I have been a frequent air traveler since I was a few months shy of my sixth birthday, when my parents packed me off to boarding school two plane rides away from home. Those days of being willingly handed from air hostess to air hostess as an 'unaccompanied minor' made me blase about the rigors of air travel.

The quote by Shashi Tharoor, "I have been a frequent air traveler since I was a few months shy of my sixth birthday, when my parents packed me off to boarding school two plane rides away from home. Those days of being willingly handed from air hostess to air hostess as an 'unaccompanied minor' made me blase about the rigors of air travel," reflects his early and frequent exposure to air travel. Tharoor highlights how being sent to boarding school at a young age led to him becoming accustomed to the complexities and inconveniences of air travel, an experience that many people might find daunting, but which became second nature to him over time.

The phrase "unaccompanied minor" refers to a service provided by airlines for children traveling without a parent or guardian. Tharoor’s mention of being handed from air hostess to air hostess underscores how this experience became a regular part of his childhood, making him less sensitive to the usual rigors and hassles of air travel that others might find stressful or overwhelming. His early experiences likely helped shape his indifference or blase attitude toward flying, a process that turned what could be seen as an uncomfortable or stressful experience into something routine and familiar.

Tharoor’s story also speaks to the privilege and adaptability that come with early exposure to such experiences. While many children would find the idea of traveling alone at such a young age overwhelming, his upbringing allowed him to become comfortable with it. This reflects his ability to adjust to difficult or unfamiliar situations, which likely contributed to his resilience and composure in the face of life’s challenges.

The origin of this quote comes from Tharoor’s personal experience growing up in a family where international travel was a norm. As a prominent Indian author and politician, Tharoor often draws on his unique childhood experiences to reflect on broader themes of privilege, adaptability, and the shaping of one’s worldview through formative experiences. His words highlight how early exposure to challenges, like frequent travel, can alter one’s perception of what others may find difficult, making it easier to handle as an adult.