A writer/commuter: a rare breed…
Commuting to work everyday allows me to observe people, to reflect on some ideas, to practice my writing and to think about the big story I am working on at the moment…
This blog is to share those observations and thoughts, the randomness which comes with commuting, the beauty of simple gestures and my road to becoming a writer and a better photographer…
And here we go!
The one who likes to sit down but does not want anybody sitting next to her…:
this one lady used to always sit down wherever there was an available place. Seems normal, I actually do the same.
However, whenever she could, she would not follow the very well-known and worldwide accepted commuting well-behaving rules:
(1) do not sit on the aisle seat when both aisle and window seats are availables
(2) do not use your bag/backpack/newspapers as a friend/shield when the train/bus/metro is full…
The first rule is simple, it is quite annoying to pass over somebody while technically that person could have simply moved over, thus making it easier and less risky for him/her. Why do I say risky? If you have not lived through that situation, let me explain. One usually has to juggle (as a woman at least) with one handbag, a possible sweater, another bag (if the purse is too small to contain a book, a fruit, a bottle of water, some cookies). Trying to get to that window seat with all these necessary ustensils without touching/hurting the one passenger sitting comfortably on the aisle seat is more difficult that it may seem at first.
The bag rule (and here it´s not only women (men also use backpacks and both sex do have laptop bags) is also quite simple: if you see that the bus, train, metro is full, then please put your bag on your laps. Some people see the bag as an obstacle and are too shy to ask…or believe maybe the seat is taken…or simply take it as it is: That person does not want to be disturbed…Maybe but again that early in the morning, people will not try to start a conversation (most of the times)
So please, when you are on your next commute or if you are new to the system, remember the rules, they are simple but make it so easy for everybody…
Elodie Nowodazkij 