My first airplane experience came at around age 5 or 6, though like every other memory from that age, I could not remember much of it. From then on, I sat on a plane to and from the U.S. for longer than I could count on my fingers. I had sat on planes that went to other countries, especially Japan, as you couldn’t find a single flight to Shanghai most of the times. A few times, I had to sit through three plane flights. A one-hour one, the dreaded 14-hour big plane flight and another one-hour plane flight.
When I was younger, I thought that riding a plane, especially the big one, wasn’t so bad. I had a knack for making airplane buddies as a kid, usually one boy and a girl, or just a girl. Because of that, the passage of time was quick, and I need not suffer through a slow and agonizingly long flight. Mind you, that was also the time when airplanes did not have small screen televisions on the back of each seat. Thinking back, it would be a bit more fun for the three or two of us crammed into a seat to watch a show or movie. Still, being a kiddie airplane passenger was quite fun back in the days.
Now, I suppose I share my mom’s distaste for airplane rides. First, the turbulence, which was scary and irritating. You could have just found a tiny smudge of sleep clouding your mind when suddenly the plane makes a lurch, and you almost flew out of your seat, because either a) you forgot to put on your seat belt or b) the seat belt doesn’t work properly. Sometimes, the turbulence got so bad that I thought the plane would go down, and that was when I began to pray to a higher being and regret everything I had done ever in my life. Give or take five minutes, the turbulence stops, and you never felt so much at peace. Now, it was fine when the captain warned of turbulence beforehand, but sometimes the turbulence came at random. That was more frightening than anything! Thankfully, I began to get used to the turbulence, so much that some of the worse ones were easily brushed off. Still, that wasn’t the only bad part about plane rides.
Usually, plane rides were tolerable if under eight hours. Of course, every person’s opinion differs, but I am 99 percent sure that everyone would agree a 14-hour long flight would be terrible. Mom and I always rode economy class; we’re too poor for the large and luxurious first-class seats. Economy classes were cramped and small, and I am technically considered small framed! I would be lucky if they gave us a window seat, because I would then just lean against the side if I wanted to rest. Unfortunately, due to the new seating arrangements, and perhaps the influx of passengers, we were always moved to the middle four-seat row. I was always put in the middle, meaning that I had to mind my leg space and be careful of where I turn. I am, and always was, a terrible sleeper sitting up. My upper body would fall to the side after I drifted off, and inevitably it would turn to a stranger. Not to mention the discomfort of sitting and trying to go to sleep. Though, I suppose some people could do it easily, but not me.
Another thing I disliked about airplane rides was the food. I just don’t get why they always advertise these food as "gourmet" or "delicious" when usually they were not. Sure, some stuff was good, for example the lunch they served from Japan to China this summer. But usually on the big planes, those foods were deplorable. We never settled for the main course, but instead ate the bread, dessert and salad around it. Mom was especially resentful because she was used to eating Chinese food, so on top of being Western, the food was also horrendous. On the plus side, there were no upset stomachs.
Nowadays, what got me through the grueling flight was the movies and television shows that the big planes had. I binge-watched them like they were my savior or something. To tell the truth, they were, and unfortunately, not all big planes had them. Take for example the plane carrying me back to the U.S. Even now, I am surprised that I hadn’t died from absolute boredom. Thankfully, I also had my Macbook and cellphone with me, so I could listen to music and/or waste my time away writing.
The thing was, I tolerated the flights because they were bringing us to our home. Which was why no one complained when the food was bad, the turbulence was getting irritating or that they had no space to exercise or sleep. The planes themselves could not get much bigger, for proper functionality and monetary reasons. I think there are ways for us to get better food, but they are costly and probably not much better. In the end, I am thankful of the captains and flight attendants, and for the plane itself for allowing me the ability to travel between homes.
