Boston

A very light passenger load headed to Boston.

These flights really enhance your spirit and outlook on the role of being cabin crew.

There's time to work and also time to rest.

I joined the crew out for a drink and dinner after landing at a beautiful seafood restaurant on the Waterfront in Boston named Legal Harborside.

Myself and the crew were super impressed with the food, it's a favourite for crew to head there together to have a drink and dinner after the long haul flight from Dubai.

Due to my lack of adjusting well to the local time, I was awake at 3:30am this morning.

My plan was to go to North End Yoga this morning for an Ashtanga LED class.

My yoga practice lately has been mainly consisting of the Ashtanga series and practicing Mysore. This enables me to have my own practice on layovers where I can roll out my mat in any hotel room and get it done. 

I got up walked the chilly streets this morning at 5:30am headed to the class. Directions were easy and I found it in perfect timing.

The studio was huge! So many rooms and floors, very deceiving from the outside.

I rolled out my mat and participated in a sweaty and challenging LED class which was super busy for a 6:15am time.

I felt great practicing here amongst the locals in Boston. The teacher gave great adjustments and her voice created a focused environment. 

After the session, I got lost heading back to the hotel but luckily finding some beautiful spots in small parks and courtyards along the way.

A thought came to mind while walking back, this thought and my post on Instagram as followed;

Like the old saying goes 'Stop and smell the roses.'

Time is forever ticking and it cannot be spent longing for the next hour, day, month or year.

Appreciate and be thankful for you being wherever you are right in this very moment, don't escape emotions or hard feelings by wishing for the next day to wake. Feel all that you can because whatever you're feeling is oh so right. 

Exploring Dubai

Finally decided to go out and explore a bit of Dubai that I hadn't seen yet with a few girls from my batch.

We visited the Creekside, The Gold Souk and wandered through markets.

Another two days off before Singapore on Thursday for the weekend.

Accommodation

Yesterday, the 28th I received my accommodation.

I have been placed in the Sarab Building which is apparently a little far out from central Dubai.
Regardless, I am still extremely grateful to receive free accommodation from Emirates and I am sure there are still many perks in this area.

Apparently the Sarab Building has it's own pool and gym on site which is super convenient.
It is 30 minutes from The Emirates HQ however a free shuttle is provided.

I am starting to become very excited for my new adventure and am happy to reside anywhere!

7 days to go!

Ticket & Visa received

This afternoon after logging in and out of my portal all day I finally was able to view my E-Ticket and E-Visa in my Travel Arrangements link.

It's set in stone and officially 'official'. 

I will be flying to Dubai on Friday the 5th of September from Sydney Airport at 6:45pm and will arrive in Dubai at 5:45am. 

I feel like all is slowly coming together - I now await the confirmation of my accommodation. I do hope to receive a place close to the malls and in the midst of central Dubai however wherever I am placed I will be grateful as I will not have to worry about rental expenses in my budget. 

Next post I am sure I will be blogging about it, hopefully tomorrow ;)

Final Approval!

FA! FA! FA!

Final Approval given on the 31st of July 2014 - Only 2 weeks after my GC.

With your Final Approval, comes your medicals signed off and your next step becomes available which you are advised to resign from your current employer.

The Final Approval email is stated below;

Dear Miss Small,

Please read the below instructions carefully.  We are pleased to inform you that we have obtained the final approval on your application. You may now tender your resignation so that you can join our organization as early as possible. Once you have tendered your resignation, please upload the copy of the acceptance of resignation from your present company on our website by logging into CandidatePortal. The acceptance letter should be on a company letter head signed and stamped by an authorised signatory.Please complete the online joiners form if you have already not done so. If you are required to serve further notice with your current employer and unable to join on the scheduled date please notify by submitting a query on candidate portal. If you are currently a student, working on a part-time basis or unemployed, you are not required to upload the service letter. Please inform the Recruitment coordinator of the same through "Submit a Query". A week before your date of joining, the e-ticket and copy of your visa to enter the U. A. E. will be uploaded on the candidate portal and you will be notified through email and Candidate Portal. Kindly continue to check the Candidate Portal frequently.  NB: Now that you have completed your joining formalities. To help you get off to a flying start and prepare you for your Cabin Crew training programme, you will need to CLICK on the Induction Tab within the Candidate Portal.  Here you will find a link to the 'Prepare for Take-Off ' Cabin Crew Workbook. Please take time to familiarize yourself with the information and complete the tasks required. Your thoroughness in completing the workbook will set you up for success in your training.  Best Regards&,  HR Coordinator  HR Employee Services  Emirates Group Head Quarters,  Dubai, U.A.E

