I always liked flying and airports. I found them fascinating because of the flux of people passing through them.
I associated airports with a vortex of stories, where each passenger was a living actor, the main character in their own movie/life.
My first flight was to Paris. That was thirty years ago. I enjoyed every single moment of that trip, despite the fact that I was travelling without my parents.
Everyone assumed I would be scared or afraid, given that I was still a child. I wasn't scared at all. The word that describes the best my first flying experience was mesmerizing.
I was enchanted by the new world that I had stepped in and for many years to come I wished to be part of it.
In my early twenties I applied for a flight attendant position and got a job with Qatar Airways.
Because I was in my third year at the university, my folks convinced me to postpone my "wings" and decide after graduation if I still wanted to be an airline hostess.
Somehow life got in the way and I never tried again to snatch a job with another airline. Though the idea of travelling was still there, buried deep into my mind.
You probably know how it feels when you got the travel bug. You feel the itch and you crave for the travel.
All steps involved give you a feeling of excitement: selecting your destination, buying the ticket, preparing the suitcase, checking-in, passing through customs (this one turned less exciting lately), waiting at the gate, boarding, taking off, the flight, landing, keeping your fingers crossed while waiting to collect your luggage, customs again and nevertheless meeting new people and learning new stories.
Did you notice that people who are afraid of flying tend to talk more with other passengers prior and during the flight, while those who are regulars tend to socialize less and either sleep or read, saving their strength for their next adventure?
What about you? Are you afraid of flying? Do you engage in conversations with the other passengers or you prefer to sleep during a long flight?