Happy Fly-iversary!!!

Today marks a year. 

A year since I left Colorado. A year since I moved to Houston to live in a hotel for 5 weeks. A year since I started this crazy job. A year since I decided that traveling makes me happy. 

In the past year, I've learned a lot. I've learned that people aren't just idiots once they land at their destination (I tend to live where people vacation), they are idiots ALWAYS. People are crazy... absolutely positively crazy, BUT that's also what makes this job interesting. People are amazing. They tend forget their brains at home, forget their socks when using the lavatory, and forget that hurtling at 500mph through the sky in a tin can means they can't have some things... But for every crazy, obnoxious, certifiably insane person, there are always a few incredibly interesting ones to make up for it, and if there aren't any interesting people, we tend to hope for at least one attractive person to ogle at per flight...

I've also learned that traveling non stop means I never fully unpack my suitcase. I basically empty out all of the dirty clothes directly into the washer and then they go back into my suitcase the second they are clean.... 

My suitcase (aka my entire life) consists of: 

     -Clothes. Fashion is basically non-existent and essentially is whatever folds the smallest and layers the best... The more layers, the more destinations you are already packed for! Singapore in the summer to Montana in the winter is currently what my bag is prepared for.... Yes, there is a swimsuit and a down jacket in there.... 

     -Travel-sized items are my new favorite thing. Everything is miniature sized... plus, they are fun and CHEAP! 

     -Miniature bottles of clear nail polish are essentially a life saver with pantyhose and galley carts... those carts snag EVERYTHING. 

     -Tiny spray bottles filled vodka are essential to happiness. No, it's not for drinking (although that would also be quite happy), but it can take the smell out of anything while hanging in a steam shower. Who needs an iron or laundry service in a hotel anyway? (Cleaning your pantyhose while wearing them in the shower is another life skill...One that most people REALLY shouldn't pick up... But a skill nonetheless.)

     -Shoes. You can really go anywhere with 2 pairs of shoes. One pair of sneakers and one pair of flip flops.... Granted, I like shoes.... So there may be more in there.... 

I've learned that traveling means jet-lag is never ending. On every single flight, someone asks me how I handle jet-lag.... The truth: You don't. Jet-lag handles you. You just hope that massive amounts of coffee and concealer for those dark circles is enough to keep you from joining the living dead... Also, Facebook and social media should never be trusted to find the correct date.... I somehow miraculously wish people 'Happy Birthday' either a day early or a day late EVERY TIME. 

I've also learned a lot about myself. I've learned that I am comfortable traveling a ton of different places, meeting amazing and different new people, and trying food that I am not convinced is actually dead or cooked.... I've learned how to get around the metro in Tokyo without a map in English, how to ask directions in pure mime, where to find the best food when you are about to keel over from hunger, how to tell the difference between 10 different types of currency and where it's from when mixed all together (poor life decision really.... now they are all in separate bags), how to transfer from boat-to train-to bus-to taxi in Sydney to go pet a kangaroo, and how to drink wine looking out at a sunset at a magnificent winery and marvel at life in Auckland. 

This year has been absolutely crazy. And I've pretty much enjoyed it all. I've managed to see my friends more than I did when I actually lived in the same city, visited my parents at home or even camping in the middle of nowhere, and even finagled my days off to have Thanksgiving with my entire family for the first time in 8 years. This job has given me the freedom to see the world and that's something I will never regret. This past year I spent 15 days in Tokyo, 3 in Taipei, 9 in Sydney, and 9 in Auckland. Next up is Shanghai, Singapore and who knows where else! 

Love, Alison