"MarieLouise... Marie," his voice changes promptly into a more serious tone, "here is my problem..." He taps his pen on the table, seemingly doubtful how to end that sentence. "I only have men in the cockpit... This means you could be the only female flight deck crew member..."
When the 24-year-old, slightly addicted to Diet Coke, independent, noisily headstrong, and oddly tainted with the peculiar need to constantly feel alive, walks into the headquarters of Denim Air; life is about to change-drastically. She lands her dream job; however, navigating the heavily male-dominated world of aviation while also overcoming the burdens of childhood trauma, the brutalities of the Afghan war, and the consequences of prejudices brings unexpected challenges and trials she never thought she would ever have to face. Everything seems fine until her world suddenly turns pitch-black, and the way back to the light seems almost beyond the bounds of possible.
For decades, she's been silent... and now she's done biting her tongue.
ML Jorissen's remarkable debut memoir, 'I Stand In Menland', is a true story about a 24-year-old sole female pilot of The Fokker 50 fleet in a world where the sky is both her sanctuary and her battlefield. From the chaos of Lagos to the horrors of the Afghan war, she confronts challenges that test her courage, convictions, limits, and very sense of self. Through her eyes, we witness the complexities of the aviation industry, the brutality of war, and the resilience of the female soul.
While navigating treacherous weather and her own childhood traumas, her journey is raw, honest, and deeply moving. And when she finds herself in the heart of war-torn Afghanistan, facing death and despair, she's slammed with feelings and realities she never thought she would ever face. But her tale is not just a story of persistence; it's a story of redemption, of reclaiming what was taken from her, love and betrayal, and finding light in the darkest of times.
'I Stand In Menland' is a fascinating, emotional rollercoaster that will keep you turning pages, reminding you that no matter how dark the skies may seem, there's always a way back to the light.
