I’m one of those commuters who drive a lot and thus get asked often for rides back out of campus. No big deal for me, if it’s on the way I usually enjoy the company, if it’s not, at least I know they when they get home.
But recently i’ve been bussing a lot more. I noticed a lot of people don’t like to talk on the busses (don’t get me wrong, I don’t lash out at everyone to get a conversation started with every stranger I meet). Then again, i’m a person who doesn’t mind the occasional conversation with a random person on the bus. It actually makes my day that much more interesting.
But as I was commuting home once the other day, a man sat down on the seat beside where I was standing and put his bag on the seat beside him. I wasn’t planning on sitting because my stop was soon and well, I was so pumped to get home I didn’t want to sit anyways. So our conversation went something like this (he initiated it literally out of nowhere).
Person A: Why aren’t you sitting? Is it because i’m not the same colour as you?
Me: Sorry what was that?
Person A: Cause i’m not the same colour as you?
Me: Oh no I’m not sitting because my stop is soon.
Person A sticks hand out: I just had a baby girl
Me *shakes hand*: Congratulations
From there on, we had a talk about his family and the economy and how he wants to sustain himself and not depend on his father and stuff. But at the point of the conversation that I described, I was stunned. Did students like me (or apparently, colours like me) give off the impression often that we were rude and discriminating racists?
You meet many kinds of people on the bus. I wasn’t mad or anything from it (he was basically calling me a racist). I really hope these generalizations aren’t common amongst many commuters. Just be aware and respectful to everyone is all I ask!
On another complete note, if you’re ever hungry and want to go off campus/live off campus AND have nothing to do on Sundays, Flying Wedge has an All You Can Eat Pizza and All You Can Drink Pop for 10.95. I went for the first time with some fellow classmates for a during midterm-season break and it was great. For a student, keeping fed is an expensive task. Take advantage of the good deals you can get and save as much as you can!
