Company Promotion CPRO

 Once upon a time, in the '70s, vintage Stewardesses used to promote products on board by wearing them and walking down that aisle just like models on the catwalk. It is not a surprise that they did look like models since the grooming standards from the very beginning of this journey were extremely strict (we are talking about the 30/40s, for more details check out my article about the Flying Uniforms).

Dolder Grand Hotel Zurich

Today we don't do that anymore... well at least not on board! Depending on the Company size and position on the international map of exclusivity, some Airlines are still organizing promotion events in base and outstation. And I had a privilege of participating in many CPROs, mostly outstation!

Brussels Ribbon Cut CPRO

Bruxelles Atomium

Outstation were my favorite because not only I might have traveled to a new destination that was out of our flying network, but I would also get a chance to visit those places as a tourist. Like that time in Brussels when I took a train to nearby Gent in order to visit my friend from the university times. It's a win win! 

Zurich CPRO Mobile Truck

Moreover, Flight Attendant-Promoters would fly in business class, so I got used to the comfortable traveling conditions very soon. Starting from the limo pick-up at my company accommodation in Abu Dhabi and drop off at the hotel in the promotion destination. The pay for the "ground work" was the same as other ground jobs within the company (such as trainers and other office positions), meaning significantly lower than our flying hours as Cabin Crew. So in exchange of luxury and more time on ground, those months with CPRO on my roster, I would earn less. And I was perfectly happy with that, finding a good balance of work in the air and on ground, in base and outstation.

Promotion Team on board Boeing 787

I also met some good people that I had a pleasure becoming friends with (liebe Maren). I mostly had to assist the clients with food and drinks, present some innovating on board products, promote the company and illustrate the excellence that only my company ever had: the so called "Residence" which was fitted only on Airbus 380 aircrafts. See the video bellow and you'll understand what I am talking about! It's an on board private apartment (in fact there was only one per aircraft) which will save you money from paying a private jet, but give you the same privacy and excellency that is expected for a 31.000$ round-trip from NYC to Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 pandemic, EY decided to withdraw from the market all the  A380s, which also means no more Residence from this year.

But back on the main topic, CPRO. I remember that 5 day promotion in Munich for Air Cargo exhibition. Gulf companies were pretty much the only ones having Air-Hostesses work on the promotion, but for us it was fun. That's when I earned my A380 metal, almost half a meter big aircraft model from our German representative. It stands today in a high position, flying towards the window and reminding me every day how liberating is to have wings!

Air Cargo CPRO Munich

Or that other time in Salzburg where we attended a night gala event in the hangar at the airport, joining Air Berlin, Nikki Lauda and Red Bull Crew. We also had a free day before and after the event - such was the coincidence with flights, so the Ambassador came to join me all the way from Italy and it felt like a small vacation. Christmas markets, visiting castles and museums, warming up in the historic coffee bars with Sacher torte and hot chocolate in the city of Mozart.

Hangar BTU Salzburg CPRO

Rome, Geneva, Salzburg, Abu Dhabi - the Ambassador would follow everywhere as a love top, so my working on ground would get integrated by the amusing exploring of surroundings and culinary delicacies, on the top of constant loving support.

Rome CPRO with Alitalia Crew

Zurich is my favorite though and I've done promotion there several times. Twice for the Film Festival itself and once for a Red Cross gala event. 

ZFF central Pavilion

Zurich Film Festival is usually held in September and you can see walking on the green carpet many of the internationally known celebrities. My Airline had a stand for Stars right in the middle of it all, in a central pavilion, in front of the Zurich Opera House, in the Sechseläutenplatz. Thanks to that I was able to see Christoph Waltz, Liam Hemsworth, Luke Evans, Kiefer Sutherland and Arnold Schwarzenegger walking on the green carpet that went from the central pavilion to the Cinema Corso. Of course all the other cinemas in the city center were involved as well with a full day program 10 days long. I managed to see some of the films after my working shift and I am a cinema lover, so it was a huge privilege for me! My favorite film was Colonia with Ema Watson and seeing the film Premiere right there, in the big hall of Cinema Corso with Lufthansa Air Stewardess from the 70s opening the first scene of the film (that was her role!!!), gave me goosebumps! Highly recommended film and it doesn't have to do anything with aviation - besides that opening scene. During the lunch break I would get my take-away food and go to the lake to enjoy some sun and fresh air, observing the swans dance.

