Trip #2 to Madrid

So today I went to the Madrid city center for the first time.  It was decorated very pretty for Christmas and also very crowded down there.  The metro was very easy to ride and to find so when I come again after Christmas I'm going to try to go in to Madrid with a real plan.

Home...but not for long...



New Stamp in my Passport!



So my first ever trip went well.  I'm currently home.  The return flight is much easier then the going flight.  I think it was just a matter of daylight.  On the way out it was night and on the way back it was day.  Overall being a flight attendant really isn't a hard job, it's just a long job.  I mean today I have another flight and I'll be leaving the house around 2pm to get to the airport by like 3:30 then the flight takes off around 6pm and we'll land in Madrid by about 2am (8 MAD time).  I'll get to bed by 3am then.  So that's like 12 hours! 

I didn't do much in Madrid on my first layover so my plan for this coming trip is to go into the city.  So...I'll post more picture tomorrow or in 2 days or whenever it is that I'll be there.  I get so confused on the time.  (6 hours ahead)  I woke up today thinking it was Thursday.  It's not.  It's Friday just in case you weren't sure either.

Madrid!

I made it to Madrid.  This is a picture of the hotel I'm staying at.  Pretty nice.  It is 1pm here right now and I haven't slept much at all.  Maybe I'm just too excited, but I am wide awake even thought it's been almost 24 hours since I slept last.  I'm going now with this one girl Angie to the mall.  :) 

Madrid

Virginia

Today I'm working my first practice flight to Madrid.  The plane leaves around 5pm and gets in at 7am Madrid time.  I'm going to be so tired.  I'm already messed up on the whole time thing from being in Ireland.  It's 6am now (been up since 4am) and I can't sleep.  Hopefully I'll be excited enough and that will keep my engery up for the day.  So see you in Spain....

Day 34

Picture of the day...

What I am doing today...
GOING HOME!  I'm not there yet but I leave later today.  YAY!  Chipotle!

Graduation day!!!

Picture of the day...

What I did today...
I got my wings today!  That means that I am now employed.  I signed a contract and all.  I have to pass my line check still but I meet the lady who will be doing and she seemed really nice.  I'm coming home tomorrow and I can't wait. 

Day 32

Picture of the day...

Picture I took on the bus of Swords Castle

What I did today...
Passed! So tomorrow I get my wings! YAY. It's such a relief to know that I am finished and going home on Saturday. So first we jumped in the pool with a life jacket on. Easy. But just enough to get my hair wet. (Angry face!) Then we got 20 minutes to fix ourselves up. Um yeah. That went well. (not) Oh well, I just had frizzy hair all day. Then we said our SOS announcement. (Attention Attention this is an emergency announcement...) Passed that. Then we took another test. Passed that. Then we put out a fire outside. Fun. Then we pretended to fight an oven fire. Our team did awesome. It was actually kind of a fun day. Everyone passed. I think at least.

Day 31

Picture of the day...

Me and Christy...this picture was from a few days ago.

What I did today...

Today was sad because my friend Christy went home.  She didn't pass her make-up test and so that was it for her.   End of the line.  She was so much fun to be around too.  We'll all miss her.  So that made today kind of sucky. 

Tomorrow is our practical.  If I pass tomorrow then I get my wings on Friday.  I guess if I don't then I'll be coming home a day early. 

Days left in Ireland:  3

Day 31

Picture of the day...

Frozen Spider Web that was outside my front door.

What I did today...
Took another test.  Passed it.  I actually have very little to do tonight.  There are no tests tomorrow at all!  So that means I can just relax tonight.    On a fun note, on Thursday we are doing our pool drill in the morning and then expected to reapply makeup and do our hair.  Um yeah.  I guess they're going to get a nice idea of just how curly my hair really is. 

Days left in Ireland:  4

Day 30

Picture of the day...

What I did today...
We went out to view another aircraft.  The A330-200 which is slightly different from the A330-300 which is what we were on last week.  Today was exciting though because we were on the aircraft while it was being taxied to another part of the airport.  Fun.  So for a while I got to sit up in the cockpit and watch us moving.  Then we got to each put on a drager mask which is what we would use if there was ever a fire on the plane.  Tomorrow I have a big test.  Wednesday we practice for our practical test.  And Thursday we have our final practical test with the pilots.  Then Friday we get our wings.  And Saturday I got home!

