Candid Conversation with My High School Friend Elisa Benitez | Life as a Flight Attendant in Doha, Qatar

Liz and I have been friends since our high school days, and even when I faced tough times during my one month work stint in Doha, Elisa was my source of happiness and support. Join us for a candid and personal conversation about the challenges of moving and living abroad while working as a flight attendant.Podcast TranscriptHello!Hello!Welcome to I Suck at Small Talk Podcast!I'm Janine and you have to forgive my konyo accent on this episode because it comes out when I talk to my guest today, my twin, Elisa Benitez!So I call Liz my twin because in high school we had a teacher that couldn't even tell us apart to the point that Elisa passed by outside our classroom and he saw her and then he looked inside the classroom and saw me and was like so shocked like how the hell did you did you do that and I was like what?And yeah, lots of like twin stories with Liz.But today, I wanna talk to her about the time that she moved to Doha.Doha!To be a flight attendant.And the reason why I really wanna get Liz's perspective on moving away from the Philippines is because unlike a lot of other people that just stay where they go, she chose to move back to Manila.And I remember her being so excited about it and I wanna know why.So thanks so much for doing this, Liz.To kick things off,Just like a background, kasi I don't know this story.Like what made you dream to be a flight attendant?And what was it that really pushed you to go for this dream?Because, I mean, you have to clean so many toilets in the process, right?Yes.A lot of people think that being a flight attendant is a glamorous job.And in a way it is because you get to stay in five-star hotels all over the world for free.But it is a customer service job and yes, you are always, the customer is always right.So whatever they want, you give it to them.If they decide to get drunk,And throw up, you have to clean up after them because you're taking care of them in the sky.But yeah, going back to the free travel.When I was younger, I played a lot of football and that opened the doors to free travel.And I always knew that, you know, once football is over, I want to continue traveling.For free, you know, it's expensive.And so, you know, my mom and my stepdad encouraged me to apply for the airlines, give it a shot.And so, yeah, one day after graduation, my stepdad gave me the card of Cebu Pacific.They were hiring flight attendants.And he said, go for it.The rest is history!Was it tough though?Sorry, was it tough to get the job?Because I know there are a lot of people that apply, right?Yeah, so when you apply for the flight attendant position, you're up against hundreds of girls and sometimes even thousands.But it'sYou know, just be yourself and if it's meant for you, you will get it.They do brief you on the usual questions and answers which is like, why do you want to be a flight attendant?Oh, because I love to travel and I like meeting new people.Shocks, Lizzie, you know?Oh my God, my voice.Because it's morning.But parang there was a time that I considered applying to be a flight attendant.Yeah!Yeah!I just realized now!Because, like, I also wanted to travel and my mom was like, like, why don't you just be a flight attendant?And my mom was always pushing me to, like, you know, do TV commercials and all that prim and proper.stuff so beautiful i thought thank you i thought about it and parang i don't know i think i tried once but i never even passed the applicationapplication process so if you try and you don't make it don't worry guys there are other jobs out there that let you travel and i found them stumbling on those but yeah like i'm thankful that i didn't because i think i would have like i don't know punched someone in the face insteadI have no patience okay so you did Cebu pack and then you made it to Doha Qatar Airways which is like one of the top airlines but then you had to like move to Doha and everything and it'sYes, it was my first time to live away from homeBut luckily, the company that I work for were very supportive and encouraging.They also made sure to educate us on what to expect, what to think, what the weather's gonna be like, what the people are gonna be like.They even educated us on the traditions, the culture, the rules to follow, you know, to sort of help us, you know, it's necessary to learn.So that we could be respectful.Again, it's a very conservative culture.They're Muslim.They're very prayerful.They separate the men and women a lot.Even the way that we dress, we always have to cover our shoulders, cover our knees.During Ramadan, we also have to respect the rules.Yeah, you can't eat in public, right?You have to eat in the bathroom or something.Well, yeah, bathroom if you're outdoors, but otherwise just at home, in the privacy of your home.So, yeah, it was a