EY star lounge in the central Pavilion of Zurich Film Festival

The Red Cross gala event was held in the glorious Dolder Grand Hotel which stands in the hills and has a great panorama over the city. Another opportunity to see the swiss bourgeoisie who's names I was starting to recognize. Star of the gala was the former Miss Switzerland whose dress was by far the most impressive one. But I did have fun analyzing all the guests outfits: after all it was the first time in my life to see such a burst of elegant gala dresses in all colors, materials and forms! Sort of a fairy tale come true where I could fit as an observant Cinderella, hahaha. Well they did offer us a table and after the delicious food, we went on the stage to deliver the auctioned prize. Fun fun Fun!!!

Red Cross Gala CPRO at Dolder Grand Hotel Zurich

I did have some "local" promotions as well, one of those at the Aviation event in Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi. The problem with a promotion in the desert is that outdoors it gets hot pretty quickly and being our uniform quite thick, we suffered some sweating. But the setting under the stars was quite impressive and the atmosphere very cool. 

Emirates Palace CPRO, Abu Dhabi

I am gonna close my CPRO memories with quite a cool one: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi! When a new game called Flying Aces was about to enter this amusement park, Ferrari decided to make a promotion video with 28 Cabin Crew filling up all the seating spots on the new rollercoaster. And it was such a blast that I fainted during the ride (yeah, I missed the biggest in the world loop with the twist!)... You can clearly see the horror on my face (if you manage to spot me, little hint: I was the only one with the short hair!). While the others were in for the second round, I was begging to get me out of there 😂 Such a shame! That working day got us a prize of 2 premium tickets for the park itself. Since the Ambassador happened to be in Abu Dhabi during those days, I seized the moment and after the promotion job (that went from 6 to 12am), I changed clothes in the bathroom, left my uniform in the lockers and enjoyed the park for the rest of the day, until the closure at 10pm. He did not convince me to get on Flying Aces again, not happening. But I bet that rollercoaster enthusiasts will have great fun! I'm in for more chilling games. 

Cavallino Rampante from the Ferrari World CPRO

Oh, almost forgetting: the setting of Flying Aces is amazing, during the route to the rollercoaster you get to learn a lot about Ferrari, starting from Count Baracca, Italy's top fighter ace during the WW1. The emblem that Baracca wore on his airplanes - Cavallino Rampante - inspired Enzo Ferrari to use it on his racing cars. The prancing horse became the official symbol of the Scuderia Ferrari racing team since 1929. These two gentlemen were proudly from my region Emilia-Romagna. Although I would see more Ferrari cars on the streets of the UAE, rather than in Italy, the Ferrari Headquarters factory is based in Maranello, less than 50km from my home, Bologna. That was a little history and geography lesson if you don't mind. Now enjoy the ride, starting from the Crew faces:

I know that flying after the Pandemic will have to get reimagined all over the world, but I honestly hope that the memorable experiences such as the above mentioned ones will still be part of Flight Attendants job!

Mommy's 8 March

 Today I spoke with a dear friend of mine from the Netherlands about the Woman's Day. She asked me some personal questions and even though I quite don't understand the reason of those questions (hahaha, now I'm thinking about it!), what I do know is that it took me down the memory line and it gave me the inspiration for this article! 

Today I want to cherish the beauty of a woman and especially THE one who brought us into this world, the one who is not anymore among us, but surely above us and inside us. I am gonna tell her wonderful story to the world., my Mom.

Me and my Mommy hiking in Italy 1988

First of all she was named by a flower, not the woman's day flower Mimosa, but Hortensia (which in English should be Hydrangea), a beautiful colorful flower that we used to have in our garden when I was a child.

Me in our childhood garden among Hortensia's

Hortensia was born in Bucharest, Romania. Her biggest passion in life, MUSIC, turned after a lot of hard work  into a lifetime career. She studied Direction of Choir at the University of Music in Bucharest where she met my father (he came all the way from Yugoslavia to study Music at the prestigious Conservatory in the capital city of Romania). She also played a piano many hours a day and was a member of Song, a cheerful and historical choir Ensemble in Bucharest. 

