On Long Bus Rides and Student Discounts

I love long bus rides - provincial bus that is. I prefer land travel more than air and water. I love to be seated at the window side. I'm so fascinated with people and how they do their everyday stuff. 

I really am fond of those retractable thingy at the back of each seat where someone could put his/her feet on it. I have this thing for chairs. Rarely do I find one which I could sit on perfectly. Either I move a little further to the edge just to rest both my feet or do an Indian seat instead. I have the shortest distance from my ankle to my knee - 14 inches to be exact. It's really hard for me to make them comfortable when sitting on something so that retractable thing is just divine. 

I love the bus stops where people would rush to the toilets or the food stalls and eat like it's their last - a very devious act for me as I like to enjoy my food and munch on something for minutes. 

I like to listen to the local fm radio stations using my mobile. I love to shuffle my ipod and hear rock, alternative and classical music in just one playlist like they're on a mosh pit or something. I love to lip sync in all of those songs and imagine myself in a music video on the window side of the bus - of course I should be alone on both seats 'coz people might think I'm screwed. That's why I like to seat at the last few rows of the bus 'coz front row ones are always filled up first. 

I love to watch sunrise, sunsets and rainbows on a moving bus - lots of perspectives. I don't mind how long would it take for me to get to point B from point A but the most important thing is the ride - the things I could only do when I'm on the bus.    

I also love student discount on bus fares. If you have been reading regularly, I have been a graduate student in a university in Quezon City. I don't look like a college student and some of the establishments or the fares would not allow graduate student to have discount but some wouldn't mind though. Just so you know, my id doesn't state that I am a graduate student, it bears the university's name, my name, my student number and my college/department. I have been enjoying the perks of having a student id for a year now. Discounted museum entrance fees, ferry ride fares, provincial bus rides and other stuff. But bus fares are the most tricky. 

On my recent Baler and Marinduque trips, I had no problem with getting student discounts. I just presented my id and they just copied some of the information there for record purposes and voila, instant 20% discount on my fare. 

But just this weekend, I was stunned with how my id and my charm failed me - or so I guess. 

On my way to Northern Luzon, I went to the Victory Liner Cubao station, bought a ticket and presented my student id. The lady looked at me, then looked at my id. And then we had this conversation (let's call her the "Ticket Girl");

Ticket Girl: First time mag-enroll ma'am?

Carla: Po?

Ticket Girl: Pang ilan na course na po?

(maybe she saw my student number)

Carla: pangalawa? (actually it's my third)

(she handed me back my id)

Ticket Girl: Ma'am pang first course lang po tinatanggap namin eh.

Carla: Ano po? (with the weird and puzzled look on my face)

Ticket Girl: Bawal po 'pag pangalawa na

Carla: Ganun? (kamot-ulo), Tinanggap naman dati 'to sa Victory Caloocan ah

Ticket Girl: Ma'am 'yun po talaga eh

Carla: Ok sige

Actually I was pissed. That's a weird reason to start with. But wait there's more!

On my way back to Manila (just yesterday) aboard a Partas bus I gave my student id again. The conductor looked at me and the id. And then we had this conversation (Let's call him Remar Silva);

Remar Silva: Ma'am sa Diliman po kayo pumapasok

Carla: Opo

Remar Silva: Ay 'yung mga Sampaloc lang po ang tinatanggap namin eh

Carla: Ha?

Remar Silva: Sampaloc po sa Manila

Carla: Oo alam ko na sa Manila 'yun bakit nga?

Remar Silva: 'Yung mga schools sa may Sampaloc lang po ang may discount

(natawa ako ng konti at inaantay ang punchline ni kuya manong pero hindi naganap iyon)

Carla: Ha? Seryoso?

Remar Silva: Opo

Carla: Sigurado?

Remar Silva: (huminga ng malalim at parang pagod na makipag-usap)

(muntik ko nang patulan pero mas pinili ko na hindi)

That's so bull. I'm sorry but you could have just told me that it's sembreak or it's a Sunday and I would end the conversation right away without thinking about the excuse you just said. And yes, you just ruined my bus ride. I was affected on how he could've thought of that reason and how he could've thought that I would believe him. That's so lame dear. Good riddance Remar Silva. 

It's not that I'm a tightwad. It's not that I want to test if I can pass as a college student at my age. It's my right which I want to exercise. I'm a student. I'm paying for my own tuition fees. Yes I have a job but I'm also a student. And please, if you're making an excuse about something make it believable so as to not question or challenge my intelligence.