Whenever I happened to cross paths with cabin crew colleagues returning to the Operations Center early in the morning from long-haul destinations such as Mumbai, Hong Kong, Johannesburg and Bangkok with bags full of treasures and aromas from these distant places, my own desire to work on such a rotation intensified. By contrast, I would be preparing for duty on a flight to a rather less exotic destination, such as Hannover. My impatience grew with the awareness that practically all of the flight attendants with whom I had been through basic training had by now acquired their first long-haul experience and raved about the destinations and the flights. I admit that I am rather impatient!
At last, after a lengthy wait, my opportunity to work a long-haul rotation arrived. I already imagined myself in Hong Kong, enjoying the breath-taking view from the Peak, or in São Paulo, sipping a Caipirinha. But before these dreams could become reality, I still had to get through a two-week training period to prepare me for the various advantages and disadvantages of long-haul duty.
