Of Blisters, Band-aids, and Buses
Beginning of the day: Purple Jansport backpack, leftover from college. Check. Water bottle. Check. Homework from Monday. Check. 3-Ring binder, pink highlighter, blue gel pen. Check. A flat pair of shoes that upon first inspection and reasoning seem relatively comfortable to walk in. Check. Money for bus fair. Check. All seems well.
End of the day: Adorning my right foot - 4 band-aids (a small oval on top, a small oval underneath, a regular size strip around my middle toe, and a very large one hugging my very blistered heal). Adorning my left foot - matching heal hugging large band-aid. Adorning my forehead - smallish bloody scrape from a theater game warm-up. On the inside of my shins - splints. In my wallet - nothing but receipts and expired bus transfers. Inside my head - many, many thoughts from teacher training, Aristotle's Poetics and Augusto Boal's view of Aristotle's view of theater.
Paradox seems to be the theme of the week thus far. How odd to be starting out a new life, a new adult life, feeling like I'm 8 again on the first day of school. Walking 6 blocks down a very busy street, across the freeway for all to see on my way to the bus stop. 'Yes, this is a back pack I'm wearing with my peach polo shirt and khakis, got a problem?" I'm sure no one probably gave me more than 2 seconds thought, but it's amazing how time changes when you're walking. And taking the city bus. Especially when 3 of them in a row don't come on their scheduled time. Argh. Who needs to be on time for class?
At the Theatre Communications Group conference in Atlanta this past June, theater pioneer and practioner Anne Bogart talked about theater as a way to change the audience's time signature. To slow down their lives and thought processes for a moment as they sit in the dark and contemplate what is happening and what action they should take in the face of the presented dilemma. The theater of walking and taking public transportation did that for me today. Changed my time signature. What a difference to not be a master of your own fate (or so you think) cozily snuggled in your personal automobile, on your own personalized path to your destination.
Another paradox - how odd to be thrown into the artistocratic pursuit of graduate education and to be talking about Aristotle, only to immediately hop onto the 50 or 16 MTC bus and one of the most proletariat modes of human transporation and interaction. Greeted by people from every walk of life.
I'm not yet sure if I like taking the bus. And if I'll do it every day. Is it worth the annoying blisters and spare change and lack of control and mix of civilization? Even for a bleeding heart liberal? We shall see. At least my neighbors were kind enough to point out that there is a closer stop just 1.5 blocks away. It will require a transfer, and more squinting at infinitesimally small printed off versions of 3 different bus schedules. But, it will most likely induce less blisters. Either that, or I'll need to invest in a very good pair of walking shoes. Stat.
posted by Stephanie @ 5:02 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
I hear you on the blisters! I bought new sandals and they promptly started to cut into my feet in several places as I walked across the hot UT campus yesterday. I love that you also had a theater game injury though. That's awesome. We got through our orientation game-free. So far.
If you do keep taking the bus, get a U-Pass. It's so much less bother than dealing with loose change.
all you cute earnest students storming the campuses. i love it. go car/bus combo...have sam drop you off at a bus stop that has an express bus right to the U. :)
jen
I concur with Angie on the U Pass thing--it's a bargain! Personally, I've been biking 30 minutes to and 30 minutes back from the U every day this week. So, I can't relate to the blisters, but I can tell you all about achy knees and back pain. It's fun getting older! --katie
1) Take the bus (you can get a U-Card? Get it!)
2) Don't take the 16. Waiting for the Next 50 from where you live is probably faster.
3) I assume you have a varying schedule based on the day of the week. The short ride that gets you the transfer will probably not be available for all your times.
4) Go to metrotransit.org, follow the tabs to Plan Your Trip -> Personal Schedule. Then print it out and you'll only have the stops you need. E-mail me and I can format one for you nicely using Excel, if you like.
5) Get some decent shoes.
ooooooooooo, school! so fun!!!! i am jealous. :)
teaching's taught me that no matter what, wear comfortable shoes. blisters suck. ^_^
can't wait to hear more!
Did I read Angie's comment correctly - walking across the hot UT campus - would that be the University of Utah? And shouldn't you be thinking of visiting a good friend (knowing you could also then visit an aunt-in-law who never quits bugging people about coming to ut?
Keep taking the bus--it builds character, and then you get to feel superior whenever anyone complains about traffic jams. Or at least, I do. :) I actually take the 5, which is the highest ridership in the TC Metro. Talk about a slice of life! But, I don't have to transfer, so that rocks. I've met a bunch of my neighbors walking home from the bus, too, and I love seeing the kids in my neighborhood and knowing who's having garage sales. But mostly, parking downtown is +$150 a month, and that's just not gonna happen!
Glad you're having fun!
http://eekshop.com
Am I clairvoyant or perhaps do nothing more than plain seeds and nuts
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