Commercial aviation

Crew of the month: “I WANTED TO BE DIFFERENT, TO DARE” – Ana-Maria Mindrutiu, former Gulf Air Cabin Crew

Crew of the month: “I WANTED TO BE DIFFERENT, TO DARE” – Ana-Maria Mindrutiu, former Gulf Air Cabin Crew

By Gherman Nicoleta, World-class NG Cabin Crew Founder

I had the honor to meet Ana-Maria Mindrutiu in Cluj-Napoca, during qualification courses as cabin crew. We got close and so she started to confess that even though she was a brilliant student, once she had completed a postgraduate course at the age of 26, she got to that point when she felt like it was time to change her life in one way or another: “I got fed up with the boring life I used to have, with the things that were missing in my life, being rejected at the interviews I attended just because I had no work experience. I wanted a change, an escape, I just wanted to be “different” than all the others, dare to dream more, to fight and believe in my dreams, to achieve my goals and say loudly and proud about myself “I did it!”

Please tell our readers how did you become a flight attendant, describe the recruitment process and what airline company hired you?

I strongly believe in the “Law of Attraction” (one of the most powerful laws in the whole universe), which is when you really want something with all your heart, you live every day imagining that you will succeed, apparently as natural as possible, and so chances will arise! I do remember moving to Cluj and after a few days finding a recruitment announcement. I considered this as a sign from God, so I decided to send my CV and prepare for the interview. This is how I was getting closer and closer to a new life! Approximatively 2 months after taking the course, I was informed that an Arabic airline company would come to recruit flight attendants. I applied for this position immediately, as this was my dream, wasn’t it? It was supposed to be a long day, full of challenges and many interview stages. First stage interview was the grooming test. All candidates were being weighed and measured, checked for distinctive marks, teeth and good posture. Second stage interview was the language test, written English test. After each stage, the number of candidates rejected was increasing more and more. Then, third stage interview was the one where candidates were required to partake in several groups and discuss certain topics, to see how we interact with each other. I passed all these stages successfully and there was the final interview with the airline’s representatives! I remember calling my mother, asking her to keep her fingers crossed for me. I was all trembling and crying in the same time, telling her “I feel like I’m going to succeed! I just can’t believe it!” We were four girls in a group during the last stage of the interview. The recruiters were asking us questions that we each had to answer. Few minutes later, I couldn’t believe my eyes! I was one of the lucky ones! I dared to dream about this job, I strongly believed in myself and finally I succeeded in passing all interview stages. At the end of the day, I was already signing the contract for “a new beginning”! That day, around two years ago, offered me tears of joy. It was the day when my life took another turn, a turn for the better. Starting that day I was part of the GULF AIR family! It was a new chapter of my life!

What made you decide to move to another country? It’s only the dream of becoming a flight attendant?

To be honest, I never thought of moving to another country, unless it was worth it. I remember that when I was a little girl, I used to admire persons wearing a uniform, be it police, army or aviation uniform. I always knew that discipline, punctuality, order and good life were all part of their life. These persons were seen as role models by everyone around and this is what I was longing for. I moved to Bahrain because of my dream of becoming a flight attendant and all of the benefits that came along with this position: free accommodation, transportation, food (during layovers), pool and gym access, plus a salary I would never have in Romania.

How difficult were all the stages of the interview?

All stages of the interview seemed quite easy, due to the fact that during some preparation courses we interacted a lot with each other and made interview simulations. So I can say that the difficult part was the one of controlling my emotions, keeping my smile and enthusiasm throughout the whole day.

How much did your previous training/courses help you during the Gulf Air training?

Already being informed, prepared and part of different simulations within the previous trainings, I felt like having an advantage. Once I started the training offered by Gulf Air, which lasted 2 months, it was like attending some refreshment courses, as I already knew all the information given by them. It’s true that in Bahrain the training was more intense and in detail, but the basic information was the same. In this way, I succeeded in understanding and learning more easily, in comparison with the others who were completely new to this field of aviation.

Which is the most difficult moment you encountered during a flight?

Flights to India are and always will be a challenge! Sometimes they are full of passengers satisfied with the services on board, writing those complimentary letters, other times full of unruly passengers. If I remember well, I had a flight to Delhi on my roster, and before boarding, the entire crew had been informed by the ground operations department about one tipsy passenger. We were asked not to offer alcoholic drinks anymore to this passenger and to be attentive to his behavior during the flight. The other passengers started complaining about the fact that they wouldn’t receive alcohol drinks. They were told that it’s because of security reasons; but out of a sudden we heard this tipsy passenger being nervous in the galley, swearing at every member of the crew and trying to make us understand that if he wanted alcohol, then we would have to serve him immediately with whiskey and beer! The situation became quite worse, so I called the Senior Cabin Crew to calm him down. His kind caring male voice had good results and after a few minutes of contradictions, the Indian apologized for his improper behavior. He was promised a glass of alcohol, only if in the following 50 minutes he went back to his seat and did not disturb anyone else. To everyone’s surprise, the passenger calmed down totally, waiting for his prize.

Which are the flights you most love and why?

I can say that every flight is unique and gives me a lesson of life; it makes you see how luxury, wealth and poverty are. If I have to choose a flight that I loved a lot is Trivandrum, India, where I had the opportunity to spend 48 hours. Once there I was shocked with the degree of poverty everywhere.  I tried to get in touch with the street population, just to find out and learn as much as possible about life in India. The main worry that people have there is how to survive. Without shoes, poorly dressed, sometimes sitting down on the cold floor inside their stores, used as home places too, they were smiling at us and welcoming us in their small bazaar. I remember buying one souvenir, and in that right moment the shop assistant started crying, thanking me for the chance I gave him to buy food for the following day. We organized a boat trip, so we rented a tuk tuk car to arrive there. It was such a fun moment, but risky in the same time: heavy traffic, lots of cars and motorcycles coming from all directions; a country where people don’t follow traffic rules! Once arrived in that boat, we discovered a unique and wild landscape. It was like traveling back in time, when clothes were being washed in the river, with the help of rocks. We also saw elephants, a lifetime experience for me and the only source of income for them! India was truly a lesson of life for me, because in this place poverty did not make them forget how to smile and be honest! People are born in the street there, they die in the street, but they live happily.

But how does it feel to be surrounded by Arabic culture? Can you compare it to any other culture?

Bahrain is a very Europeanized country, democratic and doesn’t forbid anything or almost anything! Once arrived here I discovered a modern country, sophisticated, with a mix of oriental and occidental cultures. In this country you can find luxurious hotels, swimming pools and private beaches of high quality, malls you can easily get lost into, clubs and in addition you have a very good weather year-round! Everywhere you meet smiley faces who are ready to offer you their help without anything in return! The only period of the year I realize I live in an Arabic country is during the Ramadan holiday. It’s a month of fasting, when it’s forbidden to go out in public without covering your shoulders; alcohol and eating in front of the ones fasting is forbidden too, and clubs are closed. I love Bahrain with everything that offers, but my heart will always be home in Romania, no matter the good or bad things.

Now that you moved back into Romania, do you consider getting another job?

Sooner or later I will go back to be a cabin crew and be based closer to my home city, because a part of me is still eager to travel more. I am really happy to be again home after a year; my loving parents are here and everything that I left behind once I went abroad. I fulfilled my dream of becoming a flight attendant, travelling around the world and seeing with my own eyes how people live. So I learnt how to love and appreciate more my birthplace, to save as much money as possible in order to offer myself a decent lifestyle in Romania.

Now I am back home with a luggage full of sweet memories from Bahrain and not only, but willing to be again a cabin crew, this time for Wizz Air.