Dear Reader,
Every public transportation system in the world has its own ins and outs. These little tricks and tips are well-known by the locals, especially if public transport is their only means of getting around. I am fascinated by these systems and the people that use them. There are people from many different lifestyles, going to varying events. It is usually a pleasant surprise to find out more about these people after chatting with them for a few moments.
This week I have been commuting between Provo and Salt Lake using the UTA Frontrunner, Trax and local buses. Between these trips and all the time I used the bus system in Chile, I have been chatting and getting to know several people on my trips. Here are just a few of them that have caught my attention.
During Education Week at Brigham Young University, I rode a good portion of the way to Salt Lake with a man named Nephi. The conversation started, as it most often does, with questions about the bus routes and catching the train. He was struggling a little bit with how the system works, but we quickly discovered that our destinations were close together. He took comfort in that fact and decided to just follow me to the train station. He leads an interesting life. Being a dual-citizen of the United States and Mexico, he owns several different properties in both countries. We talked about the advantages of having dual citizenship before morphing into a talk about Education Week. Nephi was taking the train so late because he had stayed for one of the late classes of the day about marriage and family stability, which brought up some stories that I didn't know. Apparently Dallin H. Oaks prepared a prenuptial agreement before his second marriage. I haven't looked into that, so don't quote me on it. Nephi was so energized by that fact because of a girl he had been dating in the past year. Apparently she didn't want a prenup, which was one of the causes of their breakup. All in all, Nephi was a cool guy with a unique background.
Jon is another guy I bumped into on the Frontrunner train. He was a graduate from BYU and it turns out we had lived in the same apartment complex at the same time. Small world, right? He actually had the fun job of collecting data on UTA farepay cards. We shot the breeze for a good hour on the train, mostly about women. He had gone through some pretty rough breakups, but was hopeful because of a girl he had met online. They had planned their first date for the day after we talked on the train. I haven't ever talked to him again, but I assume all went well. Jon and I both enjoyed each other's company because we had similar experiences.
A shorter experience I had was with Debbie, a lady who got on the bus at the same stop I did and somehow we started talking. It was on a large Chilean bus where the seats are right next to each other and the bus fills up to capacity. That means there are no empty seats. We shared different stories with each other. Debbie's were mostly about health conditions. She had gone through lots of little health problems. Unfortunately I couldn't relate with her as much because I don't have much to say when it comes to medical emergencies or illness. However, talking it out really helped her.
It is because of experiences like these that I believe public transportation is vital for a peaceful and harmonious society. While traveling to different places, a person can find comfort with complete strangers, get help when they are lost, and connect with people he or she would not normally meet in their workplace or at school. These connections build a strong base for people getting along and finding happy moments.
As the title says, "I run for the bus, Dear. While riding I think of us, Dear." The best part about meeting these people on the bus or on the train is being able to relate the anecdotes to a loved one upon arriving home.
This week I have been commuting between Provo and Salt Lake using the UTA Frontrunner, Trax and local buses. Between these trips and all the time I used the bus system in Chile, I have been chatting and getting to know several people on my trips. Here are just a few of them that have caught my attention.
During Education Week at Brigham Young University, I rode a good portion of the way to Salt Lake with a man named Nephi. The conversation started, as it most often does, with questions about the bus routes and catching the train. He was struggling a little bit with how the system works, but we quickly discovered that our destinations were close together. He took comfort in that fact and decided to just follow me to the train station. He leads an interesting life. Being a dual-citizen of the United States and Mexico, he owns several different properties in both countries. We talked about the advantages of having dual citizenship before morphing into a talk about Education Week. Nephi was taking the train so late because he had stayed for one of the late classes of the day about marriage and family stability, which brought up some stories that I didn't know. Apparently Dallin H. Oaks prepared a prenuptial agreement before his second marriage. I haven't looked into that, so don't quote me on it. Nephi was so energized by that fact because of a girl he had been dating in the past year. Apparently she didn't want a prenup, which was one of the causes of their breakup. All in all, Nephi was a cool guy with a unique background.
Jon is another guy I bumped into on the Frontrunner train. He was a graduate from BYU and it turns out we had lived in the same apartment complex at the same time. Small world, right? He actually had the fun job of collecting data on UTA farepay cards. We shot the breeze for a good hour on the train, mostly about women. He had gone through some pretty rough breakups, but was hopeful because of a girl he had met online. They had planned their first date for the day after we talked on the train. I haven't ever talked to him again, but I assume all went well. Jon and I both enjoyed each other's company because we had similar experiences.
A shorter experience I had was with Debbie, a lady who got on the bus at the same stop I did and somehow we started talking. It was on a large Chilean bus where the seats are right next to each other and the bus fills up to capacity. That means there are no empty seats. We shared different stories with each other. Debbie's were mostly about health conditions. She had gone through lots of little health problems. Unfortunately I couldn't relate with her as much because I don't have much to say when it comes to medical emergencies or illness. However, talking it out really helped her.
It is because of experiences like these that I believe public transportation is vital for a peaceful and harmonious society. While traveling to different places, a person can find comfort with complete strangers, get help when they are lost, and connect with people he or she would not normally meet in their workplace or at school. These connections build a strong base for people getting along and finding happy moments.
As the title says, "I run for the bus, Dear. While riding I think of us, Dear." The best part about meeting these people on the bus or on the train is being able to relate the anecdotes to a loved one upon arriving home.
Comments
Post a Comment