 and 2021 would have been if without covid

The year 2020 began slow, there was no sign no clue what is to happen in a few weeks time when we ushered the new year . And then the whole world were thrown into a rut - covid19 apocalypse. When weeks turn to months, before we knew it 2020 came to an end. What a year it was! 

That got me thinking what 2020 and 2021 would have been for me if without this ass virus. 

2020

Trip to London

Terry dropped me an email on 18th Jan, after I emailed to thank him for the christmas card he sent in 2019. I haven't heard from my dear friend Velda for some time and was really happy to hear from them. Well, it was through him that I knew she was diagnosed with Alzheimers and he had been her carer since. I believed that must be reason why I haven't heard from her. 

It wasn't good news to hear definitely, I had the intention to fly up and visit her maybe in few  months' time and at the same time do a tour. I miss the theatres and museums. I want to revisit London, I want to walk down the shopping streets again. I miss walking and cursing the countless turns and flight of stairs in the tube stations. Not so for the chinese food there coz they're really expensive  - if I remember correctly it costs £5 (S$9+) for a bowl of hot and sour soup the last time I was there. 

Trip to Fukuoka

Was envious when my my Japanese girlfriend made solo trips to Singapore, so I thought I should make one on my own next time when the girls are older. I've talked about wanting to go on solo trips for so long but never got down to even plan for one. So perhaps I can switch and visit my girlfriend instead and train to another big city after that or before that. I want to taste all over again Fukuoka's Hakata ramen, which is actually just tonkotsu. However I must reiterate that the tonkotsu do tastes differently in differnt parts of Japan, and I love the superbly rich porky broth in Fukuoka      

友人と休日に行く

A trip with friend,  S? We said we can plan for a short trip to BKK, just eat, drink and be merry kind of trip with NO SIGHTSEEING. I told her coz' she'll not friend me anymore if we include sightseeing. #coziamthechiongallthewaytourist#

Of course then we didn't say when we'll make a trip together but perhaps we would have a chance in or start planning for one in 2020 or ?   

Our year-end holiday

We would have gone for our US trip. Revisit Grand Canyon and put in a few new stops. I think I'm more prepared with astrophotography (provided no stupid clouds covering the sky) so was looking forward to looking up into the sky. And this might be our last family trip with the girls having same school vacation? 

Start researching n putting things down to detail

I would have started to plan in finer details travel itinery for 2021. But as the months went by with so many cases local and worldwide, I didn't even want to mention this to anyone. I didn't want to mention too coz' I didn't want somebody to start daydreaming and neglect her studies in the process  

2021

Holiday with che-che

Had plans to bring che-che to Switzerland n maybe to Germany and Austria. I really wanted to do a mother-daughter trip with her alone before Uni starts. Although it means I won't be able to rest as much n really be on holiday mood (as I'd be scrubbing clothes and underwears n socks while she's lazing around). I will have to cook instant noodle for her when she's hungry. BUT regardless I think it'll be nice with just us. She makes a good travel companion. We have the same interests, we can walk (tho I think me getting older now means I'm not as fit as before)

As usual I'd be the tour guide , just like when I had mother-daughter trips with mom many times. the only difference is mom boiled water and cooked when I/we were hungry. 

I'd love to do the adventurous hostel stay with her. We don't need expensive hotel, we just need one with a bed and place to shower. We can take trains around and explore the towns / cities. 

Solo wellness trip to Thailand

Been wanting to go on a wellness trip, for detoxifying, for fitness, for sanity check. And maybe for astrophotography out of hotel window/balcony?

Planning for our year end holiday

We would have discussed where to go next while on holiday. And if things went according to plan, we would have gotten our tickets in Jan or Feb latest. And then I'll start reading up bit by bit. Plan a little each time. It's not that easy to plan an itinery, really!

  

Our US 2020 brief draft

Found this in my NOTES phone as I wanted to do some cleaning up in there

Where

2020 USA BRIEF

LAX - SAN DIEGO 

120.3miles 1hr 54mins 

SAN DIEGO - DESERT HOT SPRINGS 

141miles 2hrs 11mins 

DESERT HOT SPRINGS - middle of GRAND CANYON. King man? Winslow? 