Days left in Ireland:  5

Day 29

Picture of the day...

What I did today...
Nothing really.  I sat around all day.  I watched some re-runs of Friends.  I ate a mediocre sandwich at the hotel bar.  That's it.  Now, I'm going to try to study some even though I think I already know everything there is to know. 

Days left in Ireland: 6

More JibJab Fun! Dancing Elves...Pop, Daddy, Me, Adam, Michelle

Day 28

Picture of the day...

What I did today...
I saw more of Dublin today.  But I feel at this point I've already seen everything there is to see down there.  It's really not that big of a city.

Graffton Street...the main shopping street in Dublin. 

Fish and Chips.

Cool Coin I Found

I thought this coin was a fake at first.  But I looked it up and it's not. 

Day 27

Picture of the day...

What I did today...
I got my schedule for the rest of December and I don't have to work over Christmas!  YAY!  I have Dec. 20-26 off.  And it's the weekend.  Finally.

Day 26

Picture of the day...

The Iolar.  The first plane in the Aer Lingus fleet. 

What I did today...
Again we went over to the hanger and got on the A330 aircraft.  It was a pretty quick day again.  The only problem is that it's snowing so much right now!  All it did today was snow and the forcast doesn't look so great.  I sure hope we have school tomorrow.  I don't want to miss anything.  I don't want to come in this weekend.  And I don't want to chance having our graduatoin pushed back at all.  That wouldn't be much fun and I am so ready to go home.  That all I have to say for today...

Days left in Ireland: 9 (I hope!)

Day 25

Picture of the day...

Hi-Viz

What I did today...
Today was my favorite day yet!  We got to go to the airport and then onto a plane!  The A330 is a huge plane!  I didn't realize it until today.  We are learning the different parts of the plane and we'll be going back each day this week.  So why was it my favorite day?  Well, we didn't have to sit in the boring classroom all day and just doing that made the day go by super fast. 
On a completely different note...I'm so sick of the snow!  I doubt I'll be doing any traveling/tourist stuff this weekend b/c of the snow and b/c of Ireland's lack of snow plows.  The airport is closed right now and I doubt we've even gotten 4 inches total.  They have yet to clear the sideways near our townhouses and I haven't seen one plow anywhere.  Have they even heard of salt? 

Days left in Ireland: 10

Day 24

Picture of the day...

Another friends re-run???

What I did today...I passed my test!
So, somewhere along the line I got the impression that this was going to be it for the paper exams, but I was wrong.  We have another quiz tomorrow.  So there will be more studying to do tonight (and by tonight I really mean in the morning).  Oh, I put a picture of friends up today b/c they sure do love there Friends re-runs here.  I can turn the TV on at anytime and always find a Friends re-run.  Friends isn't so bad but I do prefer my Seinfeld re-runs. 

Days left in Ireland: 11

Day 23

Picture of the day...

What I did today...  School.  It was a very boring day of school.  We did team building activities which I'm pretty sure I've been doing that sort of stuff since kindergarten so it seemed pretty pointless.  Tomorrow we have our last written test.  (YAY.)  Hopefully I pass or it's hasta lavista baby and I get to come home early.  (Passing=90%)  Wish me luck.  It'll be fine. 

12 more days until I get to home!  Can't wait!

Video from trip to Wicklow

Day 22

Picture of day...

More snow this morning.  (View out my window)

What I'm going to do today...study

Day 21

Picture of the day...

What I did today...
It snowed!  So that kind of messed up our bus tour today.  We still made it to the Wicklow Mountains, but we didn't get to do the full tour.  It was still pretty b/c of the snow.

Snow!!! AH!

View this morning out my window!

Today's going to be a busy day.  I'm going to try to go to Wicklow today!  I hope we make it!  (Wicklow is in the mountains.)

