Public Transportation: Oh, the Angst

So, as someone who had never been in a taxi, on a subway, and had relatively little experience on buses, public transportation was one of those big things I had to thrown into right away. Now that I have gotten used to it, though, I feel like I get so angry with other people who clearly have NO idea what they're doing there.

I just have to get this out.

1. If you get right near the doors at a transfer station (big station to get on trains going in all different directions), you better not step out onto the platform and then stop to look where you need to go. MOVE AWAY FROM THE DOORS or you will be pushed, and if I have to push you, don't you dare look at me like I'm the bad guy, I might miss my train because of you!

2. Don't make the old lady ask you for your seat, yes, I know the elderly have special sections, but those fill up super fast. You're 13, she's 445326, you can stand for the 6 minutes until your stop.

3. On the bus, I go the farthest back. But there's that one middle-aged Korean man who's on his smartphone thinking "Oh, this foreigner is smart enough to work out the buses, but not how to ride them" and thinks he can go farther, thus, when discovering he cannot, pushes me farther up to then take my spot. NOT COOL, BRO.

4. Back to the subway, I get it, you and your boyfriend want to stand side by loving side, but I'm trying not to be more late than I already am, and I'd like to not get stuck behind you when you go half-way up the escalator and then just stop. I would like to continue walking, please.

5. To those groups of teenage boys joking around and talking about me, I understand your Korean, and even if I didn't I can still understand your fingers pointing at me. Thank you for making me think my hair is messed up every time I get onto a bus or subway.

6. When you have a large bag and are holding it in front of you so no one can tell, thank you for getting on the bus right in front of me, and then deciding to move it behind you with no warning whatsoever and hitting whomever is behind you (aka. me) in the eye with it, then not saying sorry. I really appreciate you.

7. To the old men who decide to sit next to me in an otherwise empty metro car or bus, thank you for scooting really close to me, and then making me try and get smaller, while you stretch out and take up enough room for three people. I really enjoy being pinned against the railing/window. It's really a fun time.

8. Thanks to the other foreigners who stare at me more than the Koreans. Yes, I know I'm in a school uniform. You're wearing a puke-green scarf, but you don't see me staring at you for it.

9. I almost forgot to thank all the Koreans for staring at me all the time. Even when I stare back. Really, I enjoy feeling everyone in a bus stare at me for 15-20 minutes until I get off.


I love public transportation, and I love Korea, I just had to get these pet peeves out.

WARNING: the above post might have slight sarcasm.