Vulnerability and the lived experience

Vulnerability and the lived experience

I focus on the lived experience because I don’t think people, things, and places become relatable until you genuinely experience them in real-time.  We currently live in a very picturesque world, and I see so many people trying to get the perfect picture to prove to the world that they have experienced something.  However, nothing trumps the experience, and it often cannot be relayed in the ideal image.  In the lived experience, you must be vulnerable, and a perfect picture does not show that experience.

Being a flight attendant exposed me to so many different people and experiences.  I remember people questioning my choice to be a flight attendant.  How could I spend four years in college to earn a bachelor’s degree and become a “waitress in the sky?”  The 23 years I spent traveling the world gave me more experiences than college ever could in hindsight.

I grew up in an immigrant family, and many of my early experiences came from being an immigrant.  As a child immigrant to the US, I remember not wanting to be different and accepting the vulnerability of being different.  As a young adult, I knew that my experiences were viewed differently and were unlike those of my peers, and it took me several years to learn to lean into my uniqueness.

When I first became a flight attendant, it was a time of genuine customer service and being “something special in the air.”  Flight service included champagne and caviar service, and it would take almost two hours to complete a dinner service with cooked-toorder onboard chateaubriand.

Vulnerability is admitting that the first time I had chateaubriand was on an airplane.  It was also the first time I had caviar, and I had been serving caviar for almost two years before I had the nerve to try it myself.  My regret is not having tried it on day one! However, I did not want to be vulnerable and try it in front of my coworkers.

But that was my vulnerability, and I learned through my lived experience that holding on to the vulnerability of not admitting my naivety was only to my detriment.  As airline services reduced year by year, I longed for the days of caviar and champagne service.  It’s an experience few will ever get to experience, and I had the opportunity to experience it daily and didn’t for many years.

What are you giving up by holding on to your vulnerability?  I promise you that the lived experience is much better than the picture opportunity.  Live and be proud of your firsts, because they will not be your lasts.  Have you been in vulnerable situations and learned from them? I’d like to know.

Covid Restrictions and Holiday Travel

Covid Restrictions and Holiday Travel

Recently a friend traveled from Washington DC to Egypt. She discussed with me the harrowing experience of trying to get a required Covid test for travel. With recent federal guidelines, the need for Covid testing has increased, and availability has decreased. As the holidays are a busy travel season, it stands to reason travelers needing testing during the holidays will also surge.  Here are a few things to think about regarding Covid testing and the holidays.

A surge in Covid testing

Many of the issues involved with the current availability of Covid testing affect the recent executive order requiring Covid vaccination for federal employees. Companies with over 100 employees will be required to comply with the order or face significant fines. As expected, there are many questions regarding the order and implementation that need an answer.  However, the demand for Covid testing has risen, and so travelers need to prepare.

Thanksgiving travel

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and it’s usually one of the busiest times for people to travel.  In 2020, many suggested curtailing travel during the Thanksgiving holiday, and many ignored that suggestion.  In preparation for the upcoming busy Thanksgiving travel season, the U.S. Air Travel Public Safety Act may require all passengers on domestic airlines to either be fully vaccinated, tested negative, or fully recovered from Covid.

The World and Covid

Preparing for holiday travel

In essence, travelers should be aware of travel restrictions and Covid guidelines. They should know where their Covid testing sites are. Find out if they need to have Covid symptoms or can test as a precaution. Research the timing of their test before seeing friends and family as exposure varies. It’s also good to know the different Covid test options, PCR or antigen.

As with any travel experience, preparation is critical.  Stay safe this holiday season and if you choose to travel, do it safely.

My stay at the Elewana Tarangire Treetops Tanzania

My stay at the Elewana Tarangire Treetops Tanzania

There are places and destinations that travelers have dreamed about experiencing.  Many times, the expectation may not fit the reality.  In the case of my stay at the Elewana Tarangire Treetops in Tanzania, it was beyond expectations.

The property is remote and is located just outside the Tarangire National Park.  It makes up for all you could want in expectations from property within a city proper.  The greeting not only includes the staff from the Treetops but local Maasai warriors in traditional tribal outfits.  Smiles and genuine happiness are evident from everyone was so heartwarming. The experience here truly depicts an example of sustainable tourism.

The Tarangire Treetops reception area is designed around an enormous baobab tree in Tanzania.

It foretold the actual treetop room I would eventually stay in and is an excellent site in terms of design and style.  In the reception tree, which must be hundreds of years old, live a colony of bats. Yes, bats! At first, I was skeptical, but as we sat down to dinner, bats flew around us, and there was no hint of mosquitos, no doubt due to the bats.  Another excellent example of the beauty of living within and with nature.

Dinner was on the patio with a nearby watering hole, where several animals visited throughout the day.  We saw zebras, impalas, elephants come right up to the property.  The animals were so protected and respected that we could not walk to our rooms since they roamed the property freely.  Going back and forth to our room, the Maasai tribesmen often escorted us, a surreal experience. There was also a sundown cocktail experience on a hill with a beautiful sunset and snacks served by our personal butler and staff.

