Life in a big city when its cold and snowy is not at all like taking a trip to the mountains to "see the snow". For one thing, nobody here is on vacation. That means its the same commuters as usual, only now the buses and subways are hotter and busier than ever because no one wants to bike or walk in the snow. Me? I'll walk in the snow but not bike. Some of my friends proudly tell their snow biking stories and how they only slipped a little or they fell but at least they landed on their feet. I don't think I would be that lucky. Instead I shove my way onto buses so hot and crowded that my glasses immediately fog up and I can't see the irritated faces of all the people staring at me. It seems like every bus is overcrowded and every subway car is too hot. In the winter I'm always either too hot or too cold which is probably why its so easy to get sick. Right now Sam has a cold. I'm drinking lots of hot water and getting plenty of vitamins but who am I kidding? I'll probably end up with it in a day or two.
Back to the crowded bus. The other day I got on a bus that wasn't crowded at all. I walked straight to the back and strategically stood by a couple of currently occupied seats. I thought I might be able to score a seat in a stop or two. I was totally wrong. At the next stop it looked as if a whole village of people were waiting to get on. The bus was full to the brim when the last person squeezed their way in. Then we lumbered on to the next stop. Apparently the bus was no where near full capacity because about 10 more people got on in the front. Just as we were about to pull away a little old lady tapped on the back (exit ) door. She wanted to get in. The driver must have been crazy because he opened the back door. Not only did this little lady push herself in but four more old people got on behind her. It was really too much to bear and people started complaining loudly. One person screamed that it was too crowded and that she had a child with her. Those old people didn't seem to mind the complaints or that the door wouldn't shut. After about 20 seconds of the door trying to shut twice, a man ran up to the door. I assumed he would tell the ones halfway hanging out of the bus that they had to get off but instead he gave them a big shove and shut the door! The next thing I knew the bus was on its way to the next stop and the rude people who had just shoved their way on the bus started talking about space in the back of the bus. Since I was in the back of the bus I knew it was only a matter of time before I got an elbow jabbed in my stomach or face. I quickly asked the girl in front of me if she was getting off at the next stop. She started to panic a little but when the bus stopped at the next exit we all started moving. I was moving forward while others were moving back. I squeezed through a sea of puffy down jackets until I practically popped out the door.
I can't remember what it was like to be born but I can only imagine it must have been much like this, minus the puffy jackets. Puffy jackets really act as a good lubricant and or buffer when squeezed in small spaces with many people. Since these jackets are only worn in the really cold weather I suppose I must be happy it is winter right now. The only thing that could have made that experience more uncomfortable was if we had all been hot and sweaty with no puffy jacket buffer. I shudder to think of it.
Words to remember:
gōnggòngqìchē (公共汽车）= Public bus
xiàxuě (下雪）= to snow
tài jǐ le! (太挤了）= too crowded!