big adjustment and it was a bit scary, butThe company was very supportive and another good thing was the people that you meet, you know, you meet your colleagues for the first time and they're all moving away from home for the first time.So you have that instant connection that you're all coming from different backgrounds and you're living in this new foreign land.And so you encourage each other to get through it together.That's so good to have like a support system.And I guess parang if you're going through it with other people, there are these shared experiences that, you know, at least you have people to run to that are going through the same things.But before I go to my next question, I just want to thank you for being my lifesaver when I went to Doha.I don't know if people know this but I was in Doha for like a month for work and it was one of the toughest freaking experiences of my life like it's like a great it's very interesting you know modern city in the middle of the desert kind of like like Dubai but a little smaller andYeah.It was just, it was tough for me where I was.But anyway, that's another story and I wanted to thank you because if not for you, I swear, like that was the most depressed I probably was in my life.Of course, not counting the heartbreaks.Not counting the heartbreaks because that's different.okay so Doha great life you got to travel and you ticked so many of the countries that you wanted or all the countries were able to go to all the countries on your list not all i still have a few left that i'm saving for my future husbandfor the honeymoon.OMG!That's a totally different conversation.But related to that, you decided to move back to Manila where I don't know if you'll find your future husband there.But yeah, like,So, anong nagpapasok mo sa Manila?Alam ko ba mo ay nagpapasok sa pagpapasok?Ano ang pagpapasok ng pagpapasok ito?At ano ang mga masasabi ng pagpapasok ito?Yes.So, sa pagpapasok, maging as a flight attendant, hindi ko nalaman ito ay isang permanent na gawin, o hindi ko nalaman ito ay isang mga kareer sa panahon.Alam mo, ito ay mgaI just finished college.I don't know what I want to do except travel.You know, and this is the way to do it.And along the way, I was always had it at the back of my mind to start a different career or to maybe start a business.My family is very entrepreneurial and I wanted to go in that direction.And so the reason why I was excited about moving back home to Manilawas because my cousin presented me with an opportunity to start a real estate business and to, you know, build my own business alongside him.And, you know, it's kind of the same way that, you know, people who are living in Manila, they get jobs abroad that they'll never be able to get in Manila.And that's why they get excited and go for it.It works the other way around where I was living abroad and I was starting to think like, you know, I want to build like a solid foundation in my career.I want to start my own business.And this opportunity was presented in Manila.And, you know, for me, I thought, what better way to start that than to do it like right in the comfort of your own home whereYour family and friends are there and you have your support system.Because while I was living in Doha, my support system was on speed dial.It's always picking up the phone when I'm homesick.They're always reminding me why I moved abroad in the first place.After a while, the homesickness really gets to you.When I found the opportunity toI could also imagine how many Filipinos who are working abroad who would kill for an opportunity like this you know because during my time in the Middle East I made friends with a lot of Filipinos and a lot of their stories areHeartbreaking because it's like they don't actually want to be so far away from their families but because of the lack of opportunity in the Philippines, you know, it was sad like I remember since I did like a month in Dubai and then another month in Doha and you go toAll the stores, the restaurants, and it's Filipinos working there, right?And so, whenever, like, I'd see one, and I can tell that they're Pinoy, I'd be like, kabayan, right?And then they're like, oh my gosh, like, you're Filipino too, ta-ta-ta-ta!And, like, you get better service, maybe they'll give you a little extra whatever, and it's great, but they would ask me, like, so how long are you gonna be here?And I'm like, oh, for about a month.And every time, they would be like, you're so lucky.Because they're like, oh wow, short lang, you're so lucky that you get to go back home.Because they want to be home.It's just they have to provide.It's so heartbreaking.It's so heartbreaking.I would get a lot of passengers, especially on my flights to Manila.And you know, you have these dads who are like, I miss my kid's graduation, or I miss my kid's birthday, or haven't seen my family in two years, three