The Epic 629-B

This was an essay I wrote for on my Introduction to Mexican Culture class. We had to compare culture differences and I decided to do mine about my bus the 629-B, I take it every day to and from school, except the days when its raining...

Public transportation is always an amusing experience for me. Growing up in a rural community I did not have this public service. Throughout high school, I traveled with my mother to her various conferences in the United States and I always had an interesting experience with the public transportation. Going to school in Vancouver, BC, opened my mind to a whole new world of buses, sky trains, and ferries. This amuses because you never know who you are sitting beside, where they come from or where they’re going. You can share fifteen minutes with a person, and they may change your life forever; for example, looking at the book they are reading and realizing you still need to take that creative writing class you’ve always wanted to, or being brave enough to make conversation and meeting a new lifelong friend.

Here in Mexico, the buses amuse me because of the value that they hold. In my early morning trek to school, I firstly have to wait in the freshly polluted air, after just showering and trying to present myself in the best manner possible. Then I never know how to dress, yes it may be cold in the morning, but you never know how hot it is going to be on the bus. After I get on, we travel en route to Tec. On the way we pick up various students, workers and parents with children, who are all starting their day and trying to make their way around the city. First observation, there are two types of bus drivers, the one who thinks, no matter how packed the bus may seem, there is always room for one more. Or the bus driver who thinks the bus is full enough and speeds past all the stops as I see furious passengers left to choke on the exhaustion of the diesel fueled engine. This bus driver will also drive on the opposite side of the road, this is when I close my eyes and say dear God, I know you are looking over me, please let this bus make it on time to the right lane, and at the very last minute the driver swerves back to the right side of the road, avoiding all opposing traffic.

No matter how packed the bus is, no one ever complains. In Vancouver sometimes I take public transportation for granted compared to here where they are very grateful to have transportation to where they need to be going. Even the guy at the very front of the bus, stuck standing on the steps between the door and another passenger, he also happens to have the zipper of the other passenger’s backpack stuck in his nose, and does he say anything? No, this is what truly amazes me.

Another thing, you may think, oh yes a packed bus and an open seat at the front of the bus, “score”. No, the seats in the front are one of the most uncomfortable because they are always blistering hot in the afternoon due to low air circulation or super squished in the mornings. Also the seats in the back of the bus are always the bumpiest and you arrive to your destination feely awake yet nauseous. You may be asking, well where do I sit? And if you are thinking the aisle seat, you’re wrong, when the bus is packed there is constantly someone being thrown into you from the wicked turns and jerky stops. Next thing, when traveling to school in the morning and you wake up to find its pouring down rain, do not take the bus. Yes it is extra amusing, but you arrive to school two hours later than you are supposed to and the bus is super muggy and stuffy from all the windows being closed.

All of these things are what makes my stay in Mexico more enjoyable and unique; I would never trade it for anything, even having my own car here, because really I think that’s a bit more terrifying.