Day 20

20 days!  Goodness!  I don't really have a new picture to post or the energy to get up and take a picture of something around my room.  Hope everyone had a fun Black Friday.  I hate that I missed out on one of the best days of the year.  :(  Tomorrow I'm off to take a bus tour of Wicklow and Glendalough (where P.S. I love you and Braveheart were filmed!!!) 

Day 19

Picture of the day...

Front Lobby of Roganstown

What I did today... Fire safety training.  Nothing practical yet, we just sat in class all day and learned.  But good news, I passed another one of my quizzes.  I have one more tomorrow and then our big exam on Monday.  I'm starting to think not all of us are going to make it.  You have to pass Monday's 60 question exam will at least a 90!  I'm sure I'll be fine.  If not, I guess I'll be seeing America sooner than I thought. 
The company did put on a very nice, 3 course meal for us at Roganstown (the hotel that keeps the townhouses we're staying at).  I hadn't been over to the hotel in a few days and was surprised to see how beautiful all there Christmas decoration were.  Dinner was pretty good and I did see a bit of American football on mute.

Chocolate peacan pie.  A little too rich for my taste. 

Kamaryn and I.

Happy Thsnksgiving!!!

Happy Thankgiving USA!  I miss you!  I miss your normal food, your wide roads, your first-run TV shows, your random weather, your normal football, and your large produce section at the grocery stores.  Of course, I miss everyone back home (but that's a given).  I guess what I'm trying to say is that even though Ireland's pretty okay I am very thankful I live in America. 

Day 18

Picture of the day...

A new necklace and hair clip I got at the mall today.

What I did today...  Well, I had class like normal.  We're learning about safety and emergency procedures which is kinda scary to think about.  Tomorrow we learn about firefighting.  Fun.
After class I did get to go to the pavillion today.  I got a few things:  navy leather gloves I can wear with my uniform, a hair thingy, a necklace, and a new shirt.  I meant to do some x-mas shopping for other people but there just wasn't enough time for that.  We're going back to the pavillion on Friday like we always do so there will be more time to shop then. 

Day 17

Picture of the day...

What I did today...Not much.  School.  Lunch.  More School.  Home.  Dinner.  Gym.  Shower (to come).  Study (to come).  Vampire Diaries (to come).  Talk to Adam (to come).  Bed (to come). 

I am excited for tomorrow.  Tomorrow is the half-way point to our training!  I'll be home in no time!  Yay.  But that does mean I only have 2 weekends left here so I really need to figure out what else I want to do while I'm here.  I'm also excited because tomorrow a few of us are going to the Pavillion to do a little shopping/christmas shopping for people back home.  And Thursday is Thanksgiving.  They are treating us all to a special 3-course dinner on Thursday. 

Day 16

Picture of the day...

What I did today...  We got our schedules today!  YAY!  I'm so excited because I'm going to be working my fam-flight (practice flights) from IAD to Madrid.  That means I'll be going home earlier than expected (and earlier than the people who will work their fam-flights from Dublin to Boston or JFK.).  So it's required that you do 4 fam-flight and then 1 line-check.  Now the line-check is your final test.  If you pass that then you're hired.  The schedule above shows my four fam-flights (indicated by the lowercase f).  Uppercase F are the days off.  I won't know more of my schedule (the next 28 day period) for a couple more weeks.  So right now I'm not sure if I'll be working (and doing my line-check) over x-mas.  I figure there are two possibilites.  A:  I work the next day Dec23 going to Madrid, layover the 24th and 25th (Madrid airport is closed x-mas day), home on Dec. 26.  or B: 6 days off.  So I'd be off the 23rd, 24th, 25th of Dec. then work the following 3-6 days. 

Day 15

Picture of the day...

Click the picture for a better view.

 What I did today...  Today we took a trip out to Howth Ireland.  It was very little town along the coast.  I saw a wonderful view of the ocean, some seals, a little run-down castle, and even got to eat some wonderful seafood chowder soup.  (Actually very good.)  A nice little Sunday.



Pier we walked out on.



Day 14

Picture of the day...

Click on the picture to see a larger view. 

