I just needed a seat!

            On Friday I experienced probably one of the most entertaining train rides I have ever had. Jonathan and I take the train every morning and it is about a 20 minute ride from where the bus drops us off to where the school van picks us up. The metro has a rule that the elderly, children, handicapped and pregnant women get the limited seats on the train, everyone else stands.

            At certain stations there are particular areas for these people to stand, but those are only the busy stations. However, regardless of if you are standing there or not, people push and shove to be on first to get the seats regardless of others. Security has to then step in or someone has to yell for people to relinquish seats for those in need. I am not a crowd person so I refuse to push and shove and as a result, I am usually one of the last people on the train. This particular morning, there were not a lot of people, but I still did not get on in enough time to take a seat. Jonathan announced that I was pregnant and needed a seat (although my belly is starting to give that away). A man stood up and I thanked him as I took his seat. Immediately he struck up a conversation with Jonathan, in which several other people quickly joined. Throughout the 20 minute trip people would enter and exit the train, and although maybe not speak, nod or shake their heads in agreement or disagreement.

            Now this whole conversation was in Spanish but I was sitting over to the side chuckling to myself because I could tell some of the comments being made where to just “stir the pot” so to speak. After we got off the train, Jonathan told me that that had been discussing gender equality and why I had to walk past 3 women to find a man that would give me a seat. The man had said that if there is gender equality, why is he the only one that stood up and not the women (I will add he was very willing to give me a seat, he was just making a point). That comment made a woman angry (the only one really not taking the conversation well), and then 2 more men and another woman joined in. Jonathan was mostly listening but would say things here and there but it was mostly the man who surrendered his seat and the woman talking. Examples were used on both sides and some shot down and others not, then people would interject and the conversation would continue in earnest with the new comments. It was actually really interesting to watch the body language and such. Even though I could not understand the conversation I could tell who was getting way too invested in it and who was just “stirring the pot”. When we exited the train the conversation was still going and I was laughing out loud. I turned to Jonathan and said “I just needed a seat! I did not mean to get anything started; but that was fairly entertaining!”  

            On a different note, our new puppy is doing well! He is super smart and learning the potty training fast. He is also getting used to the collar and leash so that he can go on walks with us. The cats have adjusted to him being here although Kempurr is not thrilled about it. Aria just sees him as another playmate so they spend most of the time playing while Kempurr just watches.

            Until next week, blessings!