I've never been a public transportation kind of girl. Since moving to Alexandria, however, I've had to change that. Not a big deal, the metro and bus system is pretty easy to figure out, and it's relatively clean. But I have learned a lot from my excursions out:
Lesson 1: Always Have Something To Do
There is a guy that I would ride the bus home with all of last semester, and it looks like that will be the case this semester as well. Last semester he always had his computer with him- playing video games the entire ride home. I never understood how he knew when it was time to get off the bus. He must have some sort of internal clock, telling him it's time to pull the cord telling he bus driver to stop... But this last week, he had a book. Progress!! We'll see what he does on the way home next week.
Lesson 2: Where to Sit
When I was young, I could sit in the back of the car on a drive through canyons and be able to read an entire book. No car sickness whatsoever. Not exactly true anymore. I sat in the middle of the bus and tried to read and didn't make it twenty minutes before needing to stop and just focus on sitting. Now I always sit in the first few rows. Even then, some drivers are a bit rough on the gas and brakes and I end up just learning what stores are on Duke Street.
An early lesson I also learned about where to sit was that the left side of the bus is always in the sun in the afternoon. It is better to sit on the right side of the bus unless you want to overheat. Now I always sit on the right side, in the front.
Lesson 3: Books vs Music
I always have something to read on the bus, not worrying about having any music to listen to. Then, a couple weeks ago, I was privy to a conversation I really did NOT want to be listening to. Some 19-20 year old girl was talking to various guys on the bus and trying to convince them that they should sleep with her. Lesson learned- even if you have a book, music is usually a really great option.
Lesson 4: Be Flexible
I usually take the 2 pm bus to get to school. The only downside to this is that I get to school about an hour early with very little to do. The problem is, if I take the next bus at 3:10pm, I will get to campus only 4 minutes before my class starts, which I have always thought would make me late. Last week, I said to myself, "Self- I don't mind being late to this class this week, why not try the 3:10pm bus and see if I can walk fast enough to get to class in just a couple minutes?" So, I skipped the 2 pm bus.
I was at the stop at 3:00pm, waiting with my pass in hand, and the bus was coming, just a block away. I waited, the bus signaled to pull over to pick me up, began to slow down, and then drove right past me. What?! What in the world just happened? Lesson learned. Just take the 2 pm bus.
Lesson 5: Follow The Rules
This lesson comes in two parts:
Part 1--Today, I took the 2pm bus to school. It stopped for me, I had a book and music if I needed it. Seemed like a normal day- no one crazy looking on the bus. Sat on the right side, second row. I looked over and saw this person (honestly couldn't tell if it was a guy or a girl) exhale, and smoke came out. Whoa Self, stop imagining things.
Whatever. Look over a little later, it exhales again, and again smoke- white smoke, almost invisible. Look in its hand- it's like a cigarette- but nope- it is not a cigarette. Awesome. Getting high on a public bus. Few minutes later, it pulls out the alcohol. Even better. More people get on, sit between me and Smokey Smokerson. But still- no one has said anything to him. A feisty black lady sits next to him and I think "Great- she will tell him to cut it out!" Nope. Nothin.
The bus empties a little and no one is sitting next to him anymore--we are stopped at a stop and Smokey starts punching the window! Like four times, really hard. Everyone around it scattered. It would have been entertaining if it wasn't so freaky--not knowing if it would start punching people next... The bus driver got up and yelled, and I realized Smokey was a guy when he answered the driver with a reason as to why he was punching the window. Something about someone trying to talk in his ear, accompanied by a fluttering hand by his ear... (remember how no one was sitting near him?) Smokey was kicked off the bus at the next stop because he pulled out his alcohol again. Thank you bus driver!
Lessons learned--Don't do drugs? Don't inhale too deeply while on a public bus? Read the rules at the front of the bus before you light up? It's time to buy a second car at the Slade house? I haven't worked this lesson out yet...
Part 2--Today I took the bus home from school. I have to take a bus that leaves campus at 7:45 pm and I get home in an hour. Not a problem. Took that bus home every Monday evening last semester and never had any issues.
Tonight was different. A quarter of the way home, group of guys got on the bus, loud and obnoxious. Only speaking Spanish. One sits in the empty seat in front of me, and one decides to sit next to me. Or rather, on top of me. He was completely drunk. It was 8:00!! Really?!
In the end I spent twenty minutes trying to get him to stop sitting on me, keep his hands and elbows to himself, and move to a different seat. I ended up mildly groped and soaked in beer. He had an open can in his pocket that spilled all over me. Awesome. First trip of the day my clothes soak up all the drug smoke from Smokey, the next trip I end up soaking up all the beer from some drunk Spanish speaking ******* (I can't say the words I want to...) "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Broken, slurred English. All he and his friends said as they stared (rather creepily...) at me before getting off the bus. My eye. They aren't even going to remember that bus ride tomorrow.
Lessons learned--don't drink? Push the guy out of the seat next time? It's time for a new car for the Slades? Again, still working this lesson out.
