It's been a year now since I started on this adventure. Nah, forget that, I've been on this adventure for a long time now. This was never the end all for me. At times it feels like it. Don't get me wrong, in this moment, in this space, in this time, this is where I want to be. This is where I belong. I can't picture myself anywhere else.
In the past I've made decisions, for better or worse, based off of if I could see myself in a certain role, in a certain place. I once saw myself as a doctor, but as I changed, the image faded. The only way I could picture myself day in and day out behind a desk and a computer was being miserable. I tried that, and the misery set in. I cannot comprehend a happy me back at a 9 to 5 job pushing papers. So I took to the skies. I don't make much and sometimes I don't do much. In spite of being broke and bored a lot of the time I have faith in a great future.
The faith in the future I hold revolves around one concept, one ideal: experience. It has always been about experience. I want to experience as much as I can in this life. As they say, we only get one. So I'm going to stimulate all five of my senses, and possibly more, with as much stimuli as I can. I will stand high on the mountain and take in the beauty of Macchu Picchu and the Inca trail. I will feel the warmth of the Caribbean Sea. I will smell the aromas of fresh foreign markets. I will taste local cuisine from all over the world. I will hear conversations in languages I do not understand. I will imagine these things until I make them a reality.
So that's why I do what I do. It gets me out there. In a way that makes it capable with my means, my talents, and my fears. It gets me out there. It allows me experiences I wouldn't have otherwise. Flying serves as a catalyst to so much more.
(As I wrote this I realized I write too introspectively. I talk too much about what I want to do and not enough about what I am doing, what I have seen, and what I have felt.)
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
One Year on the Job
One year in and I'm no closer to being Anthony Bourdain. Sure, I write, occasionally. I travel; when my job sends me somewhere. I eat; whatever I can, whenever I can. I need to do more of all the above, except possibly eating. The other day I told my friend, a flight attendant as well, that I need to travel more. He laughed. I didn't say it as a joke. It was indeed funny though. That's how I know I have a problem. I travel for a living but don't feel I travel enough.
My travels have not been as far and wide as I would like but they are ever-growing and I have gone to some wonderful places both domestically and internationally. In honor of being a flight attendant for a year now I wanted to look back at what some of the things I have learned along the way:
First a riddle: I travel the world and I am drunk constantly. Who am I? If you think the answer is Allan Stumpe you'd be wrong. I may seem like it but I assure you I am not drunk nearly as constantly as I'd like. The answer isn't even Anthony Bourdain, although he sure drinks a fair amount on the show. Another good answer may even be the guys from BrewDog, a brewery in the United Kingdom, who are traveling around the United States exploring and sampling craft beers from all over the country. They probably are drunk constantly but that is still not the answer.
The answer to the riddle is simply water. Remember learning about the water cycle in school? I don't really remember either but there is indeed a cycle of water traveling from rivers to lakes to oceans much the same way we do. In the clouds. Best traveling tip I've heard that I will pass on to you is to drink plenty of water. Water helps avoid jet lag and keeps your body hydrated allowing your immune system to work properly in order to protect you from all sorts of germs on airplanes.
Another point about water. The best cities are on the water. Whether it is the ocean, or a large river, or a great lake (or Great Lake), the greatest cities in the world lie on the shore. Let me enter a disclaimer here before I go any further: Just because your city is right on the water does not mean it is a great city (yeah, I'm looking at you Newark). The greatness of the city seems to increase the more the city is encompassed by water . Case in point: New York City and San Francisco. Both cities are among the most visited and most populous both in the United States and the world. Cities are doing something right if people want to live there and visit it.
Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, San Diego, and Boston are a few of the other most visited and most populous (and popular) cities in the U.S. They also happen to be some of my favorite cities I've been able to visit. But a city doesn't have to be crowded and frequented for it to be a great city. Two of the quirkiest and "weird" (Austin laid the claim to weirdness first; Portland followed suit) cities in the nation are Portland and Austin. There must be something in the water that makes them so weird. I guess Houston is the Gulf Coast as well, but the times I've been to city I never saw any signs of the ocean or bayous, so I don't consider it right on the water like I do other cities. My logic doesn't hold water however, for by that standard L.A. should be dismissed. I like L.A. better than Houston anyways.