So the final countdown is officially on. This doesn't mean it's time to relax, I feel like I have a lot to prepare before I leave. My checklist is growing by the day!

Please remember to comment if you have any further questions to ask :)

Medicals

Keep calm and complete your Medicals.

Commencing your paperwork for your medicals may seem daunting and overwhelming.
With pages of questions, ticks, crosses and appointments to make it is understandable.

First things first, Start from the top.

Part A - Declaration of Health.
Very simple and straightforward document to complete - A signature is required for your understanding that Emirates will not emply you and The UAE will not issue you a Visa if you have any of the following

• Positive HIV result
• Signs of active TB or signs of scaring from TB on chest from X-Ray
• Untreated syphallis
• Positive Hepatitis B surface antigen

Emirates will do testing in the UAE upon arrival so you do not need to do these tests in your home country unless you are concerned.
Sign and date below and onto the next stage.

Part B - Medical History Declaration.
This section is 3 pages long and has a thurough checklist of items to place your tick, cross and further information on medications and dates of examinations.
Everything from your mental health, vision, skin, back, internal organs, BMI, medication list and sleeping must be completed with 100% honesty and if you tick any of the questions, make sure you elaborate in the column to give further information to prevent them from coming back and requesting you to complete the form and upload it again.
With the completion of these 3 pages, have your doctor sign off on this and date it.
This is not a hard section to complete however it may take some time if you have medical issues that you may need to look back on documents/dates for.

I stated that I was on a medication for my skin. I was contacted by Emirates and was told that I needed my dermatologist to provide a medical report.
I also had her sign a letter that I am able to travel with this medication (Just in case!)
I am keeping all of my medical reports, scripts and letters together to travel with just as confirmation that I have been prescribed these legally by doctors.

Certificate of Dental Health.
For this you will need to book an appointment with your dentist.
Fortunately I have private health cover in Australia and my appointment was free for a check up and had to only pay $25 AUD for my X-rays.
The Dental Health certificate requires your dentist to provide and assessment of your X-ray (note for missing teeth, fillings, crowns etc).
The remainder of the form includes details for your dentist to check and sign off that your teeth meet the expected 'standards.'
Your dentist needs to comment on the following criteria -

• Teeth and Gingiva
• General appearance
• Treatment recommended 
• Treatment carried out

You'll then need a signature, stamp and away you go.

Vaccinations.

For me, this was the most time consuming document.

I had to chase down previous records, some of which were lost - just my luck. 

Now, the compulsory vaccination to obtain before you leave is your Yellow Fever Vaccination. Many of the others will have to get done and can be done so in Dubai however it will be deducted from your salary. The cost of the vaccinations is unknown to me in Dubai so I chose to do them all in my home country. I am covered by private health and can claim part of the cost. 

Here is a full list of the vaccinations:

• Chicken Pox
• Polio (must be within the last 10 years) 
• Diphtheria (must be within the last 10 years)
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis A
• MMR (Measles, Mups, Rubella)
• Yellow Fever
• Meningococcal 

It was quite expensive to get these vaccinations done - $650 AUD however I was able to claim half back.

Ensure that your document is signed and stamped by the doctor and you have your little book/vaccination certificate with you to travel with!

I uploaded these documents completed to the portal on the 30/7/14 and received my Medical Completed email on the 31/7/14

Yippee!

Post any questions in relation to the medicals here and I will answer as best I can :)