Choir Ensemble SONG, Bucharest

Is there anything more beautiful than combining music and love? Having that ultimate mutual understanding and vibrations. With that splendid energy, full of dreams and fresh with knowledge this young couple moved to my father's hometown in Eastern Serbia, well at that times it was glorious Yugoslavia! More precisely to Kladovo, a small town on Danube river that is also a natural border between Romania and Yugoslavia. 

Me and Mommy in the oldtown Fetislam by the Danube River

Dedicated to spreading love for music, my mother as piano and choir teacher and my father as piano and musical theory teacher, they soon enough joined the piano section of the Music School of Kladovo as the first ever highly trained professors with the University degree in 1980. That same school was renamed Music School "Konstantin Babić" under the direction of my father in 2006. It was the first time in Serbia that a music school got named by a living person, a musician of course. It is curious to mention that when the Music school first opened in September 1969, the first ever teacher in the piano section was my grandmother. It runs in the family, right?

My parents at the seminar in Montenegro 
in the 80s

In such a small town as my hometown (less than 9000 people in the city center), every other child goes to the school of Music because there are only a limited number of activities offered. Children loved my mother and as a consequence their parents did too. So she was that foreign beautiful lady that conquered the hearts of half a town, because that's what music does. She made our town's name famous at the sectionals, regionals and nationals championships, both with piano section and with the choir. Oh what a joy singing in that choir (of course I did, and my sister too!!!). It gives me chills just to think about that particular competition when our composition was so powerful and engaging that the final note would resonate in the big hall for the longest time until the laud applauses would break that magical moment turning it into a wonderful cheering. My heart was exploding of joy and satisfaction. 

Choir competition in Šabac 1990

Choir competition in Vršac 1993

And then there was that strange "fame" in my town that I understood only when I grew up. People would say hello without me knowing who they actually were and apparently I was always safe, wherever I went and whatever I did (for the better and worse). Soooo, I might didn't know who they were, but they surely knew who I was, and that is "the daughter of the Piano Professors", that's how I grew up. She really left a lasting impression, a mark in our little hometown and that is how I want to remember her. 

Along with her I want to cherish all the inspiring ladies that have given such an important contribution to our community such as our beloved English teacher Radmila and the former Cultural Center director Žaklina. Today is the International Woman's Day and I want to thank this international minded ladies.

Me and mommy with the Angel of Music in 2010

I would like to close with one of my favorite photos, the cuddle of the world, a mothers hug. Love you mommy!

Me and mommy in 1988

Taekwondo in the desert

Today is exactly 1 year since I won my first medal in Taekwondo. Yaaaaaaay!

Poomsae Championship in the UAE, February 2020

Just in time before the world lockdown started, I attended the Senior Woman Poomsae Championship in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, as the only athlete from my club Sangrok Abu Dhabi. I am forever grateful to my master Said who gave me the chance to have this experience and for the additional training in preparation for the championship.

My master and I at the Championship, February 2020

I remember being insanely anxious before the competition and repeating the forms on and on in my head and also in a small changing room adjacent to che championship hall. My coach was pretty cool, or at least he seemed to be. I watched the others competing from 9am and by the time it was my turn it was already afternoon. We did have a lunch break, but I wasn't very hungry -  you know that awful feeling in your belly before any kind of examination? Well I was struggling with that for hours! What a relief when it finished! And I won the silver medal!!! In Sparring (fight in a short session) it is important to preserve strength and there are so many unpredictable events that can change the score, but you don't need to be "perfect" at all times, it's more instinct guided (and the instinct is formed with a lot of training). In Poomsae (pattern of defense-and-attack motions) you need to give your best straight away because you have only that one chance, no mistakes. So it is imperative to focus and stay calm. Again repetition forms your instincts. Basically as my master says, you need to keep kicking!