Although one day I plan to call myself a world traveler I can't quite justify it. Regardless of where I've been, I still know a thing or two about the world. And what I know that most of the great cities of the world are right on the water. To name a few: London, Paris, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, Bangkok, Cairo, Buenos Aires, Singapore, Shangai, Toronto, Dubai, Tel Aviv, and Rio De Janeiro. Once I do visit these cities I will be sure to report on their greatness.
I haven't even mentioned islands yet. I love islands. I had never been to Hawaii until this job. Now I can say I've been several times, and I love it. I haven't even been able to do all there is to do. Just hanging out on the beach is enough for me to fall in love. I've been fortunate to live in Puerto Rico and Grand Cayman and visit several other Caribbean islands, including Cuba. Put me on an island and a beach and I'll be a happy camper. The obvious key to it all is water. An island isn't an island without water, and the warmer the water the better.
There's an easy explanation for the world's populations to gather and build around water. Water is awesome. In the truest sense of the word. Just staring at the ocean, listening to the waves crack, or feeling its tide sweep you away is truly awe inspiring. Rivers are also immensely powerful and breathtaking. At the same time a body of water can be the most peaceful and serene thing you will every experience. The real reason behind it all, though, is water is life sustaining, through both consumption and utilization of its properties as a means of transportation and progress.
Back to the riddle and being drunk, beer is a great reason to travel. Not only that, beer can enhance a city's worth, at least in my book. Call it beer goggles if you want. Good beer makes any city better. I blame this job and a certain friend for getting me hooked on craft beer. Part of the reason I loved San Francisco (and California in general) was the craft beer scene. My favorite bar became Steep Brew, a bar/cafeteria/coffee shop on the bottom floor of a Whole Foods. The bar featured around 18 craft beers, some local, on tap and a handful of others by the bottle. My friend and I would typically get a flight of four beers each (4 oz) in order to taste as many as possible. From there, I was hooked on craft beer. It was only natural from that point to visit the local breweries and taprooms in the San Francisco area including Lagunitas, Russian River, Prohibition, and Speakeasy.
Now its become a thing for me. If I have an opportunity on a layover I head to a local brewery or tap room. Or if I have a day off or two and I can take a day trip near by. The whole west coast is spotted with great breweries. The State of Washington even has a committee--The Washington Beer Commission--ratified by the state legislature as a commodity commission to produce beer festivals. That's how serious Seattle and the entire State of Washington is about its craft beer. Spokane had one of the coolest breweries of all; an old steam plant converted into a brewery and restaurant. Portland is not far behind Seattle when it comes to craft beer. When it comes to beer (so far) the west is the best.
Granted, I haven't been able to explore the east coast's craft beer scene as much as I would have liked. Just last week I did visit Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland and was pleasantly surprised at their slate of impressive beers. There was not a beer they had on draft that I did not like. As far of the rest of the east coast I have a wishlist of breweries I'd like to visit: Allagash in Portland, Maine; Ommegang in Cooperstown, New York; and Dogfish Head in Delaware to name a few. Furthermore, one of these years, perhaps next year, I hope to attend the Great American Beer Festival in Denver and swim in the glory of all of America's craft beer.
Next to beer, a city's sports scene may be the best thing about a city. I had never had the pleasure of attending a NFL game until last year while in training in Houston. Somehow, and mostly thanks to a friend in the class, scored great seats from a scalper to a Texans game. We were two or three rows up from the sideline near an end zone. Since that game in Houston game I've gone to a game in Philadelphia and Baltimore. I should have gone to a game in Candlestick park while I had the chance but didn't make it.
Although football is my favorite sport to watch I find it much more affordable to attend baseball and basketball games. I plan on going to as many legendary stadiums as possible like Fenway and Madison Square Gardens, simply because I can. Not only are the games themselves exciting but the hype surrounding games and especially playoff games. Cities get behind their teams and its exciting to be a part of that. Especially when there are parades and riots.
