Flyyyyyyyyyyy: Commuting Life: Exposed

Okay so first of all, LOLZ to the title.

Yeah yeah. I understand that anyone can blog about this 'cause I know I'm not the only Filipino person who commutes. [Duh.] But it's really a big deal for me, since I've never commuted FOR REAL until I started in college. And by FOR REAL, I mean commuting alone, for the purpose of really coming to and from school. Like, everyday. Can you imagine that? Every single day! My school's location is in Aurora Blvd., Quezon City and I have classes in Recto, Manila too. When I advance in 3rd year college [hopefully], all my classes will be in Q.C. alone, no more Recto. Weeee here comes the sun doo-roo-doo-doo... Lolz but I still got a long way to go so going back! :D I was never really allowed to go out there on my own. That's why commuting, at first, came to me as a culture shock. Haha sad, but true.

The used-to-be's. My Dad would drive me and my siblings to school and then he'll be off to the office. Mang Pete, our school bus driver, would be the one to fetch us home. So there was never a need to commute at all. Although once in a while, I commute... But only in the company of friends, when we got hangouts & get-together's [siyempre outside school 'yun] And more often than not, we'd go for a taxi cab to bring us to our destinations.

Time's changed but there are still hesitations. Now that I'm in college, the idea of my Dad driving me to Q.C. and Recto would be plainly impractical....though it was the case during my first few weeks in college. I mean, I live in Pasig and my school locations are pretty distant. Hihi, I think my Dad was just as scared as I was to go out there and commute all by myself. I was hesitant to commute on my own. I'd ask him to give me a ride to school, and without a second thought, he does! But soon though, I realized that it was very impractical. The everyday scenario in Recto, especially around 7, is a traffic-jammed, crowded road. And even if my Dad won't let me know, I know he's late for work. Eh we don't have a driver naman to do the job. So I had to be smart! I had to do something to rise to the occasion. Then I said to myself, I'm gonna commute on my own. Tentenenennn!!

Step-by-step solution. If you are a regular bus-rider, then most probably we've seen each other! 'Di lang natin alam. At first, I knew nothing but to ride the bus to and from school. However soon enough, little by little I learned to take other modes of transportation [which would take me to school FASTER] such as tricycle, jeepney and LRT combined! :) Beginnings are always harsh, ika-nga. But experience will, in a way, make you better. You just need focus and determination! Hahaha. If before, my Dad drops me off at the actual front gate of our school, now he just drops me off at the LRT Station. But then again, my schedules vary, so it's not gonna be everyday that my Dad could give me a ride. So there, I'm gonna have to set the level of courage that I have a little bit higher than the usual and discover more ways to be able to independently get myself to school. And so far, I'm doing good! I've been commuting for about 8 months now, just FYI hehe

These are my new insights on the world of commuting [for which most commuters who take the same route as I do would agree]:

1.) The bus may be an easy way, but it could take so much of your time, with all the traffic jam and such.

2.) The ideal time for you to ride the bus [Quiapo-Cainta/Taytay], on a daily basis, is at 6am. Later than 6 would mean super siksikan, traffic jam [lagi naman] and if you're unlucky, embarrassing out-of-balance-moments may just come your way. ;) Believe me, I've experienced that SO many times. But worry not, 'cause you'll get over it.

3.) The more tiring your commuting experience is, the faster you get to school. I ride the tricycle, jeepney and another tricycle, a little bit of walking, and then I take the LRT. Afterwards, it's either I'm gonna walk my way to school or ride another jeepney. All these are accomplished in more or less than an hour. Needless to say, it requires more patience in handling barya money. ;) Sanayan lang naman. ;)

4.) Punctuality is a virtue. Can't believe I'm saying this myself, but it is! It really is. People will not care about how you arrived school, but you have got to be on time. And that's what really matters: be on time. Oh, and of course, be prepared too. Being on time but unprepared is just as pointless as being late.

5.) It may be cliche, but it's true: Ask for divine guidance. Woah, it's just commuting you may think.. But I firmly believe that I wouldn't make it this far if it weren't for the Lord's continual guidance. So far, I haven't been into a violent fight with a jeepney/bus/tricycle driver about my sukli and other issues [could you imagine] or have ever been robbed of any of my valuable/s or worst: accident and so many bizarre but possible misfortunes one can stumble upon! So yeah, that's something to be thankful for.

My not-so-creative ideas. Because I was beginning to like commuting, I figured I wanted to have some souvenirs that marked a new phase in my life: college. As silly as it may seem, I collected all the receipts and bus tickets that I've obtained during the 1st semester. I was just so proud of myself! Haha. In fact, my first LRT card ever is still with me! I'm not sure though if it's legal. Hmmm oh well I sure hope it's legit. By 2nd sem, though, I sensed the pointlessness of my continual act of collection, so I stopped. But the first ones will still be with me!

Here are photographs of my means of transpo. I just Googled them

Buses