 - GRAND CANYON

GC - monument valley

157.9 miles 2hrs 42mins

GC - Page

111.5 miles 2hrs 9mins

Page - antelope canyon

7.4 miles 13mins

or GC - antelope canyon

116.6 miles 2hrs 15mins

Antelope canyon- horseshoe bend 

9.7miles 16 mins

GC - Bryce national park

144.6 miles 2hrs 47mins

Bryce National - Zion 

72.3 miles - 1h 20mins 

Zion National Park - Las Vegas

160.6 miles 2hrs 35mins

Las Vegas - Los Angeles 

270.4 miles  4hrs 13mins 

The link/s that I typed in my phone, waiting for me to do more research. Anyway, I copied and paste this down into the blog, coz only things that I type in the blog remains as a memory. Years down the road when I reread my blog when I'm in my 70s, I'd be reminded on a trip that never materialised in the year 2020. 

https://capturetheatlas.com/visit-bryce-canyon-in-one-day/

Managed to photoshop (tho not perfect) but you get a n idea of how crazy I had planned for the itinery 

Putting this in here, so that I can refer it next time if we're planning to do this route

A different Edusave Award Ceremony

Covid has caused disruptions and made many changes around us, so we had a very different quiet (no applause) ceremony at the CC near us. This year the ceremony can’t be held in our Function Room - not with the maximum number of people allowed (8) - it’s impossible. Otherwise it was really great for us for two years, we simply walked out from our PES gate for a few steps. 

In the second letter that they sent us, there was a liner that says “only one parent is allowed for the presentation of certificate.” I wasn’t sure how the event would be. If it’s going to be like the usual ceremony but with the difference only 1 parent go on stage with child? Ultimately it’s a good thing that I went with her alone. 

At the registration counter they stick the designated number sticker on her, then we go in and queue to wait for the certificate presentation. It’s not in any order. She’s HG001 but she was the last few to collect her certificate. Haha! 😆 

Mr Lee asked her if she knew what her good progress was? She shrugged her shoulders and said she had no idea (equally blur like me. That reminds me of one year in school they made announcement for the awardees to go to the school hall for briefing. And I went there not knowing what award I was getting. My FT didn’t tell me, when I was seated in the hall and nobody told me. I only knew I was awarded the Best In Geography days later during the ceremony 🤦🏻‍♀️)  I almost wanted to blurt out “ her good progress is that she finally passed her Literature!”

After the presentation, we queued again to collect the momento photos. We made our way home after that, and she went back to continue doing her homework. Life goes on as normal, no complacency n she needs to work even harder. 

No cheque this time, they’d do a bank transfer to the recipient. 

Photos for the event :

Keto grocery/pantry shopping

Bought some stuffs slowly over the months and boy! they do mean it when they say that it's not cheap at all. 

In comparison a Heinz ketchup from NTUC costs $4.85 (567g bottle), a Keto ketchup set me back $6.50 for a 195g bottle. Not forgetting too when we need all the fats, food like salmon, beef, cod liver, almond milk etc.. are also not cheap 

Bought items from Umami Keto, Ketoi.

No place in kitchen to put my supplies. How? It's all in the bomb shelter in a box at the moment. Will figure out next time.

At the same time needed to expand my spices at home, I reckon I'd need more spices to spice up my food next time.   

 

 

A welcoming envelope

A welcoming envelope made its way to our letterbox to wrap up our suckish year. 

Totally didn't expect anyone to get something this year, the girls received hell from me this year, plus with HBL I really don't know how much of understanding they have with their schoolwork. So this is a really pleasant surprise when I saw this envelope amongst the pile of mails and knew someone got an award. 

An edusave award for lil' one. 又有钱拿了！

Well done ! No complacency please. Please work harder next year too! 

What I left behind in SQ

When I had to tender in my resignation all of a sudden in April 2002, I was sad. (The only thing I was happy is that I could clear all the manuals in the house)

I was on no-pay leave then. 

I still had stuffs in my mailbox. 