On a heavier note, being a flight attendant is not all fun and games. Undoubtedly, the biggest thing I've learned is that being in a long distance relationship as a flight attendant is extremely hard work. It takes a lot more effort than normal relationships. I've been lucky to have a girlfriend that has been very supportive, more than I deserve. She keeps me and the relationship in check. She has been unwilling to give up even when at times I have been. In the end, all the effort and hard work is worth it when I get to spend several days with her on my day off. I can only imagine what its like for the men and women of the armed forces that spend several years away from their spouses and loved ones. Props to them. Makes my long distance seem like a cake walk, but its not.
I've learned a lot in the past year. I've learned a lot about people and places. I've learned a lot about airplanes and travel. I've even learned a thing or two about myself (like I really like craft beer). The main focus of this post has been destinations. That really is my favorite thing to talk about and write about. With that in mind I hope to be writing more about cities and destinations. Travel fuels my writing. I learn a lot in this job but the best things to learn about are the places I go and the people I meet. And although I'm not quite as famous as Anthony Bourdain I still get to travel to cool places, eat tasty local foods, and meet great people. Hell, sometimes I'll even write about it. And just like him, I'm hungry for more.
My travels have not been as far and wide as I would like but they are ever-growing and I have gone to some wonderful places both domestically and internationally. In honor of being a flight attendant for a year now I wanted to look back at what some of the things I have learned along the way:
First a riddle: I travel the world and I am drunk constantly. Who am I? If you think the answer is Allan Stumpe you'd be wrong. I may seem like it but I assure you I am not drunk nearly as constantly as I'd like. The answer isn't even Anthony Bourdain, although he sure drinks a fair amount on the show. Another good answer may even be the guys from BrewDog, a brewery in the United Kingdom, who are traveling around the United States exploring and sampling craft beers from all over the country. They probably are drunk constantly but that is still not the answer.
The answer to the riddle is simply water. Remember learning about the water cycle in school? I don't really remember either but there is indeed a cycle of water traveling from rivers to lakes to oceans much the same way we do. In the clouds. Best traveling tip I've heard that I will pass on to you is to drink plenty of water. Water helps avoid jet lag and keeps your body hydrated allowing your immune system to work properly in order to protect you from all sorts of germs on airplanes.
Another point about water. The best cities are on the water. Whether it is the ocean, or a large river, or a great lake (or Great Lake), the greatest cities in the world lie on the shore. Let me enter a disclaimer here before I go any further: Just because your city is right on the water does not mean it is a great city (yeah, I'm looking at you Newark). The greatness of the city seems to increase the more the city is encompassed by water . Case in point: New York City and San Francisco. Both cities are among the most visited and most populous both in the United States and the world. Cities are doing something right if people want to live there and visit it.
Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, San Diego, and Boston are a few of the other most visited and most populous (and popular) cities in the U.S. They also happen to be some of my favorite cities I've been able to visit. But a city doesn't have to be crowded and frequented for it to be a great city. Two of the quirkiest and "weird" (Austin laid the claim to weirdness first; Portland followed suit) cities in the nation are Portland and Austin. There must be something in the water that makes them so weird. I guess Houston is the Gulf Coast as well, but the times I've been to city I never saw any signs of the ocean or bayous, so I don't consider it right on the water like I do other cities. My logic doesn't hold water however, for by that standard L.A. should be dismissed. I like L.A. better than Houston anyways.
Although one day I plan to call myself a world traveler I can't quite justify it. Regardless of where I've been, I still know a thing or two about the world. And what I know that most of the great cities of the world are right on the water. To name a few: London, Paris, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, Bangkok, Cairo, Buenos Aires, Singapore, Shangai, Toronto, Dubai, Tel Aviv, and Rio De Janeiro. Once I do visit these cities I will be sure to report on their greatness.
I haven't even mentioned islands yet. I love islands. I had never been to Hawaii until this job. Now I can say I've been several times, and I love it. I haven't even been able to do all there is to do. Just hanging out on the beach is enough for me to fall in love. I've been fortunate to live in Puerto Rico and Grand Cayman and visit several other Caribbean islands, including Cuba. Put me on an island and a beach and I'll be a happy camper. The obvious key to it all is water. An island isn't an island without water, and the warmer the water the better.
