Life after flying

Annimarian Hello Phuket

Annimarian Hello Phuket

thailand calling

annimarian

Life after Flying – Heippa! Nyt on kulunut puolisen vuotta siitĂ€ kun lopetin lentĂ€misen, niin ajattelin nyt tehdĂ€ postauksen siitĂ€, miltĂ€ on tuntunut taas olla enimmĂ€kseen maan pinnalla. Tuossa kun valikoin muutaman lentoaiheisen kuvan tĂ€hĂ€n postaukseen, tuntui melkein siltĂ€, kuin olisin ottanut kuvia jonkun toisen ihmisen albumista. Niin kaukaiselta tuo elĂ€mĂ€ jo tuntuu! Vaikka vielĂ€ puoli vuotta sitten lentelin, tuntuu kuin siitĂ€ olisi jo vuosia aikaa. TĂ€ssĂ€ se oikein korostuu, kuinka erilaista elĂ€mÀÀ tuo lentoemĂ€nnĂ€n elĂ€mĂ€ on ns. normaalielĂ€mĂ€stĂ€, melkein kuin toinen maailma. Itse lennellessĂ€ sitĂ€ ei niin paljon osannut ajatella, kuin nyt, kun ei enÀÀ lennĂ€.

Moni on kysynyt, onko mulla ollut ikĂ€vĂ€ lentĂ€mistĂ€. Vastaus on, ettĂ€ on ja ei. Postauksessa Miksi lopetin lentĂ€misen kerroin, mitkĂ€ syyt sai mut lopettamaan lentĂ€misen. Kaikesta tuosta oon edelleen ihan samaa mieltĂ€ ja oon ollut oikein tyytyvĂ€inen pÀÀtökseeni. TĂ€ytyy silti myöntÀÀ, ettĂ€ mua ei haittais ollenkaan, jos edelleen pÀÀsisin kerran kuussa New Yorkiin ja talvikaudella moneen kertaan Dubaihin lĂ€mmitteleen. Tai Thaimaahan ottaan aurinkoa ja nauttimaan hieronnoista keskellĂ€ kaamosaikaa. Tai Ouluun tuon tuosta moikkaamaan kavereita ja sukulaisia. Toki noukkisin rusinat pullasta, jos voisin 😀 Oon kuitenkin enemmĂ€n kuin tyytyvĂ€inen tĂ€hĂ€n nykyiseen, “normaaliin” elĂ€mÀÀn.

On ihanaa, kun nĂ€in perjantaina voin sanoa, ettĂ€ mullakin alkaa nyt viikonloppu ja voin tehdĂ€ asioita, joita ihmiset normaalisti viikonloppuisin tekee. EnsimmĂ€istĂ€ kertaa kolmeen vuoteen tiesin myös, ettĂ€ mulla on varmasti vapaata jouluna, eikĂ€ tarvi jĂ€nnittÀÀ, joudunko töihin. On myös ihanaa, kun voin joka ilta mennĂ€ Awsin kanssa nukkumaan ja herĂ€tĂ€ aamulla samaan aikaan ja ylipÀÀtÀÀn olla samalla aihavyöhykkeellĂ€ ja samassa maassa valtaosan ajasta 😀

TĂ€llaista pohdintaa tĂ€llĂ€ kertaa. Ihanaa viikonloppua 🙂

Life after Flying – Hello! Now that it’s been around six months since I quit flying, I think it would be a good time to make a post about how does it feel to spend most of the time on the ground. When I was choosing a few pictures from my layovers for this post, it almost felt like I was choosing pictures from someone else’s album. That’s how distant that life already feels! Although it’s been only half a year since I quit, it feels like it was years ago. I think that highlights how different the life of a flight attendant is from a life of a so called normal person, it is like another world. When I was still flying, it didn’t feel it as much as now, when I’m not flying anymore.