I didn’t say a proper goodbye to my colleagues. It’s like I’ve suddenly disappeared from the earth.

I didn’t take pictures of the control centre etc.. 

I didn’t take my last walk in the cabin as a cabin crew.

I didn’t walk down the aero bridge the last time in uniform.

I didn’t get anymore chance to go into my favourite place - the cockpit. Pre-Sep11 days I love to go into the cockpit and talk to the pilots, look into the vast view in front of me looking at the milky way, stars and identifying constellations to them. Hahaha! Honestly speaking do they ever play back what’s in the Blackbox? 

I didn’t do my doors disarmed photo taking. 

What was my next step? I haven’t secured a ground job and this baby came along? But I knew I could go back flying after that. In the end, that resignation became a permanent one. The 2004 attempt to go back flying was stopped by hubby when I was about to apply airport pass. What if he didn’t stop me then? 16 years down the road today in 2020 I would be nicest CSS (at least) around. 

Bringing up Che-Che would turn out differently for sure. She would either be taken care by mom or in-laws. I would have missed out a lot on her growing up. Most importantly I think I wouldn’t look so aged with constant worrying, scolding my child, stressed up. Also, if I was busy working I think my size would be manageable, won’t be fat like now. 

I left behind many wonderful memories. It’s really hard to describe, only ex-crew who loved their jobs would know what I mean. 

NICE PEOPLE 

In this job,  I met so many nice people. Much more than the nasty ones. 

I’ve met so many interesting passengers. I’ve made friends with a few, very cautiously too coz I wasn’t going to find my better half in my passengers or crew and I hope they know I’m not interested in them. 

Some passengers recognise me. I don’t know why? 

1) Maybe because I was sincere in my job and I gave them their best flight ever? [abit not shy here] I received many thanks from passengers and I wasn’t so hard up in soliciting for complimentary letters. It was service from the bottom of my heart, although I joked with passengers I still treat them with utmost respect. At that time,  I think passengers were also more engaging unlike now. They were alright with entertaining this talkative stewardess as there wasn’t a huge selection of movies to keep them occupied so perhaps they’re also bored. I spent alot of time talking to passengers, some would ask me for my number. I rejected a lot of their requests.

2) or maybe I had a unique name? They see me on board while I’m busy boarding passengers or busy that didn’t pay attention to them. And they said hello to me calling me by my name while I was still trying to recall their surnames. I’m better in recognising faces than names. They would recognise me from previous flight and would tell me which flight; which date. OMG! I can’t even remember,  I had to flip my notebook to check if what he was saying is true. 

A particular passenger on this CAN flight operated on A310 remembers me. And I tell you every CAN flight I do, I’ll see him. And PPS him always seated in the same seat with his mom. I can be working as B4 or business class and happen to walk down his aisle, not knowing he’s on board he’ll stretch out his hands to me n smile at me. Usually I’ll stop coz he notices me first before I do, tell you coz there’s only one boring movie played on A310 then and he must be bored. Muahaha! Can’t be just me right? He is so friendly, I think he stops other stewardess who served him too. The second last time I saw him, at first I had my back towards him as I was helping a passenger. I turned around and had a shock coz I didn’t know he was behind me waiting to get to his seat , he was smiling so widely & immediately his remark was “congratulations on getting your green, Lily”. As usual his mom is always with him. You know there are some conversations that had to be kept conservative so I don’t ask him or her more than what I should. I made sure that for the last 2 flights as a LSS, I checked on them for the last time and always say goodbye to them before I take my seat for landing at D3L. After that I left my job permanently, I didn’t say my last goodbye to the friendly soft spoken lady . Sometimes I do wonder how his mom is, she should be in her 80s now, if she is still making trips with her son. 

SIGHTSEEING

One of the perks of being in the airline is the many opportunities to land in different countries within a short period. Others will need to take annual leave for their vacation. Flight crew have vacations all the time. Can be in Australia today and few days time in USA. 

I really miss sightseeing, I miss walking to Hauptbahnhof to take trains to small cities. I lost the freedom to venture places on my own, now I have to travel with the family during school holidays and be their maid. I miss taking photos.

