All writers should take the bus, at least every now and then. Or the subway. Really anywhere where you can observe a lot of different people up close. I take the bus almost every day and I see some interesting people.
Last Thursday, I was taking the bus out into the countryside to one of my four schools. I was sitting in the back when a mentally handicapped man and an older man got on and sat down next to me, the handicapped one closer to me. He was interested in my book and pointed at it and gave me a thumbs up. Then he motioned to the older man and said, “He’s my dad.” This caused the older man to start laughing, so I didn’t know if he really was his father or not. I just said, “Oh, really?” “Oh, I see” and such things, since he kept saying it.
A lot of the people on the bus were older and seemed to know each other, so I felt like I was in kind of a community meeting. Then the handicapped man said, “He’s fifty” pointing to his “dad”, who started laughing even harder and said, “Yeah, I wish I were fifty again.” I really liked the older man; just a jolly sort of fellow.
A middle-aged woman came back, and saw there weren’t any seats left, so I gave her mine. Her husband was still standing up, with his backpack on. “Hey groom!” she yelled (Korean woman often call their husbands “groom”, although I’ve never heard a man call his wife “bride”). “Hey groom! It’s going to be a long ride. Take off your heavy backpack.” He took it off and put it on the floor with a grin. “That’s my groom for you,” she said. I saw other older women smiling and nodding as well. They understood.
The two men who were sitting next to me got off a few stops before me and the handicapped one gave me an awkward high-five. I smiled and said good bye. I went back and sat where they had been sitting and the woman I had given up my seat to apologized. I’m not sure why but possibly because she thought the handicapped man was bothering me. “Not a problem,” I said. “It’s okay.” And I meant it. I may never totally fit in here in Korea, but I do enjoy being a part of things anyway.
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By the way, a few days ago, I posted something called The Mystery on the Bus, recounting another experience I had on a bus coming home from school. I asked people what they thought was going on. The first virtual high-five is for Carmelita, for the wackiest idea (I almost wish it were true), and the second is for EadesyBeadsy, for what I think is the most likely answer. Good job!
High five!
The Green-Walled Tower 
April 13th, 2014 at 12:47 am
bus and trains truly teach us a lot about society, different types of people. I wish I wrote when i commuted from burdwan 🙂
April 13th, 2014 at 12:16 pm
Most of my morning bus rides are full of high school students, who are usually just sleepy in the morning, but the one on Thursdays is mostly middle-aged farmers, who are more interesting.
April 13th, 2014 at 2:40 pm
agreed, they are really interesting specimens for studying. Their innocence is quite relieving 🙂
April 13th, 2014 at 1:53 am
What a wonderful post. I completely agree. I don’t drive so it’s more by necessity that I take public transit, but it gives me great stories!
http://www.awordofsubstance.wordpress.com
April 13th, 2014 at 8:53 am
People watching – and random interactions – can be fun and educational 🙂 From what you relate, the people came across as gracious. Lucky you.
In Singapore, when you wish some one or give a smile – 99% of the time, be prepared to receive a blank look.
April 13th, 2014 at 8:59 am
I get the blank look sometimes here since I’m a foreigner but not usually. Koreans are pretty friendly and children especially often say hello.
April 13th, 2014 at 7:28 pm
Bus rides are a goldmine of writing fodder, and I mean that in the best way possible. You meet so many different kinds of people, and they stick in your mind long after they’re gone.