White to Yellow belt

Yellow to Green belt

Green to Blue belt

My first dojang (training hall in Korean) was Sangrok Abu Dhabi and I believe it is gonna stay my favorite for the rest of my life. Our biggest privilege at Sangrok was that we had an "old style" master, one of those difficult to find anywhere in the world nowadays (besides in Korea, the cuddle of taekwondo and Morocco, the second best in the world). When students from other schools would come to train with us, they would get out of breath and struggle to keep it up - exactly as I did when I first started, but consistency is the key. Those trainings gave me a splendid form, flexibility and strength which I needed, especially for the kind of job I was doing (daaaah, Cabin Crew!).

First time wearing my taekwondo uniform

I had my weekly routine training 2-3x/week. Training itself started at 6pm, then a long spa session would follow - available in our changing rooms (jacuzzi, steam room and sauna) and finally a hot shower. Heading home after a total of 4 hours! I would compromise on that routine only when I went out for dinner with my taekwondo family or in case I had a night shift for work. In that case I would try to cut a bit on the spa and try to get home by 9pm and take a nap of 1 or 2h (depending on a reporting time at the airport) and then stay awake all night long on a night flight most often heading to Europe, just to find myself in Dusseldorf, Munich, Milan, Paris or Dublin at 7am in the morning and finally get a resting sleep in the hotel until early (or late) afternoon.

My favorite puppet brought me
my first dobok

What's missing? Oh wait, maybe I need to go a few steps back in time and tell you about how it all started! Back to the roots than!

I always loved martial arts therefor films about fighting without weapons. I had a regret that I never tried any, but that dream was meant to come true! In the past I did some karate during my Erasmus exchange in Frankfurt, Germany back in 2007. And that was all. I tried some lessons in different martial arts over the years, but there was no passion, so I never went on. Until I met my other half back in 2012 and learned about his taekwondo passion since his age of 17: he is 5th Dan black belt today. So I started learning about the Korean martial art with him and attending some trainings with his Korean master in Italy and San Marino. I already felt closer and more motivated to choose this art as mine. But I didn't actively start training until I found my own dojang and my own coach in Abu Dhabi. That was revolutionary, finally imprinting! 

Training in San Marino

When I look back in time and think about all the crazy coincidences that brought me on this path, it feels like a long fairy tale, but it's actually my story and my experience, from A to Z. Taekwondo is a lifestyle, it's a well-being state of mind and body, it's an intense challenge with yourself and an extreme control of your body. It is power and weakness, ups and downs. It is happiness and fulfillment. It is martial, it is Art.

Seoul and DMZ (summertime)

 Now we're gonna fly back to 2013 when I had my fist ever flight to South Korea. It was a memorable one, as every next one, so it became one of my favorite destinations ever. 

Royal Palace

I already told you about my perception of this parallel amazing world, so I won't repeat that. (In case you missed it, go check out the article about wintertime in ICN).

DMZ on the southern part

What did not cross my mind even from far away is, that years later I would finally realize one of my dreams and start learning and practicing a martial art. And the art I would choose would be taekwondo! And cuddle of taekwondo is... well.. Korea! If I only knew back then, surely I would have visited Kukkiwon, world taekwondo headquarters. Next time, I'm coming! The rest is history: 5 years later I started training in Sangrok Abu Dhabi dojang and got so passionate about this martial art, that I even did a competition in poomse (pattern of defense-and-attack motions) and won the 2nd place in senior woman category held in Sharjah, UAE just before the world lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. My Master is from Morocco, the country which is only 2nd to Korea in taekwondo tradition. I was blessed to find this dojang (training hall in Korean) and Master Said, who's words are always with me: "keep kicking".

February 2020 - Poomse competition in Sharjah, UAE 

Well back to aviation now! 

Before learning about kimchi and generally about the spiciness of Korean food, I had a memorable experience that made me remember how to order food in Korea for the rest of my life. Our flight reached Seoul in the evening hours and by the time we were in the hotel, it was already dark and late. I decided to order some room service and go to bed early and leave the exploring for the next day, so I could be well rested and fresh to absorb everything I would see and smell and touch. I was starving after a long flight and generally a long day, so I took a hot shower and welcomed my food on a huge tray. It looked like it was full of cute little portions, besides the big bowl of the main dish. Yaaaaaaay! DelisciousssssssSpicyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!! OMG didn't expect THAT spicy! So after a pause I tried again. My eyes started crying and I finally caught some color different than my usual ghost-white. I couldn't go on. You need to know that I don't eat spicy AT ALL, so for me it was a huge shock. Moreover because it was past midnight, the kitchen was closed and I was left with no other option. Did it ever happen to you to be starving and having the food right in front of you, but not being able to eat it? Walla, I ate it with my eyes! I tried again several other times, but my tongue jut refused to get used to it. So I went to bed hungry. Every single next time I would order food, be it in the restaurant or room-service, I would stress on NO SPICY, just to have it very slightly spiced. There is no spicy-less in Korea! Lesson learned!

