He was up early in the day to squeeze out as much time as he could so he can do as much as he could on this treasured trip.
And by the time he's on board, he's half dead and as stone as a zombie.
Try as hard as he could, he just couldn't sleep on the cramped economy seat.
Side way, with legs folded on the seat, head on the arm rest, blanket over head, all curled up, he just couldn't find a comfortable position to lull himself to dreamland.
And since it's night time, there's nothing to see out of the window.
So be began looking around at other passengers and the stewardesses going about their work.
After the stewardesses were done serving the meals and clearing them, the lights were dimmed and most of the passengers were soon fast asleep.
He was sitting just one seat away from the kitchen and could hear the stewardesses' talking about housing prices.
Their loud conversation pierced through the stillness of the night.
Just then, he noticed an elderly Japanese lady sitting next to him, which was separated by the aisle.
She seemed to be having difficulty fiddling with the remote control for the inflight entertainment. She also looked restless and constraint. It's as if she wanted to ask for help but was afraid to do so.
Knowing a little Japanese, he approached her.
It turned out that she didn't know how to use the remote control. He helped her and started chatting with her.
The lady was visiting her daughter working in Singapore and this was the first time in her entire life to take an airplane.
Wow. Just imagine.
An elderly lady making her way all alone from her hometown to the airport and flying for the first time. She must be feeling a little scared, a little apprehensive, a little lost, a little excited, a little unsure. A mixed feeling.
He reassured the lady and told her to just approach him if she needed any help in using the gadget.
He thought she might feel apologetic if she kept asking him for help. So he quietly and subtly turned to make sure that everything was fine with her.
In fact, he was so attentive that he knew what she wanted by her gesture even before she opened her mouth.
And all these while, the stewardesses continued with their talk, without bothering to come out to check on the passengers if they needed help or anything.
The plane landed safely. He guided the lady to the immigration and collect her luggage, and ensuring that her daughter was there to pick her up.
Now, were the stewardesses too bored with their job that they rather sit and chat in the kitchen then to do what they were paid to do?
Were they too numbed to notice that there is an elderly lady traveling on board for the first time needing help with the inflight entertainment? Or they couldn't be bothered?
Were they not trained to identify first timer? Or they were trained to treat every customer in the same way?
It turned out this man had wanted to be a flight steward when he was young.
He had applied to different airlines each time an opportunity arise. Unfortunately, he has never being able to go beyond the first interview.
Why?
He barely meet the height requirement. His command of English wasn't good and didn't speak well. He speaks with a tone that sounded like a duck. He had a scar from chicken pox on his nose. He probably doesn't look smart and project the image of the airlines in their uniform. He just didn't fit into the airlines' stereotype of steward.
He's just a caring person. Someone who smiles without the need to be trained. Someone who is observant and sensitive to others. He's patient with elderly and little kids. Someone who gives of himself to help others in need.
All the things that cannot be measured.