About three weeks ago I finally got in my first flying lesson. Strangely, I was never really nervous. I feel like I lost that emotion awhile ago. I did; however, have about every thought imaginable run through my head.
What if I don't understand what I am suppose?
What if I don't comprehend things?
What if I crash?
And so on. Just the basic I don't know what I got myself into, but still eager to try it. But there was no butterflies in my stomach or thought of backing out.
The first hour of the session consisted of me sitting down with the instructor and learning how a plan so heavy can fly, learning the gauges, hearing examples of stories of previous students and of course the whole check EVERYTHING with your plane before flying. And when I say everything I really do mean everything. One little screw missing or a small dent a wing or prop and the whole plane is messed up.
The plane is pretty cool. There are two sets of controls so my instructor has a set and then I have a set. So finally, I am sitting there in the four seater plane in the cock-pit waiting to taxi.
Few basic 'need to knows' when trying to fly a plane:
* You steer with your feet pedals when taxing. But, both feet pushing the top of the foot pedals is your break.
* You also have a steering wheel which helps in the sky;however,
- To turn left, you turn with the wheel and a little left foot pedal.
- To turn right, you turn with your right foot pedal and a little steering wheel to the LEFT.
* Your steering wheel moves in and out. This allows the plane to climb or descend.
- Push in to drop the nose of your plane.
- Pull out to raise the nose of your plane.
* There is also the throttle, trim, about 9 gauges and more.
Sound complicated? Well, it is. But you eventually get the hang of it.
My first flight I wasn't allowed to take off and landings, but I did try to taxi when we landed. Hint: TRY. My instructor soon took over that one. Once in the sky though we went over a few of the basics and I got the fly the plane all alone! A bunch of multitasking and I flew in a 'semi' straight line. Soon, I made a few turns but the first flight mainly consisted of getting a feel for the plane and the movements so straight lines and a few turns. And then we landed.
Today, was flight lesson number 2. Of course the inspection of the whole plane occurred before take off, but after that things were a lot different than the first flight.
I got to announce over the radio to other planes with radios and towers that we were taking off! It was a mouth full and I messed up the ending but it was super cool. Someday I'll get it down where I sound like the pilots do when they speak to their passengers.
From there we were off! The winds were a bit rough today and I got to experience "air road bumps" but I also got to see everything without snow on the ground. Once I finally adjusted to the winds we practiced a few things: inclines from 2500ft to about 3500ft, and of course what goes up must come down so I learned that too. We did that about 3 times. I also got to do quite a few 180 degree turns and actually learned how to steer with my feet.
My instructor said I was progressing well. I even got to take the plane clear up to the runway, BUT I didn't get to land it. From there I taxied the plane back up the runway and I started off shaky because it's a lot to do with your feet, but by the end I was going really straight!
My instructor said that the next time I fly I will be learning "S" turns and stalls. Hopefully I can get in again this week.
I still can't see myself flying all alone without anyone in there to save me if I forget something, but everyone says once I get a few hours under my belt I will be. We will see about that!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
My new apartment in DC!!
Or the lack of...
Back in February I posted an ad on craiglist stating I was looking for a place to stay for the summer. I had several inquiries (some OK and some just creepy). A few days after I posted the ad I received an email from someone who was looking for a summer roommate. She was my age, my personality, had a stable job, sent pictures of the apartment with dimensions, said that we didn't have to be friends but she needed help on the rent.
I thought I was the perfect canadite for this room. We exchanged a lot of information about ourselves to see if we both thought we would work personality wise. Soon, we agreed that we wanted to live with each other and she sent me a contract drawn up by her attorney.
She wanted a $600 deposit and $600 for the first months rent, but my mom and I agreed to make a visit during my spring break to meet the roommate and see the apartment before I gave all the money. So I sent a moneygram to her attorney to hold my spot.
I figured this was normal. I mean all the times I looked at apartments in Maryville they requested a deposit and some even asked for the first months rents straight up. Even on my apartment in Maryville I put down a deposit like 3 months before I moved in to ensure my spot.
Once I received the contract drawn up by the attorney I had an attorney glance over it to make sure it seemed OK. We made a few minor changes and I emailed her a signed copy back as well as sent a moneygram.
From there, she stayed in contact. She added me on MSN Messenger and we sent emails back and forth. I was busy constantly with school so there wasn't a ton of communication, but there still was some.
About a week before my spring break came I emailed her to remind her I was coming out this weekend. She said it wouldn't be a problem and that she was more than willing to meet me and show me the apartment.
My mom and I flew out to D.C. on Friday night. It was a low elevation flight due to bad weather, but the lights over D.C. were beautiful.
On Saturday, mom and I woke with the notation to meet her at 11am. After we ate breakfast we made a quick stop to the room where I grabbed the camera and we wrote down all the information needed for the apartment. Leaving behind the contract and copy of the moneygram.
We managed to find our way to the apartment after getting turned around a few times and having to detour for construction.
When we walked up to the front door of the "condo" we had to wait at the door to be buzzed in. Once we walked in we proceeded to the front desk where I had to tell the desk clerk who I was wanting to see. I said my "future roommates" name and the lady said, "we don't have anyone by that name."
I told her my reasoning for being at the condos and she said that the room we were looking at had two females not by that name there, but was willing to let us go up and knock on the door. We did and of course, no answer.