Room service in Crew hotel (my happiness before the surprise)

So the next day I explored downtown with my fellow crew, from the royal palace and gardens to the Gangnam quarter and market where we inevitably danced to the rhythm of Gangnam style. The market was overwhelming with cute articles of every kind. I could smell food and wanted to try it all. And I just love the tradition of small old style houses and big gardens, even though skyscrapers are there as well along with the well connected metro system. 

Who can resist dancing to the rhythm of Gangnam Style?!

Another time when I came back to Seoul I got sick on layover with my ears blocked and runny nose. It might sound as a common flu that is not enough of excuse for the ground people to miss the working day. Well for us flying creatures it is a big deal! Just think about the pressure and altitude and that dry air in the aircraft. If you have flu, besides putting everyone else on risk (imagine that flu being Covid, ok now you get the risks), but you risk to pop your ear drums and damage your hearing for the rest of your life! Besides the suffocating feeling of not being able to breath! Well we have a procedure for Crew getting sick on a layover, so you call a special number for the world Aviation Medics who are mostly based in Canada or US and they pretty much deal with all the major airlines in the world, both for cases on board and during the flight, and for the Crew on ground when they are outstation (out of their base). They found the closest hospital for me and arranged the taxi. When I got to the Gangnam hospital they already got my documents, so they knew in which department to send me. Nobody spoke English so the communication was quite difficult, but the good old body language helped us to understand each other. After running some tests, they gave me medicines and sent me back to the hotel for 3 days. My airline advised the hotel that I was staying longer than my Crew and the hotel staff made sure to give me a lot of hot tea with lemon and honey. When I was finally fit to fly back to base, obviously deadheading, I met the new set of Crew who took care of me. I flew as a passenger in business class, which was a privilege of the sick Crew on company expense, but nowadays it is only economy, regardless of the length of the flight, seriousness of your sickness, empty available seats in business versus full cabin in economy. Not fair, right?! On the bright side, we were able to book staff tickets in any class and I used that privilege as much as I could, obviously respecting all the company rules from the dress code to behavior. I got used to flying business so much that I am having a hard time not to imagine that in my future as well. First and Business class are similar with just some extra perks and even more space and privacy in First, but the big breakthrough quality-wise is from Economy to Business. Comfort, space, privacy and quality that truly make a difference in flying, sleeping and reading or writing on board. Or simply the entertaining system with the bigger screen and better headsets (even though I am always using mine, because there is no better than Bose Noise Cancelling headsets). Well let me tell you the last word about who has the last word: if the Purser and the Captain agree to put you deadheading in Business (space allowed), you can. They asses the situation and make a decision, that's all. Unfortunately there are many people who follow the rules blindly and ain't able to think out of the box. These people are in each industry and they usually make it to the top by putting the others down and backstabbing. History of the humanity.

Moving on, I want to tell you about that particular layover (we're still in 2013) when I decided to visit the DMZ (demilitarized zone). It's a 250km long buffer zone between North and South Korea which divides the Peninsula in half. Created in 1953, it is one of the most militarized borders in the world. In the Armistice agreement both sides agreed to move their troops back 2.000m from the front line, creating a buffer zone 4km wide. Within that buffer zone there are so called peace villages on both sides. In order to maintain their residency, the villagers are required to spend at least 240 nights per year in the village. They are the direct descendants of the people who owned this land before the Korea War (1950-53), at least at the southern part. According to the checks with modern telescopic lenses, it seems like the northern villagers are actually skeleton crew of caretakers in a ghost town preserving the illusion of activity. Ruins of the old capital city Cheorwon of the Taebong dinasty that ruled united Korea from AD 918 to 1392 are within the DMZ, therefor off-limits to everybody except soldiers who patrol it. Basically the ancient history of the country is inaccessible. There have been a number of incidents and incursions by both sides, but what is interesting is the discovery of 4 tunnels since 1974. These tunnels crossing the DMZ in a north to south direction are believed to have been planned as a military invasion route by North Korea. Today these tunnels can be visited by the civilians on the southern side in a guided tour, accompanied with the military as an admonition and security prevention. That is the unforgettable tour that I have done.

