Up Close and Personal (Literally)

I really don’t understand why some people are so temperamental about giving up personal space during rush hour when commuting via public transport. Yes, it sucks. Yes, no one likes being so close to a stranger that you know whether or not that person used deodorant that day. But if it’s something everyone has to suffer through in order to get from Point A to Point B… what’s the big fuss?

When I was commuting back to campus after I finished interning the other day, rush hour was in full swing on the Metro. Regular rush hour always sucks, but when you combine rush hour with tourist season, it really sucks. One of the women that was in front of me in the line to board the Metro looked around the crowded platform in disgust, rolled her eyes, and said, “I can’t deal with this.” She threw up her arms in a very diva-esque manner and then backed out of the line, disappearing into the crowd. I’d like to know where she went, because unless she went outside to a nearby cafe to sit for an hour and a half with a cup of coffee, it’s not like she had much of a choice about her lack of personal space. Unless she left the Metro stop to get a taxi, I guess.

I don’t particularly enjoy giving up my personal space when commuting during rush hour, but it’s not a big deal. Maybe it’s cause I’m used to Hong Kong public transport, which is always crowded. That doesn’t mean I enjoy being shoved around by others in a mad dash to try and get on an already-packed Metro car (Russian woman who shoved me forward so hard that I almost plowed headfirst into a poor old lady standing in front of me, I’m looking at you), but at least I get that it’s part and parcel of a rush hour commute (diva woman whom I mentioned earlier, that’s directed at you).

At least I make friends every time I commute back and forth during rush hour. Although since today is my last day at my internship, I won’t be making anymore rush hour friends for quite some time!

Cross-posted from breakthesky.net. Please leave any comments there.