Pretty and Proud

13:15pm. The chatter was dissipating at Emirates Aviation College, as the ab-initio (new crew) groups filed out into the 52deg swelter, and headed for the auditorium across the road to receive their wings, their licence to fly. In the meantime, all of the A380 trained Cabin Crew (all 148 of us) had been brought back into Training College for the day, and were instructed to wear our old uniforms but have our new ones ready, for an unknown purpose.

13:30pm. The green light was given, the training college was clear and it was time to ditch the Navy Blue and Beige ensemble, and don our new Chocolate Pin-Striped uniforms. After having our grooming approved by the Image and Uniform Department, we were to scurry over to the graduation ceremony, and wait outside the auditorium.

14:30pm. It was finally time, the back doors were opened, and like a 17 year old gate crashes a party, all 148 of us gate crashed their ceremony. After the Senior Vice President of Service Delivery had warmed up the crowd, we filed in en masse, filling the auditorium, with the awes of the new graduates seeing the new uniform for the first time. We received a standing ovation as we came in, camera's flashing in every which way but loose, and have to say, looked amazing in the new identity of Emirates.

A6-EDA, our first A380 not-so-little baby is delivered in a ceremony from Airbus on 28JUL, which can be watched live on www.a380delivery.com/emirates broadcast live from Hamburg in Germany. 58 of my wonderful colleagues have flown to HAM to represent one of each of the 58 aircraft that Emirates has purchased, and will participate in many ways during the handover of the aircraft, and these people will get to finally see the aircraft as it is unveiled to the world for the first time. We have had fantastic use of the CST (Cabin Service Trainer) a to-scale replica of the aircraft inside our Aviation College in Dubai, however, we know there will be a few differences on the real aircraft, and we can't wait to see it with our own eyes.

Myself, and Turiya (SC:380), are unfortunately unable to be a part of these festivities due to us being involved with training for the new Nujoum course, for which we are both facilitators. Meaning 'stars' in Arabic, it is a fantastic one day programme which will see all 9000 Service Delivery staff at Emirates participate over the course of the following year. I am however incredibly excited for the team that have travelled to Germany, and for the people involved with the first flights. My first supersized journey is on 08AUG, a 2½ day stay in New York. This is then followed by a myriad of days off, and then a 5½ day stay in New York at the end of August.

Start spreading the news... New York, NEW YORK!!!!!!!!!!!

Robert (The Netherlands), Ryan and Natasha (Australia), Me, Miguel (Portugal)

Daniel (Australia), and Me... Blending the old with the new!

Me, and Turiya (Australia), my Nujoum-ette