Many people have asked me if I miss flying. The answer is yes and no. In the post Why did I quit flying I told what were the reasons that got me to quit flying. I still agree with all that and I am very pleased with my decision. I still have to admit though, that I wouldn’t mind if I still got to fly to New York once a month and to Dubai several times during winter season to warm myself in the sun. Or to Thailand to tan and enjoy the massages during the darkes winter of Finland. Or to Oulu once or twice a month so see my friends and family. If I could only choose the best parts, of course I would 😀 Anyway, I am more than happy with my current, “normal” life.

On a Friday like today, it is so nice to be able to say that I also have a weekend ahead of me and I can do things that people normally do on a weekend. First time in three years I also knew long time ago already that I will have my Christmas free and I don’t need to think if I have to work on Christmas or not. It is also so lovely to be able to go the bed with Aws every night and wake up together every morning and in general spend most of the time in the same time zone and same country 😀

That kind of thoughts this time. Have a great weekend! 🙂

Follow:

Why did I quit flying

Why did I quit flying

The Finnish version can be found here 🙂

Why did I quit flying – I thought I could make a post about a subject that so many people have been asking about. Why did I quit flying. In May I quit flying and returned on the ground and to a “normal” job. Quite many people seemed to be very surprised about this and I understand. A lot of my blog’s content had something to do with my traveling and I’m sure my blog gave an impression that I’m living my dream flying around the world. This was partly true, because there are so many good sides in that job. However, there are also the negative sides, which finally made me to decide to quit flying.

I thought I could briefly mention a few reasons that finally led me to this decision. First I could mention my education. I am an Economist, which was a hot topic for all the colleagues and it always led to the same questions. For sure, I’m not the only flight attendant with a university degree, there are actually quite many of us, but still the colleagues would always ask me the same questions: Why am i a flight attendant, am I planning on getting a job that fits my education, wouldn’t I make better money somewhere else, is the situation for Economists so bad that you have to work here etc. These questions I heard every single time I told about my background. At some point I realized that it will be much easier for me if I just don’t tell about my education at all.

When I decided to go for the flight attendant’s career, my idea was to have a little break after six years of university studies. I never planned flying to be my job for the rest of my life. It sure gave me nice change and experiences, but it also motivated me to return back behind a desk. Of course I want to work in my field, I made a big effort by graduating from the university.

One major reason for the quitting was the salary. A flight attendant won’t get rich by working, although nobody in Finland won’t, the taxation makes sure of that. In order to work as a flight attendant, one needs to live in Helsinki or the surrounding areas. Living in Helsinki is so expensive that normally around half of my income went to living costs. Some months, when the salary was lover, the sum was more than half of it. I’m not saying that flight attendants should necessarily have a higher salary, since the training to become a flight attendant lasts only eight weeks, but if there is a chance to make more money, I will take that chance.

One of the best – and the worst – sides of a flight attendant’s work is the schedules and the rhythm of life. Compared to a normal job, there is less work hours and the days off can be any days! It is so nice to go shopping or run errands on a Tuesday day, for example, when everyone else is at work. The days off in the middle of the week and a life without a rhythm brings some kind of a freedom. The down side of that is that you never know more than a month beforehand what your schedules will be. You can’t know if you can make it to your friend’s bachelorette party or wedding and you can’t really plan any weekend activities with people who have normal working rhythm. We had one free weekend in a month, if I remember correctly. Of course the Monday-Friday schedule can be tiring too, but then you surely appreciate the free weekend more. Also, from the relationship’s point of view, it is not cool to not have free time together on the weekends, because the days off can be any given days.

One thing that started bothering me was the health aspect of the flight attendant life. Many people don’t realize that working as a flight attendant can be even more tough for the body than some other shift job, because the work schedule is completely irregular. There are morning, day and night shifts all happily mixed! Of course there are specific resting times after each shift, but for example keeping up with some kind of a sleeping rhythm is impossible for longer than a couple of days. The time differences on long-haul flights are tough for the body and I’m not too keen about the radiation either that we are exposed to on long-haul flights.