Guided tour in the 3rd tunnel, South Korea DMZ

Who knows if our generation is gonna get to see the change, to have the possibility to travel in and out of North Korea. There is so much more to learn about this country and I hope I will be able to do just that in the close future. In any case nowadays we're barely allowed out of our municipality and region and country  and continent due to Covid, metaphorically like the North Korean freedom of movement situation, information freedom apart.

To close the article on a highly danceable note, here is the video that in 2012 exceeded 1 billion views on YouTube for the 1st time in the website history. I think you all know what I am talking about.

Last but not the least, my own little layovers sum up from 2013 to 2019. Seat back, relax and enjoy the video!

ICN for Seoul (wintertime)

My last couple of times in South Korea happened to be in wintertime and it is damn cold in winter!

But I can totally say that it is one of my favorite destinations ever!

Itaewon district

I even had an uncomfortable adventure on my very last ICN flight linked to my passport: I changed it recently and informed the related responsible in my aviation company who hadn't done their job of updating the information in the system, so when I got to the passport control in Seoul, I risked to get deadheaded back as an INAD. Me, the Crew!!! It would all go well (we had a 24h layover during which the company could remedy the error in the system), if it wasn't for my Purser (the most senior Crew, basically our boss for a day)  who got so scared of the situation that she felt the urge to amplify the situation by warning the whole hierarchy (up to God) of my situation and putting it all on my back. If I  had listened to her, my very last layover in South Korea would have been spent in the hotel room! Thankfully I, at least. think out of the box, so after sorting the problem out with who was really in charge, I went out with my fellow Crew. And I am happy about it!

After the full immersion into the street food - and my oh my if there is plenty of it - we decided to visit a Cat Cafe. This is the only place on earth so far I've visited that has this kind of places. Basically it's a bar where you can take a drink and chat, BUT surrounded by cats and dogs! So instead of a kennel or cattery, this place is hosting homeless cats and dogs and offering them some attention by the animal lovers who are visiting. It was fun and enlightening!

Cat cafe

After this adventure there was some more street food and crowds with nice background music. You could hear it, smell it, feel it all. Let's not forget it was long before the pandemic, which feels ages ago. 

Our final research before the closure of the shops was of course about the cosmetics. Have you ever heard about the Korean cosmetics?! They are famous about it. probably because the population starts using cosmetics very early and even the surgical interventions are quite common among the Korean youngsters. That's too far for me, but I do appreciate the endless brands of premium cosmetics of all types. That winter all my fellow ladies friends got a Korean cosmetic product for Christmas. Myself included!

Unleashed Crew

I have to tell you something about my first thought of South Korea, we're talking about 2013 when I had my first ever layover in this incredible country. Also that time was summertime, so I will do another post about it entirely. This is just a sneak peak of my first impression.

I had an adventurous layover and colorful exploring! Next day while I was walking at the airport, on my way back with the rest of the Crew, I saw a huge map. Unfortunately I didn't have time to take a photo, but I observed it carefully. It was the map of the world slightly different from what we're used to see at school. Or at least I thought everyone in the world was using the same maps. NOT. Apparently in Asia they suggest an Asia-centralized map, where Korea is at the very center, Americas at the right and Europe on the very left edge. It was so weird for me to see that! But enlightening as well! Why not, it's totally logical! In fact I made up my mind that Korea is sort of a parallel world to ours: it has the same standard and technology, but fashion, customs, music and food is totally different and what I loved is that - it is not copied from the western world! They have their own and they value it, which is awesome in my opinion. From that moment it became one of my favorite countries in the world. Right here is the answer to your question "what's your favorite destination?".

ICN airport of Seoul