years.And you have these mothers who are like, I just want to be with my kids, but I can't earn this kind of money back home.And it's heartbreaking.But it's also at the same time so amazing how Filipinos just continue to work hard, do what they need to do to keep their family supported.Yeah, the resilience.It's true.You talk about like, you know, having to, meeting other, like Filipinos in the flights.But you also had to deal with like loads of nationalities and races.And I remember talking to you about this in Dubai, like how, parang they're so annoying.I don't wanna stereotype, but it's parang it's true, you know?So like sometimes, they're like,Great people in every race and also annoying, not self-aware, just irritating people.So what are your thoughts on boxing people up or stereotyping people by race or nationality?Is it mean?Am I mean?No, you're not mean at all.I am though sometimes.No, but for you, because it was your job, right?Yeah, yeah.It's definitely important to sort of like box or stereotype certain cultures.But it's not because you're trying to be mean.It's more of like it's important to educate yourself so that you remain respectful.You know, like what could be offensiveFor a Filipino, could actually be a sign of appreciation from a different culture.And that's just the way the world works.uh irritating people but what i've come to realize and to learn is that actually irritating and annoying it's a universal language you know it's all different cultures they're all different walks of life there are annoying people and then there are the ones there are the pleasant ones andYeah, it's important.Of course, you want to know how to behave around certain cultures because you want to be the pleasant person.You don't want to be the ignorant, annoying, like, I'm better than you kind of person when it comes to cultural differences.But sometimes, yeah, I have a feeling, I'm not gonna say whichwhich race I'm pertaining to but sometimes you get that feeling from a lot of people from a certain country for example like it so it's like I understand if people think oh they're all like that no it's not true like but a lot of them are like that and if you understand a little more their culture their history you kind of understand whyYou know?Parang it's like, okay, there's a reason for this.And it's really, for me, very interesting to reflect on those differences.But more, parang understand more about Filipino culture also.Like, living abroad,You see these differences and distinctions and it makes you kind of appreciate certain things about Filipino culture and Filipinos.So what about Filipinos did you find, I don't know, like inspiring or what did you... Oh my gosh, my words.So what did you find about being a Filipino while you were abroad?Yeah, well, yeah, living abroad actually made me so much moreproud to be a Filipino because Filipinos are friendly.It goes without, you know, it's like, it's actually like universal knowledge.You meet so many different nationalities and they'll be like, Oh, you're Filipino.So you're friendly, and you're hardworking, and you're resilient.And it's like, wow.Thank you for that.Like, yeah, it's true.You know,So yeah, you are able to appreciate Filipinos more especially when you see them outside of their comfort zone and you see how much they're trying to adjust and trying to be respectful.And when you miss them.And still wanting a helping hand.Oh, you missed that.Exactly.Like now, because I don't really hang out with Pinoys here.Like, I don't really feel like I belong in that community.Although, I mean, there's a very small community here in San Sebastian, but I see them in like this bench one.There's a specific bench that I feel like they go to all the time, but anyway.But parang being with non-Filipinos, I enjoy myself.I love my friends here.But I miss the wittiness.Like there's like this wittiness that we have.It's like there's always a hirit to be said no matter how serious the conversation.Like we turn it, like we bring fun into it.And I really, I miss that anyway.It's a normal feeling missing that piece of home and that's also why like you'll notice when you're living abroad like nationalities become more cliquish with each other because it's like they're so homesick they don't do it intentionally it's just that they're missing home so much that they wanta piece of home as much as they can get yeah i realized i realized that okay so there are people here that i speak to in spanish in spanish there are people here that i speak to in english but it's like pure english right and i realized that my native language is taglishI can't really speak to anyone here in Taglish so I'm training Mikael a few Filipino words so I can speak to him in Taglish.But yeah, that's also one of the reasons why I started this podcast was so that I have an excuse to have more and more conversations with my