On this post I wanted to explain honestly why I decided to quit flying. My point is not to discredit the job itself, but to explain my own feelings and opinions, because people have been asking. I will gladly answer, if someone still wants to ask something about this subject! My time as a flight attendant brought me super cool memories and experiences and after flying I have more appreciation on some everyday things that I didn’t think too much about before.

Follow:

Miksi lopetin lentÀmisen

Miksi lopetin lentÀmisen

English version coming soon! 🙂

Miksi lopetin lentĂ€misen – Ajattelin nyt kirjoittaa aiheesta, mistĂ€ moni on kysynyt. Miksi lopetin lentĂ€misen. Toukokuussa lopetin lentĂ€misen ja palasin maan pinnalle “normaaleihin” töihin. Aika moni tuntui olevan tosi yllĂ€ttynyt tĂ€stĂ€, enkĂ€ ihmettele. KyllĂ€hĂ€n blogin aiheet pyöri aika paljon reissuelĂ€mĂ€n ympĂ€rillĂ€ ja varmasti blogista vĂ€littyi vaikutelma, ettĂ€ elĂ€n unelmieni elĂ€mÀÀ lennellessĂ€ni ympĂ€ri maailman. TĂ€mĂ€ oli tietysti osittain totta, koska lentoemĂ€nnĂ€n työhön liittyy paljon ihania asioita. Siihen kuitenkin liittyy myös monia negatiivisia asioita, jotka lopulta kÀÀnsi vaakakupin lopettamisen puolelle.

Ajattelin lyhyesti mainita muutamia syitÀ, mitkÀ sai mut vaihtamaan alaa. Ensin voisin mainita oman koulutustaustani. Oon valmistunut kauppatieteiden maisteriksi, mikÀ aiheutti kieltÀmÀttÀ aina samojen kysymysten ryöpyn kollegoilta. En toki ole ainoa korkeakoulutettu lentoemÀntÀ, heitÀ on itseasiassa yllÀttÀvÀn paljon, mutta silti kollegat kysyi aina samat kysymykset kuullessaan taustastani: Miksi olen lentoemÀntÀ, aijonko mennÀ joskus koulutusta vastaaviin töihin, enkö tienaisi paremmin jossain muualla, onko ekonomien työtilanne niin huono, ettÀ pitÀÀ tulla tÀnne töihin jne. NÀmÀ kysymykset kuulin joka ikinen kerta, kun mainitsin koulutuksestani. Sitten jossain vaiheessa totesin, ettÀ pÀÀsen itse paljon helpommalla, kun en kerro koulutuksestani mitÀÀn.

LÀhdin aikanaan lentÀmÀÀn sillÀ ajatuksella, ettÀ pidÀn pikku tauon kuuden vuoden yliopisto-opintojen jÀlkeen. En ikinÀ ajatellutkaan, ettÀ lentÀmisestÀ tulisi mulle loppuelÀmÀn ammatti. Totta kai haluan tehdÀ oman alan töitÀ, koska olen nÀhnyt vaivaa yliopistosta valmistumiseen. Mukavaa vaihtelua lentÀminen totisesti tarjosi, mutta samalla palautti motivaation istahtaa taas työpöydÀn ÀÀreen ja palata normaaliin arkeen maan pinnalle. Matkustaminen on ihanaa, mutta jos on pakko lÀhteÀ kaukomaille silloin, kun mieluummin tulisi kotiin yöksi, se voi olla aika rankkaa.