What I did today... School.  On a Saturday.  Ugh.  I did get a card in the mail from my mom (and one from my Gram and Pop a couple days ago!) so that was a nice surprise.  Thank you both! 
Today was the first day wearing our uniforms.  It the picture above we're all in the classroom excited for the day.  Then our instructor shows up and nit-picks us all apart.  The happy/excited attitude dropped after that.  One girl almost cried.  I was almost okay.  She's wants my lipstick darker still and my nail polish HAS to match.  I wanted to tell her to shove it. 

Irish Speak:
They say: "She's doin' my head in" and we say: "She's talking my ear off."
They say: "slagging" and we say: "messing with"
They say: "messer" and we say "joker or class clown"

Day 13

Picture of the day...

What I did today...
So every Friday after Flight Attendant school the bus takes everyone to the Pavillion (aka the Mall).  That's where the grocery store is.  (Yes, inside the mall.)  And I swear they don't know what crackers are here!  (They don't know what a lot of things are here.)  But I did manage to find Ritz crackers today.  YAY!  I also found a big thing of Bueno Candy Bars.  Which, by the way, are my new favorite candy.  They are amazingly good!  I eat them daily they're so good!  If you ever see them anywhere you should make sure to try them!  And then after shopping I wandered off to the bookstore.  Being in a bookstore felt like home somehow.  That's my form of retail therapy.  I didn't even care about the price and I got two books.  That's a copy of Twilight there on the right.  It is a really pretty all white copy with a red back and you could tell I got it in Europe since the prices on the back were in euros.  I'll probably give it to my sister for x-mas.  (She never reads my blog so it will still be a surprise.)  Then I was happy to find that other book, Cresando, in paperback.  It just came out in the US but only in hardcover, so it was actually cheaper here for that reason.  Actually, a lot of books that are only in hardcover in the US were on sale here in paperback.  Interesting.  Well, I'm off to get ready for bed and class tomorrow. 

DaY 12

Picture of the day...

What I did today...
I got a 94% on my test.  Not a 100 but still passing.  :(  That's it for today. 

Day 11

Picture of the day...

The back of the Aer Lingus head office building.

What I did today... Well, today I took my second quiz and I got 100% on it!  (Easy)  Tomorrow I have another quiz.  I'm a little more worried about this one since it covers a lot more material--first aid stuff--and some of it is more confusing.  Hopefully it won't be an issue.  I'm about to start studying now.  I can't wait for the weekend.  Two more days!! No, wait.  Three more days.  :(  We have to come in on Saturday this weekend. 

Day 10

Picture of the day...

What I did today...
There I am in the uniform.  Today we started first aid training.  And tomorrow I have my 2nd quiz.  I don't really have much else to talk about.  Not much went on today.

Day 9

Picture of the day...

What I did today...
I was so cold today!  Frost in the morning!  I thought this would be more like Seatle weather but so far it's just cold here.  We did get our uniforms today and boy are they unattractive!  Is green really anyone's color?  That's about all we did today.  I will take a picture of myself in the uniform later in the week.  I'm too tired to try it all on again tonight. 

Day 9

Picture of the day...

Click on this picture to get a much better view.

What I did today...
Well, today I saw the lovely town of Mallahide and the little castle they have there.  It was really a pretty day with nothing but clear blue skys.  We walked down to the water and around the little village.  I ate scampi and chips which is basically fish and chips in a local restuarant there.  The food was good but I'm starting to get real sick of the food here.  I would love some chipotle!

Day 8

Picture of the day...

What I did today...

So today I went into Dublin again.  The guy who has been taking us to and from our training took us on a special tour.  It was really nice of him and it only cost us 10euro each.  (My cab ride last weekend to Dublin was 10euro each way.)  My favorite part of the day was seeing the Book of Kells.  The Book of Kells wasn't that great but with my admission to that I also got access into this really old, really cool, Beauty and the Beast style library.  That was my favorite part of the day.  I wish I could have taken a few pictures but cameras weren't allowed.  Here's a video I took today...


And a couple more pictures...

Park near Dublin.  Very pretty morning.  It was nice until around noon and then it rained all day.

Loved the St. Patty's Day stuff

A picture a found online of the Library at Trinity College.  It was very pretty.