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When 26-year-old Vivian graduated in interior architecture, she never imagined that her first full-time job would have her crossing borders at dawn just to get to work.
For two and a half years, Vivian lived what many people call the “cabin crew dream” — traveling to over 20 countries while juggling a work life split between Malaysia and Singapore.
But what made her story unique was the way she got there: through countless early morning train rides, long airport hours, and a routine only few would dare to take on.
How it all started
Vivian had never planned to be a flight attendant.
“I studied interior architecture, but the pay was low for fresh grads, and I didn’t want to be stuck behind a computer all day,” she said.
One day, she came across a job posting for cabin crew. Two days later, she walked into the interview room with zero preparation.
I just wanted to see what the process was like,” she recalled with a laugh. “I wasn’t even nervous because I didn’t expect anything.”
Surprisingly, she got the job. And just like that, her life was about to change.
Life between two countries
When Vivian first started out as a flight attendant, she rented a place in Singapore to stay closer to her workplace.
“But rental got too expensive and after a year, I moved to Johor Bahru instead. It was more affordable, but still close enough for work.”
Eventually, she began commuting from JB before crossing into Singapore for her flights. “I would take the KTM train early in the morning, sometimes around 4am just to avoid the jam,” she said.
Each trip to the airport took about an hour, and she made the journey up to three times a week.
“It wasn’t every day, but the early flights were the toughest. Sleep was definitely sacrificed.”
And if she’s being honest, there was another reason she preferred staying in Malaysia.
“I didn’t really like living in Singapore. The food didn’t suit my taste, and public transport wasn’t my favourite either. Being in Malaysia felt more like home, so the commuting was worth it.” she admitted.
New horizons
Despite the tiring commute, the job came with perks that many would envy, such as travelling to over 20 countries and ticking off places like India, Nepal, and the United States from her bucket list.
Traveling really changed my perspective. Some countries weren’t what I expected, but every trip was a new adventure.”
“And I met so many amazing people along the way. Off days were plenty too, so I could still spend time with family or edit my travel videos,” she shared.
What she learned along the way
Working as a flight attendant while commuting across borders wasn’t easy. The lack of sleep, early mornings, and unpredictable schedules took a toll, but Vivian says it was worth it.
“I always tell people, if your body can handle it, try it for two to three years. You get to see the world, meet so many people, and learn things you wouldn’t anywhere else.”
For her, it was an unforgettable chapter — one filled with adventure, challenges, and memories that will last a lifetime.
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