Book Page 68 and 69
Read the comments and the flying experiences some people shared. Then write the letter for the experience in which you found the answer. Some options can be used more than once.
• Flying by plane experiences.
A Meena - I was enthralled by the very idea of boarding an aeroplane. I wanted to meet my air hostess. She was very energetic and kind just like they show in the movies. I fought for the window seat but barely enjoyed the view. I was petrified when the flight took off. My ears remained blocked for a while. Then I asked my mum, “What’s going to happen to us if the plane crashes?” My mum said, “Don’t worry, you won’t even realise it. Enjoy the view!”
I was chanting Gayathri Manthre throughout the journey. I went through a few magazines and ordered a brownie. I was scared when I saw the sparks generated when the wheels touched the ground. I was relaxed only when I was sure that the flight safely landed.
My first experience wasn’t the best, but it helped me to ward off all the qualms and fears I had about travelling on a flight. I have travelled by plane several times since then and experienced amazing things every single time. The sunset and the twilight are few among them.
B. Eugene - My first flight was on a 4-prop airliner between LAX and SLC. I was 4-5 and I got like throwing up. Twelve years later, I also felt like it, but this time I had to clean it up on landing. Now, I’ve also gone the same way on boats and ships. So a common experience is motion sickness. You might be familiar with forward-backwards and lateral accelerations, but your balance system might not be as familiar with up and down accelerations. This is why planes have air sickness bags, as did the space shuttle. It’s not all vestibular. You can experience a topical component at the Exploratorium with the rotating vertical lines demos. Strange foods during first time experiences don’t help. At the end, I enjoyed the ride looking out the window.
C. Derek When my first flight, I was 16 going from Glasgow to London in the UK on a smallish jet. This was before a big flying tragedy occurred overseas, so there wasn’t much security to pass through and check-in was quite simple. On the flight, they gave us a meal. However, I got a terrible toothache after just two bites. On landing, the toothache went away. On the return flight, two weeks later, I again had a toothache. Again, it disappeared on landing. I’ve never had any such toothache on a flight and never found the reason for it; a check at my dentist found nothing. On some flights, and especially if you have a cold, you can get a pain in the ears due to pressure changes during the take-off and landing. Simply holding your nose and gulping will clear your ears. Also clearing the snot from your nose and eating some candy at those times can prevent the issue entirely. Some people experience sore legs due to sitting for a long period in a confined space. Best to get up and walk about the aeroplane every so often. Also, headaches are often a result of dehydration and low oxygen. Drink plenty of water during the flight.
D. Veernala My flight was from Hyderabad to Chennai, a solo trip. My actual destination was Kerala and Kaniyakumari and I had no clue about Chennai bus stands or so. It was all of a sudden plan, so no tickets booked, nothing after Chennai flight. Somehow, I didn’t realise that we had to check in an hour before. But the staff at Hyderabad were generous and let me in, even though I was 15 minutes later after check-in time. Every time was new and, luckily, a pretty girl was sitting next to me and I shamelessly admitted that this was my first time and I was like…”Would you let me know if I’m doing something wrong?” She helped me out with the belt and everything. Later she offered me her window seat, Awesome right! We talked a lot about travelling and somehow managed to get her number and we still remain good friends. She was so generous; she even offered me a ride to Chennai bus stand; as I was new to Chennai. Overall, it was a good and pleasant one. During my next flight, I guided a guy with everything like a Pro.
Which person…
