I just reread my post on CTA and decided to do a continuation on the same topic because I definitely did not do it justice. I was pretty frustrated with my own CTA fail the other day and only described some of the negative aspects of the trains. So today, I’m just going to talk about what I like about CTA and why it makes my daily commute an interesting experience.
Here’s a list of positives about CTA:
1. It’s convenient and cheap.
2. I get to people watch!
3. I’m learning to live with less personal space (I’m thinking this will be handy for PC!)
4. I get time every morning to listen to music, read, homework, finish a crossword puzzle, and most importantly, WAKE UP before I get to work.
5. I feel a sense of accomplishment every time I do not get lost.
6. I’m learning to have “train legs” and maintain my balance when there is standing room only.
There are certain things that I really really love about my commute each morning and evening. For example, I love using the blue line twice a week because it pops out from the subway tunnel onto ground level all of a sudden. I don’t know why I think it’s cool but the bright natural light surprises me every time. I like seeing the huge mix of people on each train. The businessmen and women, college students, moms with their kids, people with really loud music playing on their ipods, stressed people, little people, old people and everyone bundled up from head to toe. I like the fact that the announcer says that the doors are closing a good ten seconds or more before the doors actually slide shut. I like seeing people running down the stairs to make it to the train that’s about to leave. I like seeing young guys willingly giving up their seats for older people. I like watching people lose their balance when the train jerks to a halt unexpectedly. I like pretending that I’m texting or staring at people’s shoes when I have to stand or sit really close to strangers. I like reading the advertisements on each side of the train walls. I like traveling alone because I feel like a capable adult. I like it how a lot of people feel it is necessary to get up to stand by the door about a stop before they are actually going to depart. Honestly, there’s more, but you get the point right? Good :)
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I thought I would add a little bit of an update about my Peace Corps application since it’s been on my mind a lot lately. So I completed my medical application during the fall semester and it was received on October 14, 2009. Technically, I was supposed to get a decision from the medical office between 8 and 12 weeks after I submitted the information. Well you can do the math and yea it’s been about 16 weeks since I got the paperwork in. I called my medical assistant a few weeks ago only to find that the Nurse in charge had a supplementary form regarding my “fainting and/or blackout spells.” Now, don’t get me wrong, I am very thankful that PC is thorough about the medical aspect because I want to be sure I’m physically fit to serve. The thing is, I fainted twice about 15 YEARS AGO! The first time, I was 4 or 5 and I watched as my brother accidentally sliced a finger with his new knife and then proceeded to puke. Who wouldn’t faint at that huh? Then in 1st grade when I was 6, I must have overheated during P.E. or something and fainted while in line for a drink of water. I was never seen by a doctor, and it never happened again. Needless to say, I’m really really frustrated that this hang up occurred right now when I’ve been waiting patiently for a month longer than expected. And to top it off, the envelope was mailed to my home address in Montana AND somehow the supplementary info form was not even included!! AND it’s incredibly hard to get in touch with anyone at the PC medical office, so I haven’t gotten through to tell them my new address or that the form was missing. ARG !!
I guess the good news is that no one has been invited for positions that leave during my nomination period which is early August. I still have about a month before those invitation go out. I am really really hoping to get clearance by then, but I’ve learned long ago not to hold high expectations for anything. Honestly I just want to leave sometime in 2010. I’ll keep you updated on how this medical clearance debacle is going…
Let me know if you have ideas/questions for a future post!
Beth
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