The property itself is in southern Maasailand.  We got to visit a local Maasai village which was yet another unbelievable experience.

The Maasai elder of this village had more than 70 children and countless wives who all lived in harmony. We got to see their homes which are incredibly simplistic and functional. The warm-hearted reception from the Maasai people is a memory I will never forget.  Even with the different cultures, I left feeling that the Maasai were more blessed than I would ever be.

My treetop room was a treasure and truly exemplified my childhood dream of living in a treehouse. The room was large with a practical open design.  It included a large wrap patio from which we had excellent views of the sunset and treetops.  A wrap-around deck was attached so you could sit out and commune with nature.

Our final night included an outdoor dinner in a traditional Boma with a giant bonfire, dancing and chants from the Maasai people, and an incredible menu.  We also got to enjoy a walking safari, night game drive, sundown cocktails, and have a fantastic safari experience.

If you are considering an African safari, you will not be disappointed with the Elewana safari experience.  Have the Elewana Treetops inspired you? I’d like to know.

What’s your travel footprint?

What’s your travel footprint?

A travel footprint is an impact you make in your travels. As a flight attendant, I got to see the best of people and the worst.  With the recent uptick in travel, many travelers seem to be leaving footprints less than desirable.  Here are a few ways that you may unknowingly leave a negative travel footprint behind.

The Covid virus exemplifies how much of a footprint we leave behind unknowingly.  We are urged to wash and sanitize our hands often. It’s one of the first things I do when I leave a public space, and especially when I board an airplane.  Airplanes can fly an average of four roundtrip flights per day. There is no way for a traveler to tell who has been sitting in the seat before them. Leaving your seat area in total disarray is not a footprint you want to leave behind. Try to hand off your trash to a flight attendant. Do not leave trash stuffed into your seatback pocket or lying around on the floor.

Similarly, when you go to a hotel.  Know that someone must clean behind you.  There have been so many times when I have passed an open hotel room door and been amazed at how the guests have left the room. Leaving such a footprint is partly the reason why hotels have a check-in time afternoon or later.  It takes a lot to clean a hotel room after it’s been trashed, and the people who are waiting for that room want it to be as spotless as they expect.

When vacationing, travelers expect to be catered to and treated well.  Try to leave a positive footprint with the people who serve you.  Say please and thank you to staff.  Acknowledge others around you and how your actions and behavior affect them.  Be kind to the wait staff and be gratuitous when possible. Having been in the service industry for many years, I know how much an appreciative and considerate customer can impact someone’s day.

Travelers should always respect personal space.  Taking your shoes off and resting your feet in someone else’s space is just rude.  Be courteous and keep your feet in your space. Most travelers know it’s difficult for small children and toddlers to be still in a confined space. However, allowing children to kick the seat in front of them as entertainment is disrespectful.   Giving toddlers food to play with and not cleaning up after them is also ill-mannered.

We all expect an airplane to take us to our destination, and it usually does.  However, all travelers must consider that there may be extended delays where you spend much more time with your seatmate than anticipated.  Some delays will have passengers together for quite a lengthy time, and if your footprint is less than favorable, this can be a very uncomfortable time. In worst-case scenarios of turbulence or unplanned landings, sometimes your fellow passengers become an essential connection.  Try to leave favorable first impressions.

Have you thought about the travel footprint you leave behind? I’d like to know.

Hawaii as a vacation spot.

Hawaii as a vacation spot.

For many, Hawaii is a bucket list vacation spot. However, Hawaii is more than one island. Maui, Oahu, Lanai, Kauai, and the island of Hawaii are a few popular Hawaii destinations. Each island has its personality and interesting sights. When considering Hawaii as a vacation spot, consider which island would be best for the activities you plan to do. Here are a few ideas you should know about Hawaii before you go to Hawaii.

The island of Maui is a popular spot for visitors.  It’s famous for its beaches.  In the winter months, tourists can often see humpback whales.  Travelers can surf, windsurf, snorkel, or lay on the beach.  Oahu is where the more popular destination of Honolulu is found.  Here you can find bustling city life as well as laid-back surf towns. When choosing this island, there are many options of activities to choose from.  Lanai is one of the smallest islands in Hawaii. It is also more known for its luxurious resorts and world-class golf resorts.  It is also great for 4-wheel driving on its rugged back roads and remote locations.  On the island of Kauai, you will find tropical rainforests, rivers, and waterfalls.  You will see sharp mountain spires and jagged cliffs. Here you can find many outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, fishing, and ziplining. The island of Hawaii is best known as the Big Island.  Here you can find many different climates, from tropical to cooler temperatures. You can experience snow in Maunakea, lush valleys in Hilo, or jet-black sand beaches.

For those interested in visiting Hawaii, there are many choices.  Although the weather is warm all year round, higher elevations will require a jacket.  All beaches in Hawaii are public, but it can be a bit expensive to dine out. It is also important to understand the many Covid restrictions that tourists may experience when visiting the island. As always, research and know before you go.

Have you visited Hawaii before? There is so much information I could add. What would you like to know more about Hawaii? I’d like to know.

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