Yksi merkittÀvÀ syy lentÀmisen lopettamiseen oli palkkaus. LentoemÀntÀ ei työllÀÀn liiemmin rikastu, kuten ei kyllÀ moni muukaan Suomessa, siitÀ pitÀÀ verottaja huolen. Jotta voisi tehdÀ töitÀ lentoemÀntÀnÀ, tÀytyy kÀytÀnnössÀ asua HelsingissÀ tai siinÀ lÀhiseuduilla. HelsingissÀ asuminen taas on niin kallista, ettÀ esimerkiksi minulla meni suunnilleen puolet tuloista asumiseen. Joinakin kuukausina enemmÀn, kun sattui tulemaan pienempi palkka. En sano, ettÀ lentoemÀntien pitÀisi tienata enemmÀn, eihÀn lentoemÀnnÀltÀ vaadittava koulutus kestÀ kuin kahdeksan viikkoa, mutta jos on mahdollisuus tienata enemmÀn, niin sitten teen niin.

LentoemÀnnÀn työssÀ yksi parhaista -ja samalla pahimmista- puolista on aikataulut ja työrytmi. Tavalliseen pÀivÀtyöhön verrattuna tunteja kertyy vÀhemmÀn ja saa nauttia vapaista keskellÀ viikkoa ja milloin missÀkin. On ihanaa kÀydÀ vaikka asioilla tai shoppailemassa kaupungilla vaikkapa tiistaiaamuna, kun liikkeellÀ ei ole juuri muita. Arkivapaat ja elÀmÀn rytmittömyys luo tietynlaista vapautta. Varjopuolena on tietysti se, ettÀ ikinÀ ei tiedÀ kuin kuukauden kerrallaan, milloin on töissÀ. Ei voi tietÀÀ, pÀÀseekö vaikka kaverin polttareihin tai hÀihin, eikÀ suunnitella viikonloppumenoja pÀivÀtöissÀ olevien ihmisten kanssa. Kokonaan vapaita viikonloppuja taisi olla kerran kuussa, jos muistan oikein. Toki maanantaista-perjantaihin rytmi voi olla puuduttavaa, mutta sitten osaa myös arvostaa ja odottaa sitÀ viikonloppuna koittavaa vapaata! Myös parisuhteen kannalta on ikÀvÀÀ, kun ei ole yhteisiÀ vapaita viikonloppuisin, vaan vapaat on milloin missÀkin.

Yksi juttu, mikÀ alkoi myös mietityttÀmÀÀn koko ajan enemmÀn oli lentÀmiseen liittyvÀt terveysseikat. Monet ihmiset ei hoksaa, ettÀ lentoemÀnnÀn työ voi olla jopa tavallista vuorotyötÀ rankempaa kropalle, koska työajat ovat tÀysin epÀsÀÀnnölliset. On aamua, iltaa ja yötÀ iloisessa sekamelskassa ja siihen kaukolentojen aikaerot pÀÀlle. Toki tietyt lepoajat tÀytyy olla, mutta minkÀÀnlaista nukkumisrytmiÀ ei voi pitÀÀ yllÀ muutamia pÀiviÀ pidempÀÀn. Kaukolentojen aikaerot rasittaa elimistöÀ tosi paljon, eikÀ kaukolennoilla saatava sÀteilyannos juurikaan houkuta.

TÀssÀ postauksessa halusin rehellisesti kertoa syitÀ lentÀmisen lopettamiselle. Tarkoitus ei ole mitenkÀÀn mustamaalata ammattia, vaan kertoa omia mielipiteitÀ ja tuntemuksia, niitÀ kun ihmiset ovat paljon kyselleet. Vastaan kyllÀ mielellÀni, jos jollekin vielÀ jotain kysymyksiÀ herÀÀ! LentoemÀnnÀn ura toi minulle huikeita kokemuksia ja ihanaa vaihtelua. Kuten aikaisemmin sanoinkin, lentÀmisen jÀlkeen osaa arvostaa monia asioita ihan eri tavalla kuin ennen.

