Hey everyone!
So, I finally got a computer, and am going to try out LiveJournal so I can let you all know what’s going on.
I don’t know how often I’ll be able to post, and I can’t guarantee how exciting my posts will be, so, please bear with me…
Where to begin? Well, today is the second day with no rain since I’ve been here. It rained for 21 days straight here, a new record. The first night I got here, there was a tornado watch. Or maybe it was a warning. I don’t quite know the difference yet. Anyway, it’s a strange attitude around here regarding tornadoes. Everyone is very blasé about them, but, everything and everyone stops to watch what’s going on. The news cuts into EVERY channel to report on them.
There was a point where I was getting seriously depressed with all the rain and no sunshine. I kept thinking that this must be what Seattle is like (continuous gray skies, constant drizzle), and, if so, then I understand why Kurt Cobain ate his shotgun. Now that the sun is out, things are beginning to dry out, but, now its humid as hell! It’s like you are damned if you do, damned if you don’t!
I got a little “studio” apartment. It seems like a good part of town. When I drove in, the first thing I did was check out 3 apartment complexes I looked up in Apartment Guide. The first one I pulled up to had two black guys selling crack in the parking lot. Uh…pass. The second one couldn’t get me in until July (I would have had to wait 3 weeks), and the third one didn’t have 3 month leases. I started to get a little frustrated. Then, as I was driving around trying to find my way back to the highway, I drove by this Apartment complex that seemed pretty nice. 450 a month and I could move in right away. The place isn’t bad. It’s not in a bad part of town. But, I don’t think they pay for grounds keeping. When I moved into my place, there was trash all over the parking lot. I just gotta keep telling myself “4 months,4 months…”
I think I’m all set up though. I bought a futon, but, I just couldn’t continue to sleep on it. It was like sleeping on the floor. I found a used bed for 50 bucks. After boiling it in Lysol, I put a sheet on it and slept like a baby. I’ll try and post some pictures of the apartment. No laughing. I just need something to get by while I’m here.
Class is…intense. There are 16 people in my class. Most of them are for the Kansas City Center. There is one other guy from Albuquerque, but, he’s originally from Seattle. He flew down for the Albuquerque Job Fair, and then moved to Albuquerque once he got the job offer.
The first five weeks is Air Traffic Control Basics. I can’t believe I’m already half way through. We’re learning everything from how an wing works (it’s the dynamic force of lift created when the pressure on top of the wing is decreased, and the pressure on the bottom of the wing is increased) to being able to recognize a Boeing 727 (all 3 engines are on the back of the plane). Each week we take a test, and you must score a 90 or better. It’s 30 questions, so you can only miss 3. If you don’t pass, you take a retest the next day. They said you can fail all the weekly tests and still pass the final and you’ll be okay, but, if you fail each weekly test, you really need to be asking yourself if this is what you want to do. It’s essentially being able to memorize and recall massive amounts of information. I had to memorize the charatoristics of 35 airplanes, and be able to tell them apart. When I first started, I though each plane looked the same and said, “there is no way in hell I’m going to be able to tell these apart.” But, I kept looking at them, and pretty soon I each one of them began to look different. That’s pretty much how it is each week. The instructors hand out the block of material to be covered over the week, and you just think, “My brain can’t handle that much information in such a short time.” So you’re freaked out to start the week. Then each night you go home, and study, freaked out that you didn’t really understand the instructors. Then the day before the test comes, and the class plays a “Jeopardy” like game, where everyone get obliterated trying to answer the questions. The night before the test I sleep horribly. Then you take the test, and you have to wait a few hours for the results (I think they do that on purpose, just to stress you). The only moment of rest is after you get your results. So far, I’ve gotten a 93 and a 100. So I haven’t had to take any retests…
I’ve never had test anxiety before, but, I really don’t want to have to take a retest, so, I put a lot of pressure on myself. I think it’s intentional too, because they are trying to prepare us for the constant pressure we’ll work under. Their mantra is, “It’s only going to continue to get harder.” Great…thanks.
I definitely see how some people could crack. I’m not at that point (yet), but, it’s pretty grueling to have to move to a strange place (more about that later), get your own place to live, learn the streets, fend for yourself, and on top of that, learn lessons the size of 3 phone books inside and out. Oh, and we still haven’t gotten paid. If I didn’t get my leave paid out by CNI, I think I’d be curled in the fetal position right now.
Well, that’s it for my first post. Once I get this site set up and rolling, I hope to be able to post more.
I’ll be home soon.
Kyle