unaware but underlined

Maurice Charles F. | I made this blog about ten years ago back in high school (don't ask me about the URL) haha. So I got busy during my college years and posted just a few things and now decided to bring it back to life after four years haha. Thanks for stopping by!

[boyneedslove]

January 16, 2017 - Osaka, Japan (KIX)

Ohayōgozaimasu! 

Here goes another layover, this time it’s in Osaka! I was really excited to finally visit Japan for the first time. It was just an over night stay but since we arrived early, around 12nn, we still had the rest of the afternoon ‘til evening to go catch a train to Namba, go around and have some good ramen, get lost with the beautiful lights of Dotonburi, and shop til we drop lol. 

I was amazed with the number of people in Namba/Dotonburi, locals and tourists combined. I probably had the comparison because our hotel was located in a residential area where I can barely see anyone strolling around the streets and as soon I stepped out of the train station in Namba, thousands of people all of a sudden existed. Something I didn’t expect-well at least for me, a first timer! Haha. 

Of course, a photo with the famous “Glico man” haha. Sorry for poor quality because I was just using my phone camera. So after taking a few shots(photos) and going around the area, we all decided to try the famous ramen-- Ichiran! 

The ramen was just really gooood. In Ichiran, you start off with a vendo-machine to choose and pay for your order and then you go to your designated cubicle where they will get the small paper you got from the vendo and then they will serve it to you together with add ons if you have- then closes the wooden curtain to give you privacy. You get to enjoy the ramen without anyone looking at you haha. 

Currently smiling as I’m typing this because after this layover, I’ve been to Japan countless times already because of work haha. But to honestly tell you, no matter how many times I come back, the Japanese culture, food, environment still amazes me. Will try to share more of my Japan layovers on my coming blogs! Thank you! 

[boyneedslove]

“One day, in some near future, we will travel again. We will see the world and spread joy instead of sickness, we will hold each other close again, long embraces, tears shared as we are cheek to cheek. One day, we will adventure forth, we will connect, we will be united again in new ways, bonds deepened by this forced absence. One day, the wanderlust in our hearts will bloom, and we will seek the light of the sun in foreign skies. One day, in some near future, we will travel again.” - @tylerknott

Yesterday, our company joined the rest of the airlines around the globe as we finally put a stop in all our passenger operations due to this pandemic. It was somehow a relief to us, the crew, because we are really prone to getting the virus since we fly in and out different countries same level of risk as the health workers face everyday. However, it is also a sad feeling to see your company bleed, left with no other choice but to stop for now to save the company from operational costs we barely breakeven with and of course the outmost concern to all the personnel at risk. 

At the end of the day, we can only wish for better days to come, for this pandemic to finally end, clearer and bluer skies ahead.

 Let us all do our part in stopping this pandemic. Stay at home and be healthy. God bless us all. 

Mabuhay! 🇵🇭✈️

[boyneedslove]

First layover! 

January 10,2017 - Dammam, Saudi Arabia (DMM)

I will never forget my first international layover. I remember heading to work super excited. It wasn’t just because it was my first layover but because I flew with two fo my batch mates Kino and Neo (two on my right) as well. It was an A330 monoclass, an all economy service to Dammam. It was also my first medium haul flight. I was pretty surprised with the type service that we offer our middle east pax, I was overwhelmed actually haha. Nine hours flight with two meal service and snack in between. We were trained for it but you wouldn’t really know once it’s right in front of you. Haha. For a first timer like me, my body was literally in pain after. It was a full flight, when I say a full flight, I meant 414passengers. Lol.  Nevertheless, it was still an amazing experience. 

So upon arriving in Saudi, I was really happy. It was because I grew up in Kuwait just a neighbor country and everything reminded me of home. The ambiance of the airport, the people, the weather. It was all nostalgic. I coulndn’t wait to have a taste of legit shawarma after almost a year. Lol. So our hotel is actually located in Al Khobar, if I’m not mistaken it is another city or town in KSA. It was pretty far, it took us an hour to reach the hotel. 

So we had a whole day off in DMM since our flight was four days scheme, we fly out Manila in the morning, arrive in DMM in the evening of the same day, a whole day rest on the 2nd day, leave on the evening of the 3rd day and arrive MNL early morning of the 4th. Total of four days haha. Hope my explanation was clear enough lol. Anyway, there wasn’t so many things to do in DMM except for a free shuttle to Carrefour but on top of anything else I was able to have some shawarma. Never been that excited to eat one haha. Wish I took more photos of this layover. Well hey, on my next blogs I’d try to add more! 

[boyneedslove]

Fast forward, 2020! 

Hi guys, so it’s been four years, crazy four years since I last posted something and that was about nearly finishing college. I was pretty pumped and excited with what was ahead. Well, I really can’t believe how fast everything went since then. Can’t even describe the feeling right now. So let’s make it quick and easy lol. 

Well to start with, I never really knew nor understood what they actually kept on telling us before that after graduating college it is only when everything hits you, the pressure, the challenge, the excitement, even the worries and (sometimes) insecurities. At one point you will even question yourself wether you’re ever gonna end up somewhere, it almost felt like you were one of those bunch of eggs that came outta sea turtle at the beach (lol) who will just leave you behind until you hatch on your own and chase for the sea. Well in our case, a sea of opportunities. Since graduation, it was a nonstop search for job, nonstop sending off applications. It was as if everyone is looking after one another as to who will get a job first. In goes the pressure. It was craaaaazy indeed. 