friends like you!Speaking of, uy may connection.So I named this podcast like I Suck and then at small talk as in parenthesis because I mean there's this feeling na I suck at a lot of things and it's good to acknowledge it so that I can surpass it.So I want to ask like every guest, what do you think you suck at and what are you doing to overcome that?Yeah.Okay.Okay.It's hard to say sometimes.But it'll feel better.Knowing that you don't know who's gonna watch this.Yeah.But it might be zero-less.It might just be you and me when we're lolas.And I suck at hiding my facial expressions.So, I've been criticized a lot over the years for having a contingent phase.Oh my gosh!No way!Yeah!Like people tell you, like... Ah, yeah, okay, yeah.Suplada!People always ask me, like, are you okay?Do you have a problem?Is something wrong?Like, you know, and I'm just like, yeah, I'm fine.And, you know, a lot of peopleLike they get easily offended because I'm not, you know, very good at especially my eyes.My eyes are very expressive.So the moment I hear something I don't like or I hear something that I disagree with, like my eyes are just gonna say it right away.The windows to your soul is.You cannot hide.The windows to my soul.The windows to my resting b***h face.Yeah, I tried to prove that by like, you know, like usually like when I'm talking to someone or communicating, I try to take longer pauses before reacting or before responding or, you know, like justpracticing how to just keep a blank face or maybe keep a smile, like a semi-smile on.So while you're talking to someone, you're conscious.You're conscious of like, okay, my face is like this.But with your friends that know you, you're not, right?Like, you're comfy.No.What?But my friends know that I can judge them and we'll still be friends at the end of the day.Yeah, yeah.It's true.That's why.In a professional setting.Yeah, because you deal with a lot of clients.Yeah.Yeah, you know, like I moved back home to Manila and I now work in real estate.So I do deal, you know, I'm still in a way, I'm still involved in customer service.And I've actually read a bunch of books.My favorite one being How to Win Friends and Influence People.Wow!What's so helpful is by Dale Carnegie and it's very helpful practical tools that you can use to, you know, just be on the good side of people.Because yeah, like a simple like eyebrow raise or rolling your eyes or even just like sometimes if you yawn or you do something.There are people that study that, right?Like they study, okay, what does this mean?What would this mean?And so because there are studies on it, now you can control it and kind of use it nga to your advantage.When I was doing the mixed VJ search thing, one of the things they told me was I have to control my eyes.I get too big daw!Because when I'm saying stuff, they're too big daw.So I had to kind of watch myself and yeah, consciously be like, okay, don't make your eyes pop too much.But I think, I don't know if that stuck with me or if I don't care na lang now.So if ever, if it bothers you, if you're watching me and it bothers you, tell me my eyes still pop.okay oh my gosh Liz this was such a good convo and we're oh and we're like just in time i'm so excited would you be back like would you consider recording more conversations with meOkay, great.Because there are so many convos outside of the record button that are just so good, dude!Okay, to end, what would be like your top advice to someone that is moving away from home?Okay, my top advice would be two things.Number one, keep an open mind.Because no matter how prepared you think you are, there's always gonna be surprises here and there.And number two, keep your loved ones on speed dial, your family, your friends, you know, be open to asking them for help whenever you feel stuck.Ask them for sunshine when you're feeling homesick becauseYou know, the people that you keep in your life, the people that you let into your space, that's what's gonna make or break your experiences.You know, you could be in the worst country in the world but you have the best friends around you and you'll be good.Or you could be in the most beautiful country in the world but you're with the irritating, the universally irritating people.So yeah, it's a lot to do with the connections and yeah.I'm gonna keep those tips in mind.Thank you so much Liz thanks for sharing your moving away story it's been like weird recording it but also fun I think we're gonna get used to it as we keep doing this um but yeah to our listeners thank you also for joining us whoever you areThis is fam, my fam.Hello, how are you doing?Just message us.You have our numbers.But thanks for listening to an episode of I Suck at Small Talk.Stay tuned for more stories and life learnings that inspire us to break out of our shells and embrace the world.Yeah! 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