Paper Cranes

August 8, 2011

today, during the flight to Barcelona, i received something special from one of my passengers.

it was a normal flight but this was the first time that i've been assigned as a galley operator on a wide bodied aircraft. so as you can imagine i was sooo stressed and nervous coz i've dreaded this day ever since i graduated from training and started flying.

anyway, i was galley so i had to do heavy work - carrying heavy stuff, pulling and pushing loaded aluminum boxes ( we call 'em atlas boxes) over my head, trying to remember where every single thing is located, bending up and down to load every single meal casserole from the ovens to the cart without getting burned, cleaning galley floor and counters (and i'm not the most organized person), pushing/pulling two-ton meal carts in and out of the galley (ok, i'm exaggerating here!)... i was doing all of it while serving passengers, trying to figure out what to do next and how to be one step ahead of everything(apparently, this is what you need to do if you're the kusinera)... i was trying so hard to be an effective galley operator but since i still lack the experience, it's impossible for it to be a complete success.. (luckily, one very nice crew was there to guide me.)

anyway, back to my happy story.

after serving warm sandwiches, i was already exhausted while clearing the tray tables in my zone.. when i was about to clear a Japanese passengers' table, she hurriedly wrote something down and smiled at me.... i smiled back...

as i was about to pickup the sandwich boxes and used table napkins, i realized that she did something to her paper tray mat... it was folded into a crane...

the words "Thank you." on the paper cranes wing...

i was surprised especially when i saw what she wrote on one of its wings..

it made me want to cry in front of her and the other passengers...  ok, fine. I didn't cry, but i was about to! and i was smiling from ear to ear and i didn't know what to say out of too much happiness... LOL! after around 20 seconds of smiling and looking at the paper crane, i was finally able to say "thank you" and i think i  told her that more than a dozen times for the rest of the flight... oh, if i could only say i love her! :D

she really made me happy and grateful... i didn't expect this coz i thought she thinks i'm stupid for not being able to understand her answers every time i ask her for meal preferences or drinks... (i don't think i could ever get completely used to different accents :/ )

Sorry for the emo post... I've been flying for only 2 months and have received 2 complimentary letters (no bragging intended :)  ) - all i can say is this paper crane is the best compliment that i've received so far...

actually, it's worth much more than a compliment letter. :-)

now i have two paper cranes to display on my table.

the brown paper crane is from one of my Japanese friend/batchmate during training..

when i went back to the galley, i couldn't remove the smile on my face. i feel relieved and motivated. i even showed it off to another passenger - i was so proud. :) after 5 minutes of looking at it and showing it off, i carefully folded the paper crane, placed it in my handbag pocket and continued my work in the galley. from then on, i became more motivated and dedicated....



Have you ever received a paper crane?

Location: airborne