Follow:

Layover life

annimarian Layover life

annimarian Layover life

annimarian Layover life

annimarian Layover life

annimarian Layover life

Layover life – Iltaa! Eilen iltapĂ€ivĂ€llĂ€ palasin Bangkokista takas kotiin. Paluulento oli kivan rauhallinen, kone oli aika vajaa ja saatiin pitkĂ€t leparit. Jee! Bangkokissa oli vĂ€hĂ€n sateinen ilma, joten en edes miettinyt poolille menoa. En varmaan olis kyllĂ€ muutenkaan vaivautunut meneen aurinkoon, kun en oo taas aikoihin ollut auringossa. Ei olis kuitenkaan voinut olla paahteessa kovin kauan, niin en mennyt sitten ollenkaan 😀 KĂ€vin unien jĂ€lkeen jalkahieronnassa siinĂ€ hotellin lĂ€hellĂ€, samassa paikassa kuin viimeksi. Aina jalkahieronnan loppuun ne tekee yleensĂ€ myös pikaisen parin minuutin hartiahieronnan. Mun hartiat oli enemmĂ€n jumissa kuin varmaan koskaan ja jokaisesta lihaksesta kuului vaan hirveÀÀ rutinaa. Pyysin sitten vielĂ€ lisĂ€ksi erillisen hartiahieronnan ja jestas, ettĂ€ teki hyvÀÀ! Teki myös kipeÀÀ, mutta hyvĂ€llĂ€ tavalla. ParikymmentĂ€ minuuttia (aika kovaotteista) hierontaa ja johan alkoi veri kiertÀÀn! Nyt on kyllĂ€ sitten hartiat hellĂ€nĂ€…

Oon sanonut ennenkin, ettĂ€ kĂ€yn yleensĂ€ samoissa, hyviksi todetuissa paikoissa syömĂ€ssĂ€ layovereilla niin vĂ€lttyy ikĂ€viltĂ€ yllĂ€tyksiltĂ€. EikĂ€ tarvi kĂ€yttÀÀ kallista aikaa uusien ravintoloiden etsimiseen. Kaduilla nĂ€kee paljon kaikenlaisia ruokakojuja ja jotkut nĂ€yttÀÀ kieltĂ€mĂ€ttĂ€ aika houkuttelevilta. En oo kuitenkaan vielĂ€ uskaltautunu noista mitÀÀn ostamaan. EnkĂ€ varmaan työreissulla ostakaan, aika noloa olis saada joku ruokamyrkytys ja sitten myöntÀÀ syöneensĂ€ katuruokaa. Menin siis lautalla joen yli mun vakkariravintolaan. Jostain syystĂ€ ravintolassa ei ollut ketÀÀn muita kuin minĂ€, vaikka se on yleensĂ€ aika suosittu paikka. SiellĂ€ sitten ylhĂ€isessĂ€ yksinĂ€isyydessĂ€ söin illallistani, kunnes loppupuolella joku perhe tuli mun viereiseen pöytÀÀn istuun. Ne loi muhun vĂ€hĂ€n katseita, varmaan ihmetellen, ettĂ€ miksi lĂ€nsimaalainen nainen tÀÀllĂ€ yksinÀÀn istuu. Satuin vielĂ€ just sillon syömÀÀn tuota salaattia, mikĂ€ oli tosi tulinen. Vesi valui silmistĂ€ ja niiskutin, joten ehkĂ€ ne tuijotti siksi, kun ne luuli ettĂ€ yksinĂ€ni siellĂ€ itken ja syön 😀

Nyt alan laittaan ruokaa ja punaviini ja ihana juusto odottaa sitten illallisen jĂ€lkeen. Huomenna lĂ€htÀÀn Tallinnaan Awsin kans. Kivaa viikonloppua! 🙂

P.s. Kattokaa mitkĂ€ kengĂ€t tuossa toisen katukeittiökuvan vasemmassa reunassa nĂ€kyy. Wtf?! 😀

