The New York Subway Experience

The New York subway system is really something.  I have to take the subway every day to and from school. I used to think that the subways were impossible to navigate and super confusing. I remember my first time ever taking the subway very vividly. I was here in New York on a performing arts trip my sophomore year of high school. We were taking the subway downtown and I was terrified as we went down the stairs. I was intimidated by the big gates; the trains were loud and they barreled by. I got a metro card with the help of my grandpa who was chaperoning on the trip. I could not have done that on my own. Then Liz and Robbins, my teachers, were explaining to the giant group of disoriented kids which train to get on and what stop we were going to get off. I didn't understand a word of their explanation. Besides, I was too worried about not making it on the train at all and being left at the station all alone. I watched crowds of people squish on the train, barely fitting as the doors closed on them. Luckily that day, my first trip on a New York subway was a success, but I had no idea how to do it myself. I have learned a lot since then.

It is crazy to me now to think that there was a time I didn't understand the subway map. Now, I can get absolutely anywhere I want with little to no trouble at all. Well, that is not exactly true, but the trouble isn't the navigation. I have had my fair share of funny experiences on the subway. 

Once upon a time I forgot to set my alarm for class one Saturday. Luckily, my dear friend, Grant, woke me up as we were supposed to be leaving. My school has a no tardies policy so if you are late you aren't allowed in class. I told Grant he could leave me and I would try and be on time. But he said he would stay an help me get ready and out the door as quick as possible. I leapt out of bed, threw some clothes on, grabbed the stuff I needed for class, and booked it out the door. 

Grant and I ran to the subway entrance. I was so disoriented because I had been awake for a total of like seven minutes up to this point. My arms are full and I scramble for my metro card, I pull it out, barely keeping hold of all of my things. As I get through the turnstile I can hear the train pulling up. I go running down the subway stairs to the tracks. I hop on the train so relieved that I made it. I was only sitting in my relief for a moment because I realize that Grant isn't with me. I can't let him miss the train because he was only running late because of me. 

On a regular week day it wouldn't be a big deal because the trains come about every 2-5 minutes, but on the weekend they come 10-15 minutes apart. This was the last possible train that would ensure making class on time. I couldn't let him miss it! Not after he woke me up for class and waited for me to leave. Mind you, I had only been awake for 10 minutes at this point, and I made a split second decision to hold the subway doors open for Grant. It's not like an elevator; there is no hold door button. So I used my entire body to hold the doors open by leaning my back up against one side and putting my foot up to hold the other door. I still haven't seen Grant come down the stairs. Determined to not let the train leave without him I began screaming his name. I am not sure what I thought this was going accomplish. 

So now the doors are closing on me, crushing me. I pry myself out between the closing doors into the subway car. I am an absolute mess with my stuff falling out of my arms. I see Grant running down the stairs and since my body is no longer holding the doors open, he has missed the train. He looks at me absolutely defeated. As the train beings to pull away I try to explain to him through the windows of the car that I tried to hold the doors and that I am so sorry. 

It isn't until this very moment that I realize there are other people on this train and I have been acting like a complete crazy woman. First I come barreling into the subway car, then I use my entire body to push the doors open, while screaming "Grant!" at the top of my lungs, and then I proceed to speak to him through the windows as the train is leaving... Yeah, not exactly my proudest moment. 

Very embarrassed, I walk down the center of the train and sit in an available seat next to this random guy. He looks are me and says, "you look like you've had a rough morning." I go on the explain my whole story to this guy telling him how I woke up late and Grant helped me get out the door after waking me up, and how I am going to feel awful if he misses class because of me. And how Grant probably thinks I just hopped on the train and left him. 

This poor man did not need to know any of that and he probably thought I was even more crazy. But he just sat there and politely listened to my lament. As the subway gets to my stop, I still haven't fully composed myself, I scramble off the train with my loads of stuff. Just before the doors close, the kind man I was venting to leans out and says "Ms. you left your gloves and umbrella." He hands them to me and I thank him. He tells me to have a nice day as I stand there absolutely mortified at my behavior. 

Now the rest of the story is that I run to the school with the intention of telling my teacher what happened to Grant in hopes that she will be merciful and let him in if he doesn't make it. I get there about 10 minutes before class begins, our teacher wasn't there yet, so I wait by the door hoping Grant will get there first. We all lived happily ever after because Grant did indeed make it a minute before our teacher did. So it all worked out. But it was quite the experience, I will never forget it, and I am sure that the other train passengers that morning won't either. 

I wish I could say that was the craziest thing that I have experienced on the subway. But oh no, it gets much worse. What I am about to share is definitely one of the most horrifying things I have ever been through. One day as I was coming home from school. I get off the subway just fine. Then I go walking up the stairs from the underground, heading to where the sidewalk is. Little did I know standing on the sidewalk above is a man peeing into the subway entrance stairs. Yes, I got peed on walking out of the subway. Yes, it was absolutely disgusting, yes I am scarred for life, and yes I took two showers when I got home, scrubbed my entire bathroom from top to bottom, and showered again. I hope to never experience that again, and I hope no one else ever does. I share this with you to hopefully make you laugh, even thought it was not funny at the time.

New York is a place full of surprises. I really do love living here and one of the reasons is because I have acquired so many weird and funny stories and it has only been a few months. I am very grateful for the subway system because I can get anywhere in the city I wish in a matter of minutes, whereas walking adds so much travel time. I do however love how much walking I get to do in this city. But the trusty subway sure is helpful. I think it is quite amazing that they have built an entire transportation system underground. Once you get it down, it is super easy to navigate and you can go anywhere you like! Super cool!