The Tokyo Subwayesque Bus Ride

I have been riding the bus to school ever since I started at UNM. My first year of riding the bus, the Rapid Ride, that goes from the West side to UNM was not in existence. I took a couple of buses to get to school. These bus routes went through some pretty bad parts of town. I endured passengers who burned my nose hairs with their stench and being honked at by men, who in their culture it is acceptable to honk at women. It is hard for me to put in sufficient words, without using profanities, my hatred for being honked at.

A personal favorite experience happened one morning when I was getting off the bus at UNM. I was walking onto campus listening to music, off in my own little world, when a shady 20-something guy started to chat me up. He informed that he dropped of high school and that I should keep going to school, that I could make something of myself. I had the looks, I just needed the education. He then went onto light up a joint and tell me that he has been selling drugs since he was seven. He offered to give me his number and that he could hook me up. I kindly refused and went into a building I didn't really need to go into.

Needless to say, I was extremely happy when the UNM Rapid Ride route was created. I had far to many unpleasant times on the sketchy buses. The bus I ride now is predominately used by college students or faculty and all together feels safer. Since the bus is so convenient the bus is always so packed, especially in the morning. This morning the bus I usually take never showed, so when the next bus showed up there were two full bus loads on one bus. All the seats were already taken so all the people at the stop crammed into the bus. I can only compare it to the subways in Tokyo where they have the men with white gloves shove people into the cars so they can get the doors to close. Ok, I'm exaggerating but it was pretty bad. This guy with a hulk backpack, need I say more, decided it would be a good idea to take off his pack in the packed quarters. In doing so grazed my boob. He apologized and I told him it was no big deal. As a girl I'm used to boob grazes, they are kind of out there and in the way, plus my height kind of makes my boobs a perfect target for elbows.

I knew we were in trouble when I saw the Mildew Guy walk up to the bus stop. I have past experiences with riding the bus with Mildew Guy. The first time I smelled him I thought he must have left his clothes in the washer so they smelled sour and didn't have time to rewash them so he was forced to wear sour mildewy clothes. I didn't past any judgement on him the first time but it quickly became apparent that he just smelled like that. I dreaded the sight of him walking onto the bus. So today I felt sorry for everyone on the bus when I saw him at the bus stop. That feeling only got worse due to the occupancy status of the bus. Every time he moved he released his putrid smell into the bus. It's a good thing I'm used to Mildew Guy because I have pretty bad gag reflexes. I'm past gagging every time I smell him.

I was also very aware of the fact that my butt was eye level to the four guys sitting behind me. Feeling self-conscious of my behind, I kept wondering if my butt was up to par. I have no idea what makes a nice butt. Personally, I find butts rather repulsive so I am no judge. Then there was a moment during the bus ride when the driver thought it would be a good idea to slam on the breaks sending everyone flying or clinging for dear life to the bar they were holding onto.

It's a good thing I am a stickler for time. I always take the earlier bus in case of situation like this. I got to school with enough time to go to the bathroom and wash my hands. I'm no germ maniac but I felt like my hands were covered in filth. It's a good thing my History class never stars on time.