Lessons from a new hire

By James Wysong

Travel columnist

updated 12:07 p.m. ET Jan. 8, 2008

James Wysong Travel columnist • Profile • E-mail

I was working a full flight to Germany, and the entertainment system had broken down mid-Atlantic. It was winter, and after a bout of flu had ravaged my family, I was pretty burned out. Besides, after 20 years of flying, I had been to Germany hundreds of times. Now, with a layover coming, all I wanted to do was barricade myself in my hotel room.

I hadn't realized it until that trip, but somewhere along the way I had turned into one of those flight attendants that I both pitied and mocked when I first began flying: a "slam click" — so called for the sound of the hotel room door closing and locking behind them. My plans — or, rather lack of plans — were set until I met Frank, a new-hire flight attendant. He was roughly my age, on his very first trip, and he was eager to see the world. He had a wide-eyed grin and asked endless questions about Germany.

I was happy for Frank, but I never intended to show him Munich until he asked me if I would join him for his first authentic German beer. The other crew members were all staying in, and I couldn't let him partake alone, so I joined him on what turned out to be a truly memorable experience. By the end of the trip, the teacher had become the student and I had relearned some very valuable lessons.

1. Look out the window
I envied all the enjoyment Frank was getting just looking out the airplane window. Yes, you may have seen it all before, but if you take a second look, you might just find some interesting scenery, or some play of shadow and light, that will let your mind escape the monotony of flying.

2. Go ahead, talk to strangers
You can see every landmark, museum and cultural exhibit a destination has to offer, but if you don't talk with any of the local people, you really haven't experienced the heart and soul of the place. Frank managed to strike up new conversations just about everywhere we went. In a conversation with some local teenagers we were shocked to discover that "Baywatch" is one of the most popular TV shows, and that David Hasselhoff sells out most of his concerts (!) in Germany. Sing? I thought the guy just couldn't act.

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3. Get excited
I don't care if you have been there a hundred times before, there is always something that you can look forward to doing or revisiting. Pull out a guidebook, get tickets to a local sporting event or concert, query the concierge for ideas — plan just one outing before you go, and it will change your whole trip.

4. Be a tourist — even when you're on business
Frank wanted to go to the Hofbräuhaus, a 400-year-old beer hall that ranks as one of the biggest tourist traps in Europe. I hesitated, remarking that it is a bit touristy. Frank replied, "So what? Aren't we tourists?" He had a point. We ended up sitting at a table, drinking from beer steins, singing beer songs in terrible German, and talking with a crowd of Russians, Australians and Chinese — all of whom, of course, were tourists.

5. Avoid preconceived notions
Don't assume that a place is going to be a certain way, or avoid other places and activities for fear of encountering hassles. You might be surprised at what you find.

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