How has pandemic been like for me

2020 been hard year for all of us. My year wasn‘t an exception. To talk about 2020 let‘s come back a little earlier.

In 2012, I started studying Tourism and hotel management. Three years of college was one of the most impactful years of my life. I met some best friends there, had an experience in organizing events, editing videos, and of course, traveling. Had the best summer of my life by far (in Spain, so who wouldn't?).

After graduation I worked at hotel‘s reception, go-karts‘ track and in a ground carrier travel agency. I have a friend, who‘s working as a flight attendant. She always been telling me to try flying. However, my answer was always a big no. I couldn‘t imagine myself working as a flight attendant, traveling to destinations and turning around to go back home. I changed my mind when I found out about airlines, which gives business trips of 3-5 weeks abroad. So I tried, and got in! Therefore, I quit my travel agency work after two years. I am from Kaunas, so for aviation trainings I had to move to Vilnius – capital city – for 2 months. Everyday I‘ve been going to lessons and practices. After all the exams I could fly!

My life has changed. I have spent more than 300 hours up in the air. I had reached 15 different cities and touched 3 new continents! I guess 2019 went very well but I wanted more.

So now, we are in 2020. At the beginning of the year, I decided to apply for a bigger and better plane trainings. Airbus A330. I was accepted and got trainings in Vilnius for a month and flew to Copenhagen for a day, to practice in an airplane simulation school. I got the license!

Then corona happened.

Our country had only 3 cases a day in March, but digits started growing to hundreds of cases. Lithuania went under lockdown. Our company couldn't get any traveling deals. My company has the biggest airplane in Baltic States, so some of us got an offer to fly to China and help loading huge boxes full of masks and isolation clothes. If I didn’t want to lose my job, I had to take it. It was very hard. We were flying to China 9 hours, loading boxes 5 hours, sleeping on a ground in an airplane and then flying back home to Lithuania. We couldn’t go outside in China. Had to bring food, something to clean and change ourselves. In June 8th it all ended. Our company had to downsize from 300 to 30 employees.

So it’s been a year.

I lost my job and couldn’t find myself elsewhere.

I’ve always had graphic designer’s career as a backup plan. In 2017 I’ve finished courses and had some amazing projects as a freelancer.

Since the pandemic started I’ve done some projects in graphic design, have connected with many amazing people in marketing and social media.

To continue my story, I have to mention that I bought my own flat in 2020! On 31st of December in 2019 I had a look in one building. There were many lofts made out of an old factory. So I made a deal, gave reservation money and started dealing with banks for a credit. It was a mess. First of all, before covid, I had to prove my income (as I get salary depending on flight hours) and extend my contract as a flight attendant. After that I got approved. Unfortunately, pandemic came and all banks decided not to give credits to anyone who works in aviation. Some weeks passed by, I didn’t know what to do, but one day my bank manager texted me, saying that I am the last one from aviation, who got an approve and will still get a credit. That was the best news in 2020. So I bought a loft! That summer I‘ve been dealing with architects, interior designers, contractors, who will finish building my home. Surfed on an internet a lot! Had to decide all the details on flooring, ceiling, walls, lights, electronic installations, carpet colors, stairs, shower place, decorations, window seating, well, EVERYTHING. Every detail. For some it could be a project of a lifetime.

So how did I get from Kaunas to Vilnius?

I’ve been searching a place to rent and live near my job - Vilnius airport. My parents saw an add of these lofts and suggested me ‘What if you buy a property instead of renting?’. So I bought. Remember, I bought it in Vilnius because of aviation job. But pandemic had different plans. Haha. Bought a flat in Vilnius and lost my job in Vilnius. So I’ve been still living in Kaunas building my home in another city for nobody knows what. Because we couldn’t socialize in real life, I downloaded tinder. Haha. Met a guy in Kaunas, dated him for 4 months, even moved in with him, but we broke up. Decided move to Vilnius anyways. Nobody was keeping me in Kaunas. So I moved back to Vilnius, to the same apartment with a girl, that I’ve been living for 2 months when I had stewardess’ trainings a year ago. Never felt happier. Jobless, recently broke up, waiting for my apartment to be ready to live in, living with a roommate in rentable flat, away from my family, but deep inside so proud of myself and how far I’ve come.

So 2020 ended just like that. With a blink of an eye.

Early on 2021 I found a job in retail. I’ve been selling beddings made of natural wool. Retail and pandemic, see the irony? Sales were low, working hours were late, not mentioning that for 2 months before I’ve been learning 24 pages of presentation by heart, doing exams and not knowing how much will I earn.

One day in March my aviation company contacted me, asking how am I doing, do I have a job, and if everything gets better would I be interested in flying again.

You would think I said yes? Unfortunately. Nobody expected that aviation would give us any guarantees. So I said ‘Sadly, but I have to say no this time’. I am a grown up now, have a credit, already got a job that I will give a chance. However, later on I saw no potential in retail and been craving for traveling, adventures and people. Therefore, I wrote back, that if they need any more people, I am in.

So here we are. Today is mid of June. I am living in my own almost finished apartment, quitted a job in sales, have some projects as a graphic designer, finished all the trainings and passed all the exams in aviation, waiting for my second vaccine shot and hoping that I will get a notification with my flying schedule soon.

One of the best quotes that I know “Day by day nothing has changed, but when you look back, everything is different”. So yeah, life is so much different from a year ago. After the pandemic many people realized what is more important to them, that nothing can’t be taken as granted and you never know, where you gonna be after a year.

So smile today, cherish all of the moments, all the people that you have right now, the job, which you have and be proud of yourself, because after all, you are growing and making memories to remember (and probably to tell people on internet as me, haha).

Lots of love,

perfectionist.