There's an easy explanation for the world's populations to gather and build around water. Water is awesome. In the truest sense of the word. Just staring at the ocean, listening to the waves crack, or feeling its tide sweep you away is truly awe inspiring. Rivers are also immensely powerful and breathtaking. At the same time a body of water can be the most peaceful and serene thing you will every experience. The real reason behind it all, though, is water is life sustaining, through both consumption and utilization of its properties as a means of transportation and progress.
Back to the riddle and being drunk, beer is a great reason to travel. Not only that, beer can enhance a city's worth, at least in my book. Call it beer goggles if you want. Good beer makes any city better. I blame this job and a certain friend for getting me hooked on craft beer. Part of the reason I loved San Francisco (and California in general) was the craft beer scene. My favorite bar became Steep Brew, a bar/cafeteria/coffee shop on the bottom floor of a Whole Foods. The bar featured around 18 craft beers, some local, on tap and a handful of others by the bottle. My friend and I would typically get a flight of four beers each (4 oz) in order to taste as many as possible. From there, I was hooked on craft beer. It was only natural from that point to visit the local breweries and taprooms in the San Francisco area including Lagunitas, Russian River, Prohibition, and Speakeasy.
Now its become a thing for me. If I have an opportunity on a layover I head to a local brewery or tap room. Or if I have a day off or two and I can take a day trip near by. The whole west coast is spotted with great breweries. The State of Washington even has a committee--The Washington Beer Commission--ratified by the state legislature as a commodity commission to produce beer festivals. That's how serious Seattle and the entire State of Washington is about its craft beer. Spokane had one of the coolest breweries of all; an old steam plant converted into a brewery and restaurant. Portland is not far behind Seattle when it comes to craft beer. When it comes to beer (so far) the west is the best.
Granted, I haven't been able to explore the east coast's craft beer scene as much as I would have liked. Just last week I did visit Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland and was pleasantly surprised at their slate of impressive beers. There was not a beer they had on draft that I did not like. As far of the rest of the east coast I have a wishlist of breweries I'd like to visit: Allagash in Portland, Maine; Ommegang in Cooperstown, New York; and Dogfish Head in Delaware to name a few. Furthermore, one of these years, perhaps next year, I hope to attend the Great American Beer Festival in Denver and swim in the glory of all of America's craft beer.
Next to beer, a city's sports scene may be the best thing about a city. I had never had the pleasure of attending a NFL game until last year while in training in Houston. Somehow, and mostly thanks to a friend in the class, scored great seats from a scalper to a Texans game. We were two or three rows up from the sideline near an end zone. Since that game in Houston game I've gone to a game in Philadelphia and Baltimore. I should have gone to a game in Candlestick park while I had the chance but didn't make it.
Although football is my favorite sport to watch I find it much more affordable to attend baseball and basketball games. I plan on going to as many legendary stadiums as possible like Fenway and Madison Square Gardens, simply because I can. Not only are the games themselves exciting but the hype surrounding games and especially playoff games. Cities get behind their teams and its exciting to be a part of that. Especially when there are parades and riots.
On a heavier note, being a flight attendant is not all fun and games. Undoubtedly, the biggest thing I've learned is that being in a long distance relationship as a flight attendant is extremely hard work. It takes a lot more effort than normal relationships. I've been lucky to have a girlfriend that has been very supportive, more than I deserve. She keeps me and the relationship in check. She has been unwilling to give up even when at times I have been. In the end, all the effort and hard work is worth it when I get to spend several days with her on my day off. I can only imagine what its like for the men and women of the armed forces that spend several years away from their spouses and loved ones. Props to them. Makes my long distance seem like a cake walk, but its not.
I've learned a lot in the past year. I've learned a lot about people and places. I've learned a lot about airplanes and travel. I've even learned a thing or two about myself (like I really like craft beer). The main focus of this post has been destinations. That really is my favorite thing to talk about and write about. With that in mind I hope to be writing more about cities and destinations. Travel fuels my writing. I learn a lot in this job but the best things to learn about are the places I go and the people I meet. And although I'm not quite as famous as Anthony Bourdain I still get to travel to cool places, eat tasty local foods, and meet great people. Hell, sometimes I'll even write about it. And just like him, I'm hungry for more.
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