Layover life – Good evening! Yesterday afternoon I got back home from Bangkok. The return flight was nice and easy. We had quite few passengers and the flight time was long, so we got quite long rests. Wohoo! In Bangkok the weather was a little rainy so I didn’t even think of going to the pool area. I think I would have skipped it even without the rain, though. I haven’t been in the sun for a long time now, so I couldn’t have tanned for long anyway. So I didn’t go at all 😀 After my nap I went to have a foot massage in a place near the hotel, the same place I visited the last time. In the end of a foot massage they always do a quick, few minutes shoulder and neck massage as well. My shoulders were probably more jammed than ever and I could hear and feel this crackle on each muscle she touched. That’s why I asked for an extra shoulder massage and oh boy, that felt gooood. Well, painful, but good. Twenty minutes of (quite rough) massaging and I could feel the blood circulating! Now my shoulders are a little sore though…

I have mentioned it before that on my layovers I usually go to the same restaurants over and over again, so I can avoid unpleasant surprises. And I don’t need to waste precious time on searching for a new restaurant. There are a lot of street food stalls around and some of them look quite tempting. I haven’t ever bought food from them and I don’t think I ever will on my work trips. It would be quite embarrassing to get a food poisoning and then having to admit eating street food. So again I took the ferry over the river to go to my favorite restaurant. For some reason, I was the only customer although it is normally fairly popular place. There I was eating my dinner, alone in the whole place, until in the end a family came to sit at the table next to me. They were eying me, maybe thinking why a western woman sat there all alone. At that moment, I was eating my spicy salad, which happened to be very spicy. Water was pouring from my eyes and I was sniffling, so maybe they were staring because they thought I was crying and eating alone 😀

Now I will start making dinned and red wine and a delicious cheese are waiting as a dessert. Tomorrow we will go to Tallinn with Aws. Have a great weekend! 🙂

P.s. Did you see the shoes on the left side of the second street food picture. Wtf?! 😀

Follow:

October roster

annimarian October rosterOctober roster – Heippa! Uusi lista on taas tÀÀllĂ€ ja oon aika innoissani. Ens kuussa aletaan taas lentÀÀn Dubaihin ja olin toivonut Dubaita, koska se on mun mielestĂ€ kiva kohde. Sain pitkĂ€n Dubain (2,5 pĂ€ivÀÀ perillĂ€) ja Aws pÀÀsee todennĂ€köisesti mun mukaan. ErinĂ€isistĂ€ syistĂ€ johtuen Aws ei oo aikaisemmin pÀÀssyt mukaan mun reissuille ja nyt pÀÀstÀÀn ehkĂ€ ekaa kertaa yhdessĂ€ matkustaan. Niin siistiĂ€! Kuun alussa kĂ€yn Bangkokissa, sitĂ€ olin kans toivonut. Lennot on toki rankkoja, mutta perillĂ€ on vaivatonta ja siitĂ€ saa aina neljĂ€ vapaata. Rankat lennot menee, kun tietÀÀ, ettĂ€ vapaat on tulossa. Ens kuussa mulla on myös pt-pĂ€ivĂ€t eli ne kerran vuodessa pidettĂ€vĂ€t kertauspĂ€ivĂ€t, jolloin kĂ€ydÀÀn lĂ€pi turvajuttuja, ensiapua sun muuta. TĂ€ltĂ€ lista siis nĂ€yttÀÀ:

  • Standby
  • BKK (Bangkok)
  • PRG (Prague)
  • Standby
  • Recurrent training
  • AMS (Amsterdam)
  • MUC (MĂŒnchen)
  • FRA (Frankfurt)
  • DXB (Dubai)

October roster – Hello! A new roster is here and I am quite exited! Next month we will start flying to Dubai again and I had asked for Dubai flights, because I like to fly there. I got the long Dubai (2,5 days there) and Aws will probably fly with me. Because of certain reasons Aws has not been able to fly with me at all this far so this will be our first trip together! So cool! In the beginning of the month I will fly to Bangkok, I had wished that as well. Of course the flights there are rough, but it is easy and nice there and we get four days off after Bangkok. I can take the rough flights when I know I’ll have the time off after. Next month I also have the recurrent training days, those that we have once a year to go through the safety and first aid stuff. So that’s how my October roster looks like!

 

Follow:

Privacy Policy