I miss buying snacks for the family. After all, the money that I have I don’t have to pay for accommodation or airfare so it’s solely to buy snacks for the family to try. 

IMPORTANT LESSONS IN LIFE

I’ve learnt so much in my years in SIA. I’ve grown up, know how to take care of myself. These are lessons for life. I’m just so thankful I had a job in SIA, I was given the opportunity to open up my wings in 1995. I would go back to flying if I can, I encourage che-che to try but she’s not keen. She wants to stupidly spend money to travel, so we can let her do it on her own next time (we can’t possibly be sponsoring every holidays for her)

My successful SIA interview back in 1995 (and some other ramblings)

As promised in my earlier post on the open house in STC, here’s a recap on how my interview with SIA went. 

Before this successful attempt sometime in January I went for interviews a couple of times. And most times I only get the yellow card after the first interview or I don’t get to go in at all. I’m not exactly a tall person,  in school they measure me as 1.6m but over in SQ the lady who was tasked to measure my height most of the time they push me down and disqualify me for interview. It wasn’t easy for a shy person to gather the courage and take a train all the way from Tampines to Orchard (Marriott Hotel) and properly attired. Kinda looked weird on me, a 18 - 19yr old dressed to look old. And at that age, I don’t even know how to put make up properly. As I mentioned I went a few times and was rejected, then got a job in Tat Lee Bank and then tried again. In total, my 5th attempt was the successful one. 

SUPPORTIVE MANAGER AND SHIFU

I must mentioned my 师父 Karen told me then a Mr John Chua works in SIA. He was a customer in the bank. Of course I was too shy to mention anything to him until my last (successful) attempt I told him I was going to try for the coming interview. By then, I have become a slightly more confident (I think) person after working in the bank and having gone to a few airlines interview as well. He wished me luck. I only told him I was successful and would be seeing him in the Training Centre after I signed and tendered in my resignation letter. Okay,  I was a blur sotong, I didn’t know what was his job scope. I can’t be chatting with him when I was working in the bank right. But Karen was joking with me now you know how much he has. Haha! 

To my manager and shifu they were happy for me and asked me to 看看世界 since I’m still young, the bank is not the place for me. I’m forever grateful to them as they were like my parents. I made a couple of visits to them quite regularly bringing them snacks from overseas. 

OTHER AIRLINES INTERVIEW

I have always wanted to work in the aviation industry. The best would definitely be Singapore Airlines, but after being pushed down so many times at the entrance (height measurement) I was wondering if SIA was really that heartless or … I decided to try airlines that has Singapore based crew as well. Who knows maybe I was fated not to wear that kebaya? 

As I think back on my failed and successful interviews in other airlines, I became a little wiser. Airlines’ interview is really so different from the banks’ interviews, from the sales assistants’ interviews (I worked part time when I was 16 during the school holiday). It’s a top notch kind, almost like a modelling interview. That was what I saw as a young 17yr-old. 

These are the interviews that I went (not in order), only once as their recruitment wasn’t as regular as SIA’s.

1) China Airlines - made into 2nd round then bumped off

2) United Airlines - I didn’t even get pass 1st round lor… One of the thing we had to do was to sit for a test. They asked questions which was difficult to answer, or maybe not. I remember these 2 questions so vividly coz I came across this while training in SIA. 

a) there is a group of rugby players in the plane and they are making a nuisance in the cabin, seemingly drunk. What should you do? How the heck I know? You should be telling me right? 

b) you saw an elderly lady sitting near the emergency door. What should you do? Easy right? If the airline is going to a friendly accommodative one, just let her sit there. After all she’s old, poor thing lah…don’t expect her to walk so far behind the cabin. I was so proud of myself when I answered that, I thought I was going to score some brownie points with the interviewers for being such a customer-orientated person. 🤣 I think they will mark my name and put me top of the list for selection. And they did - top of the list to be kicked off straight away. Muahaha! How would I know? 

So that I think was the final decision to not let me pass this round? Or maybe I also didn’t do well during the interview? 

