Confessions of a Hostie 3 by Danielle Hugh Page B

of it is
unwarranted. I've made an early decision: I will stay as far away
from her as possible on the aircraft. In the confined spaces of a
plane that is easier said than done. I think the rest of the crew
have made the same decision, however Wendy has no idea, being
oblivious to our pain. She sneaks up from behind, backs you into a
corner, and then unleashes a verbal barrage of pessimism.
     
    You can tell when someone is having a bad day
for whatever reason, but I think Wendy has more than just a bad day
going on. She is painful to the core - on a daily basis, I'd
bet.
    When working with a negative person, like
Wendy, I'll often be more upbeat - not to cover that person's
gloom, but to prove a point.
    One of my favorite (and hopefully funniest)
sayings is: I find that if you have a positive attitude it ticks
off enough people to make it worth the effort.
    Every time I am near Wendy, I smile. When she
whines and complains, it goes in one ear and out the other -
instead I grin like a Cheshire cat. She doesn't know how to take
me. My ruse seems to be working as she complains less to me as the
flight goes on, preferring to irritate the other crew.
    'Sorry other crew.'
     
    I really like the rest of the crew,
especially one of the girls, Julia. She has flown for just a few
more years than me, but she is strong, independent, and takes no
nonsense from anyone - not even Wendy. When Wendy starts
complaining, being almost continuous, Julia just walks away. I have
noticed, the rest of the crew has noticed, yet Wendy is
oblivious.
    I try to talk with Julia in the galley, but
it proves difficult. Wendy is a conversation killer. She listens to
our discussions with the sole intent to interrupt or disrupt - and
when she does, Julia walks away.
    The hardest thing about being in a skinny
aluminum tube with a painful person like Wendy is: there is nowhere
to escape. I look over my shoulder to make sure she is not around
before starting what could be interesting dialogue with Julia or
the other crew and, before you know it, Wendy is leaning over my
shoulder.
    Most crew talk about the claustrophobic
environment of working on a plane, usually referring to the
physicality of the job. I find it far more intrusive when we are
cornered emotionally.
    In Wendy's words: Are we there yet?
     
    When working in confined spaces for so many
hours at a time, it is inevitable there will be some personality
clashes. Fortunately the personalities like Wendy are the minority,
but when someone is negative it often impacts on everyone else. One
Wendy is bad enough, but I did a trip not long ago with three
Wendys. Of course Wendy was not their real names, but for the sake
of the story, Wendys it is. The truth be told, I tend to forget
these type of characters as quickly as I can, so remembering their
names is never a priority.
    All the 'Wendys' were working down the back
of the plane with me. It had the makings of a perfect
negativity-storm. The onboard manager had flown with the girls
before, being smart enough to recognize there could be potential
problems. He very carefully orchestrated for none of the Wendys to
be working on a cart together. That meant one of the Wendys was
working with me. The manager pulled me aside to apologize for
changing the work positions. I knew why he did it - and he
recognized I knew. I was fine with it all.
    Even though I was working on a cart with one
of the Wendys, the work throughout the aircraft relies heavily on
group teamwork. At the back of the plane we all interact regularly,
particularly in the confines of the galley. This is where teamwork
and spatial awareness are at a premium. Most passengers see the
crew out in the cabin, usually in pairs, handing out meals and
drinks from a cart, however the processes for getting everything
ready are intricate. The galleys are tiny, so add setting up carts
in or near the galley and it becomes a claustrophobic's nightmare.
Crew are constantly getting out of each other's way or in