I go with public transportation often and so I learn about the art of going with public transportation.
Art no. 1, make sure to have enough money for the fare because if you need a change from the driver, most likely he will not give you the change if the change is only Rp 500 (it’s about 7 cent). Or he doesn’t give you enough change which you deserve, but before you ask him for more change, he’s already speeding up his vehicle… on purpose. Or if you don’t have enough money, then don’t take the public transportation or the driver will scream at you as if you’re a top one idiot and he’ll drop you in the middle of nowhere, a dead town where you can see a skeleton singing (OK, it’s just my favorite imagination)
Art no. 2, enjoy the ride! Jakarta’s traffic sucks… can you imagine how hard it must be for the driver who has to experience it every single day of his life? So be blessed it’s not you who have to do that to earn a simple living. Er… I think I get carried away now. I mean… just be blessed you have enough money to take a public transportation compared with children in remote places who have to walk kilometers away to go to school.
Art no. 3, sometimes in life, someone may treat you unfairly. It happens a lot in my public transportation’s getaway…hehe. I often don’t get enough change from the driver. Of course sometimes when I can, I tell the driver and the nice drivers usually give me enough change. But bad drivers pretend to be deaf and just run away in a light speed! So the art? Just smile nicely… or if you can’t put a smile on your face, at least smile in your heart. If everyone treats you fairly and well, then it must be that… you are in heaven already! See?
Sound like I’m such a weak girl? Maybe. I have such a weak heart. One day a friend asked me why I gave the driver Rp 2.000 when I could easily gave him Rp 1.500, or even Rp 1.000 because the distance was too short. Or other times, people say why I don’t fight for my rights when I’m treated unfairly. Well, because it doesn’t hurt me so much. That is another different art. I call it the art of Jesus.
