Ridin' roun town

Source

Reposting this from the old blog because it's still accurate.

I think every Facebook user is familiar to this type of photo by now, but I can't help blogging about this because it really depicts at the same time all the clichés and the reality about studying in Paris. I could go on and on about this topic but in this post, I want to focus on the last picture: "What I actually do". 

I laughed so hard when I first saw this but now that I actually put some thoughts into it, I can totally relate: I've been spending a lot of time running, waiting, hustling for/in public transports such as train, tram, métro and bus ever since I got here. And I believe that is the case for not only students but also working people in Paris. If it takes you less than an hour to get from home to school/work, you are lucky. Some of my friends live so far that they even spend 3+ hours daily in public transports. 

Regardless of the fact that I hate wasting my time in wagons, the transportation system here is incredibly convenient and helpful for moving around and especially for someone who doesn't want to learn how to drive like me (I will very likely be hiring a chauffeur in the future, haha... or be content with walking and biking and riding buses and trains). This is seriously one of my criteria when picking a country to study abroad, to visit or to live. You can easily get to every nook in this city and possibly this whole country. 

Comparing to Singapore MRT, the Parisian métro is way far behind in term of cleanliness. In the south east asian country, you already get fined heavily if you drop litter and it is prohibited to eat and drink on the train and in the station. Here I guess it's just way too crowded to control so I wouldn't say the métro is the best looking or... best smelling place but at least some of the stations have very unique design like Cluny La Sorbonne, Franklin D Roosevelt or Saint-Germain-des-Prés, to name a few. 

To end my blabbing about public transports, here are some tips or rather remarks in order to have a good time riding around town:

• Say "Bonjour!" to the bus driver. 
• Carry a book/magazine/newspaper to read while waiting but please don't get lost in it and blame me for missing your train or your stop. 
• Good music.
• If you're using a smartphone, the SNCF app is pretty handy to check what time your train arrives. Be on the platform 1 minute earlier. Trains here, even buses, are incredibly punctual.  
• Wear something you can run in. But never attempt to run when hearing the doors-closing beeping sound. Be a person, not a sandwich. 
• Admire but don't stare, I know he's cute and her coat is to die for. 
• Hold on tight when standing because it can be one bumpy ride and trust me, you don't want to be pole swinging and end up on someone's laps or in someone's face. 
• "Excusez-moi. Merci!"
• Hold the door for the person behind you after validating your ticket. 
• Be polite and enjoy the ride.