I am not understanding some parts of public transportation. Yes I have ridden many buses and trains in my lifetime but for some reason I have yet to catch on to the fact that one bus goes up the street and the other goes down the street. Or that one train is going south and one is going north. For this reason I have managed to miss, re-miss and catch the wrong train or bus several times in the last week.Today was no different. After arriving in Connecticut for the internship, that I still am not a huge fan of, I decided to try taking the bus to 'work' instead of spending 8 dollars on a cab. I went up a street, down a street, back down a street only to arrive right where I started (the train station) where my bus stop was at the whole time. Of course when the time came for me to decide whether the bus stop was on the left side or the right side, I was baffled and a little confused. I mean subways are so much easier than riding a bus. I never ever get confused, but these damn buses and Connecticut trains are confusing me. For the bus, I am never sure about what constitutes 'exact change' (lets say you have 2 dollar bills and the bus is 1.75? will they not let you on because you are giving them an extra quarter. I'm just wondering), and I always sit in the seats designated for wheel chairs. I like sitting up front, sue me.
Once I found the bus stop I waited for a few minutes, was tempted to ask the weird guy next to me which bus went where but bailed on that idea pretty quickly. A couple of minutes later two buses with the same number came down opposite sides of the street. One was white and had that 1950's model going, the other was updated with huge panel windows. I stood paralyzed, clutching the 1.75 cents (the fare) in my hand because I didn't know what bus would take me where. In the minute it took me to take tentative steps towards one bus and then the other, they both speed off without me. Damn.
Thursday I will attempt this experiment again, and maybe this time I will get on the bus instead of watching them pass by me with passengers, including the crazy one who surprisingly knew what bus to ride.
Today was an okay day. The Editor didn't wig out, the Associate Editor remained quiet, and I actual like this Bethany chick. But I don't know if I am okay with this internship being ok. I am growing more and more certain that publishing isn't for me. Reading bad writing is crushing, and I can't sit at that desk for another second. Marie thinks I should email Lenny (my only production contact) and ask him if he knows of any openings, internship or job wise. It would be wise to just let him know that i am looking to get some production work and that if he hears anything he should contact me. I need to do this, I haven't yet but I will.
1 comment:
unless the NY metro area is totally unlike any public transit i've every taken, you should be able to put in your $2 for a fare that costs $1.75. you just won't get change. i've had to overpay on buses in washington DC before and it was never a problem.
also, just ask the driver before you get on if the bus will take you to wherever. let other people get on ahead of you, then shout up the steps to the driver. they'll tell you what you need to know. they might not be very gracious about it, but they'll do it. and then - you'll know, and you won't ever have to ask again.
Post a Comment