From there we went back to the front door where the lady told us to call the police. Before we did we caught a cab back to the hotel and grabbed the contract, moneygram, and printed all the emails between her and I. (Cab=$20)
We then caught another cab back to the condo ($20) where we called and waited on the police to arrive.
As we waited for the police to arrive, mom looked through the classified newspaper section for other housing options. Everything is so expensive! But, we came across a housing option for summer housing/interns. We called and they allowed us to come look, but before we did we spoke with the police.
The police pretty much laughed at us. Yes, I know we made a mistake, but I am in Missouri and need a place to stay in D.C. I can't just go check out every option that comes available. Plus, everyone that I have asked for advice on housing has told me to use craiglists.
Anyways, the police tried to tell us the grammar on the emails was our first clue that it would be a hoax. I said that it was how today's generations writes. (it really wasn't THAT bad) and mom told him that we didn't know if I was speaking to a foreigner because 80% of D.C. area is foreigners. The police just laughed, called us wrong and questioned where I actually I was from because my ID said one place but yet my moneygram came from walmart near school.
There wasn't anything we could do at that point. The police left without taking a police report. So mom and I caught another cab ($20) to the house we called on. The rent is double than what I originally thought I was going to pay. It is a studio apartment and to be honest it was a nice apartment.
I can't apply for it until closer to my move date because they have so many people that come and go, but the lady pretty much guaranteed a place for me. She said she has a lot of interns over the summer.
I am still not sure what I am going to do, but at least we know that there are still options.
Back in February I posted an ad on craiglist stating I was looking for a place to stay for the summer. I had several inquiries (some OK and some just creepy). A few days after I posted the ad I received an email from someone who was looking for a summer roommate. She was my age, my personality, had a stable job, sent pictures of the apartment with dimensions, said that we didn't have to be friends but she needed help on the rent.
I thought I was the perfect canadite for this room. We exchanged a lot of information about ourselves to see if we both thought we would work personality wise. Soon, we agreed that we wanted to live with each other and she sent me a contract drawn up by her attorney.
She wanted a $600 deposit and $600 for the first months rent, but my mom and I agreed to make a visit during my spring break to meet the roommate and see the apartment before I gave all the money. So I sent a moneygram to her attorney to hold my spot.
I figured this was normal. I mean all the times I looked at apartments in Maryville they requested a deposit and some even asked for the first months rents straight up. Even on my apartment in Maryville I put down a deposit like 3 months before I moved in to ensure my spot.
Once I received the contract drawn up by the attorney I had an attorney glance over it to make sure it seemed OK. We made a few minor changes and I emailed her a signed copy back as well as sent a moneygram.
From there, she stayed in contact. She added me on MSN Messenger and we sent emails back and forth. I was busy constantly with school so there wasn't a ton of communication, but there still was some.
About a week before my spring break came I emailed her to remind her I was coming out this weekend. She said it wouldn't be a problem and that she was more than willing to meet me and show me the apartment.
My mom and I flew out to D.C. on Friday night. It was a low elevation flight due to bad weather, but the lights over D.C. were beautiful.
On Saturday, mom and I woke with the notation to meet her at 11am. After we ate breakfast we made a quick stop to the room where I grabbed the camera and we wrote down all the information needed for the apartment. Leaving behind the contract and copy of the moneygram.
We managed to find our way to the apartment after getting turned around a few times and having to detour for construction.
When we walked up to the front door of the "condo" we had to wait at the door to be buzzed in. Once we walked in we proceeded to the front desk where I had to tell the desk clerk who I was wanting to see. I said my "future roommates" name and the lady said, "we don't have anyone by that name."
I told her my reasoning for being at the condos and she said that the room we were looking at had two females not by that name there, but was willing to let us go up and knock on the door. We did and of course, no answer.
From there we went back to the front door where the lady told us to call the police. Before we did we caught a cab back to the hotel and grabbed the contract, moneygram, and printed all the emails between her and I. (Cab=$20)
We then caught another cab back to the condo ($20) where we called and waited on the police to arrive.
As we waited for the police to arrive, mom looked through the classified newspaper section for other housing options. Everything is so expensive! But, we came across a housing option for summer housing/interns. We called and they allowed us to come look, but before we did we spoke with the police.
The police pretty much laughed at us. Yes, I know we made a mistake, but I am in Missouri and need a place to stay in D.C. I can't just go check out every option that comes available. Plus, everyone that I have asked for advice on housing has told me to use craiglists.
Anyways, the police tried to tell us the grammar on the emails was our first clue that it would be a hoax. I said that it was how today's generations writes. (it really wasn't THAT bad) and mom told him that we didn't know if I was speaking to a foreigner because 80% of D.C. area is foreigners. The police just laughed, called us wrong and questioned where I actually I was from because my ID said one place but yet my moneygram came from walmart near school.
There wasn't anything we could do at that point. The police left without taking a police report. So mom and I caught another cab ($20) to the house we called on. The rent is double than what I originally thought I was going to pay. It is a studio apartment and to be honest it was a nice apartment.
I can't apply for it until closer to my move date because they have so many people that come and go, but the lady pretty much guaranteed a place for me. She said she has a lot of interns over the summer.
I am still not sure what I am going to do, but at least we know that there are still options.
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