Saturday, July 13, 2002

More Commuter Experiences

What kind of a commuter are you? For someone like me who has to take the public transport everyday (my work place is too near to justify the cost of a car), you can't help but categorise the different types of commuters onthe train. Here's what I've come up with:

1. The "staring-blankly" commuter
I would think that this is probably the most common type there is around. There's nothing wrong with it, unless you try and see yourself from the outside looking into the train. You'll probably be spooked at how "alien" the people in the train looked. If I were an alien, I'd probably think that these are not actually real people but robots programmed to work to death (or something like that).

2. The "reading" commuter
This can be sub-divided into 2 groups: the newspapers and the books.
Frankly I dislike the newspapers group. It's irritating when you are short like me (hey kellyanne, i'm 5 feet too!) and newspapers are flapping right in your face. There is only so much elbow space in the entire train, mister!
The books group are alright I guess; maybe thats cos I read all the time on the train (though my journey probably takes me only 20 min).

3. The "interested" commuter
Now I don't understand this group. It's 8.30 in the morning and you are looking "interested"? Unbelievable. I would have to ask you for the secret of your life if I can ever be roused to bother about you. These people look around like they have never been in a train before. Making eye contact with your fellow sardine-commuters and nodding in a "I-know-I'm-in-the-same-shit-too" manner? Once again, may I emphasise that it's 8.30 AM in the morning! These people are weird! Thank goodness they are in the minority.

For me, I'm the girl in the furthermost corner of the train, listening to my discman and reading a book (one of the best "commuter-fiction": anything by douglas coupland and nick hornby), trying to delude myself that I'm actually "not" going to sell my life away to a company who doesn't give 2 hoots about me...

What about you?

posted by Sharon K at 5:39 am