3) British Airlines - Didn’t even get selected for interview at all

4) SilkAir - Kicked off after 1st round

5) Korean Air - I was successful and was selected. But I rejected the offer. 

6) Japan Airlines - I was successful and was selected. I rejected the offer. 

7) Singapore Airlines - I was successful and was selected. SIA came back with their reply late and I was wondering if I was successful and if I should take up the offer in JAL. Fortunately God answered my prayers and SIA replied I took up the offer in SIA and rejected JAL. 

INTERVIEW ROUNDS IN SIA

As what mom said sometimes interviews has to do with fate and not because the people are heartless. I must admit I was really disappointed when I couldn’t even get past the entrance. Sometimes so desperate that I’ll go back home and change clothes and come out again. 

I do need to clarify that if you’re reading my blog hoping to get an idea on how the interview is like now in 2020, I’m sorry to disappoint you but they’ve changed their formats. How? I have no idea. 

My interviews were like these :

ROUND 1 

1) Measuring height. Met the minimum requirement of 1.58m and you can go in. I was nervous if the lady would push me down.

2) Interview on a 1-1 basis. I have no idea who interviewed me. 

a) I was asked why I wanted to join SQ. My answer was “coz I was given playing cards by a stewardess when I was young and told myself I want to wear this nice uniform. I burst out laughing when I said I sounded like I was being bribed by the stewardess, I think I was.

b) second question if I thought this job is glamourous. Nope this job is not glamourous at all. A lot of hard work behind the scene. 

c) made to read a passage which is an announcement. I think my teacher should be proud of me,  I’m proud of myself too. I cannot disgrace my school - a CHIJ school which strongly emphasises on the way we speak. 

ROUND 2

We get informed rather quickly. If we had to wait long, most times would be we’re not successful.

Interview was held in STC. 

a) We were put in groups of 10 or more people, I can’t remember how many. First, we had to do a self introduction while seated in the room with a few interviewers behind us. We were tasked to do something together, seemingly to see if we’re able to work as a team. Can’t be too domineering; can’t be too quiet. All the time observed by the interviewers. 

b) Names will be called for second round. In my group, only 4-5 or was it 3-4 made to the round while the others leave the place knowing they’ve failed this time and will have to try again next time. 

Swimming round in the pool. So I’m not sure if I did the smart thing by removing my horrible make up. I was afraid if my cheapo eyeshadow and mascara will smudge so I removed it. I took such a huge risk - if they would be frightened by my hideous look. Had to jump into the pool and swim, they wanted to see if you’re you have fear of water. One girl chickened out if I remember correctly. After getting out of the pool, we were lined up like models and did a skin check on face, hands. Heart palpitating. I’ve never gone this far in my interviews before. When I went back to the changing room to shower,  I looked at myself in the mirror. I had that glow on my face, natural blusher. Must be coz I was really exhausted swimming in the pool. Fingers crossed I hope they didn’t mind my natural hideous look while the other girls still had their make up and lipstick on, I was bare! 

ROUND 3

Yes! Yes! Round 3 with the management. Given a topic to talk about in front of everyone else in the auditorium. Followed by mingling tea session with the management people. I think by then there’s a higher chance of being selected? I’m not sure if anyone will be kicked off in this round. But I was calm and I think my time in Tat Lee Bank has helped me to talk to people. I tried my best and hope I passed. 

INSTRUCTIONS TO GO FOR MEDICAL CHECKUP FEW DAYS LATER

I didn’t know but they actually tested on hearing. The doctor whispered very softly something quite far off and I kinda turned back to look at him. Lucky thing I cleaned my ears. 

THEN I BEGAN MY TRAINING A MONTH PLUS LATER

Batch 421. Joined 5th Feb 1995. Had such wonderful time with my batch mates. Had to cram so many things which sound so foreign to us. 

The rest of the story? Many beautiful memories, we’ve grown from little ducklings to young ladies. And we began our flights. After which I looked forward to my new adventures, my flights, people I met on board, I grew up alot. 

This is a job which I miss badly. If I were young again, yes I’d join the airline again. And this time I must make sure I stay on longer, hopefully to get my red or purple.