I always wanted to become a flight attendant, main reason behind why I actually took up Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management. I really wanted a course which was inclined to who I wanted to be. Well BTM is (the closest). To cut it short, I did really chase for those wingsssss. I remember joining a few of my college batch mates in a cabin crew mass hiring day for a local airline. We were so hyped about it. I was (a little bit), confident but not a hundred percent I must say. I just really wanted to try my luck during that day. So there I was, a few weeks fresh form my bachelor’s degree, lined up and was ready to reach for my dreams. However, the first try didn’t work and I barely reached the second step lol but I will forever cherish that moment because that was a wake up call to actually improve myself. 

So a few months passed and I did everything I could to improve myself, gained a few pounds, maintained a proper haircut, improved my communication skills, and read tons of articles on how to actually make it. Hehe. I was really determined to make it the next time. In goes another opportunity. Just when I knew I was confident enough, I submitted that application form. I seriously didn’t know what to expect but just right before that same day ends, I immediately got a phone call. Inviting me for an impact interview. I remember, standing on a fully loaded commuter bus, wanting to actually jump for joy, trying to contain everything. That was when I seriously told myself that I am not gonna let go if this second chance. 

Fast forward, I passed all the interviews, screenings, medical tests, integrity tests, IQ tests, personality tests, name it lol. It was indeed a bottleneck but I made it through to the training phase. I was literally praying every single step that I had to deal with during the whole process. I thought that training was a big step closer to my dream, well it literally bursted my excitement when we were oriented. It was a tough three months training, ninety percent passing rate, exams over another, rated drills and all. It was nerve cracking to even start with, I can vividly remember telling my family a few weeks that I was on training that I never studied that hard my whole life, not even in college. haha. But with the grace of God I made it through, and the rest is history. 

Photos three years ago during my cabin crew graduation. lol 

So a few months ago, I celebrated my THIRD year as a crew. Can’t imagine how quick that was. My mind is full of so many things that I want to share. My journey, how I chickened out on my first few flights, how I slowly gained my system with work, how I gained my confidence and how I dealt with every challenges I came across the whole flying experience. Of course, I couldn’t wait to share all the countries, cities, and beautiful places I was able to see. 

I really hope that I could actually bring back this blog to life haha. I just want to end this blog with a high note, whith a bible verse I stumbled upon back when I was going through all the process and which has become my favorite bible verse since then. 

“Do not be afraid! Stand your ground and you will see what the Lord will do to save you today.” -Exodus 14:13 

If you are still reading this means you read it all, so THANK YOU! See you on my next blogsssss. God bless!

[boyneedslove]

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot."  ― Michael Altshuler

If I were to be asked if I am happy with where, who, and what I am now, I would definitely answer it with a big YES. Cliche isn’t it? But why shoudln’t anyone be? I mean, you live life every single day to make yourself happy at the end of each. Well, it really depends on you. 

 -   

Update! I am almost done with my bachelor’s degree. I’m claiming it, yes. *yay* Pursuing it was really fun and tough at the same time. Well, there will always be “factors” that sometimes hinder you, confuse you, hurt you, drag you, but at the end of the day, these factors are actually what makes you stronger. I am just so thankful right now with everything and I can’t wait to see what’s in store with life ahead.

 -  

And oh, I’m already 20. I’ve been existing for two decades now! Feels so blessed and happy about it!

[errefeciruam]

Al Kout is such a beauty. I can sit, have a coffee, read, and relax here all day. 

27/10/15

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Kuwait Towers at night.

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Chasing the sun!

Wether be a sunset or a sunrise, it just melts my eyes. Pretty as heck.

[staypozitive]

[boyneedslove]

🙌

[boyneedslove]

Sunrise up above is beyond perfect to see.

[boyneedslove]

Al Kout Mall - Kuwait A place full of memories. Everything is calm and so relaxing in this place. A must see.

[boyneedslove]

A vertical panorama I took in the middle of Fahad Al-Salem street in Kuwait City. Skyscrapers are starting to fill Kuwait City up.

[staypozitive]

[boyneedslove]

I always get bumped by questions like “Why do you like to have responsibilities all the time? "Aren’t you just giving yourself a whole lot of stress?” “What do you get in return? Is it worth it?"etc. I only have one answer, and that is ‘maybe it’s my calling’ as a person. Leading and carrying responsibilities may it be big or small is indeed a difficult thing to do. It’s never easy but I never had any regrets choosing to have one everytime. I have learned that if you finally found or discovered your potentials, you should make use of it the best way you could and do everything to improve it. It’s a blessing. It mostly comes in disguise but after a few shaking and breaking, it shows and works perfectly in you. That’s is why whenever I get to work on something specially when I lead a group or a certain task, I indulge myself deep in it by giving my best. It may cause a lot of stress or pain, but the feeling of fulfillment when everything ends with success is priceless. It’s not always about the acknowledgment you get but rather the achievement and genuine happiness you feel inside pays everything off.

[staypozitive]

[staypozitive]

anyone else?

[staypozitive]

[boyneedslove]

I'm starting to realize tons of things now. :)

[boyneedslove]

One of the reasons why I love winter is because I get to witness these awesome sun rises almost everyday. These are all captured while I’m in the school bus. Everyday, the sun has a unique beauty to  offer. It’s a perfect thing to see, specially every morning right before reaching school. :) Just wanted to share. Kthanks. :) 

 Taken with (instagram). 

[boyneedslove]

Definitely one of the things I really miss...#throwback