Checkpoint

Of the many things students learn in college, most, and all for some, are learned outside the classroom. For some it is how to socialize. Others advance their skills in the workforce. Today, I was the one who learned a little bit more about public transportation. More specifically, Tiger Transit.

Tiger Transit is usually monotonous in nature, same routine every day for the most part. Students sit as far away from one another as possible. Of course, we must do this without making the mistake of sitting too far away from someone, only to end up that much closer to that smelly kid who lives in D building.

There are deviations to the unwritten rules. Some actually sit together! Most of these specimen are fraternity members, sport teammates, or the cute girl you talked to once. For these folks, the Tiger Transit is a further branch of their social world.

There are also the people you don't sit next to. These are the ex-roommates and the I-think-I-saw-you-folding-your-underwear-in-the-laundromat types of people. They make Tiger Transit so much fun.

Aside from the usual banter on Tiger Transit, funny and awkward situations usually arise. One such instance happened to me today on my way back from Lit class. I grabbed a seat near the back door, took a sip of water, and waited for the bus to depart. Nothing unusual. Some guy sits next to me. Nothing out of the ordinary. A few seconds later one other guy sits on the other side of me and the two begin conversing. As the bus leaves the Haley Center, I'm stuck in the middle of a dull conversation between two people I don't know.

Keep in mind, this is one of those big-boy buses; everything is moving sideways when I look out the window. It's very disorienting.

It wouldn't have perturbed me so much if the discussion were about fun, hip subjects, but the two guys were talking about a food drive. Don't get me wrong, I love community service and try to do it as often as possible, but in an awkward situation such as this, I was hoping for something more spicy.

Finally they get off the bus. Another guy gets on, sits a couple seats over to the left of me, and slings his backpack which is uncomfortably nestled between my elbow and thigh. Said guy does not notice and I am left to scooch over a bit. Luckily, the driver slams on the brakes at the next stop, causing the backpack to speed towards the front of the bus and away from my delicate shaken body.

I could only sit and laugh, not because it was some completely horrifying experience, but because it was really, really awkward. I was pretty lucky; it did end up livening my day. Maybe I should go buy a lottery ticket.

I suppose this just further proves that several things are just learned better outside the classroom.

I think this is really why I believe in Auburn. And love it.