My AUSome Trip

In my previous “episode” of My AUSome Adventure” I discussed the different public transportation options in Melbourne. For me to get to Uni every day, I have to ride two trams. It’s a near hour commute each way and the way I’ve spent that hour has evolved from week 1 to now, in week 3. In the beginning, I rode with my map in hand and my eyes glued to the window, taking in the street names, stores and shops and mostly keeping an eye on the stop number. Each stop has a designated number which makes it easier if you know where you need to get off. For example, if your destination is in stop 15, and you get on at stop 38, you could track the stop numbers as you pass them and make sure they are descending. If you’re anything like me, it might take you a few go’s to realize that you’re on the right tram line, but not the right tram or that you missed stop 15 because you were trying to find the streets on your map. Of course, having the opposite lanes going in different directions doesn’t really make it any easier. In those first few days of riding the tram, I would stand at the intersection for half a minute just analyzing the traffic to understand which corner stop I’d need to wait for the tram to ensure I’d be going the right way. Oh, the plight of an international traveler!

Well that confusion and disorientation is in the past!  By now, I know the direction and the stops, where I need to transfer and even how the complicated ticketing system works. In week 3, I’m comfortable with my tram route and even figured out how to get into the city this past “Touring Tuesday.” And today, something wonderful happened. I was sitting quite at ease on the tram, creating a mental checklist for this week’s assignments, when the girl sitting next to me tapped me on the shoulder. She asked if I knew how far we were from a certain street.  At first, I told her ‘No,’ but soon realized that I knew how to get that answer. I directed her to the hanging route map and showed her which stop number we had just passed and the stop number of the street she asked about. “The difference between the stop numbers will tell you how far away we are!”  I was so excited to have figured something out and helped another person find her way on the tram. It just goes to show that when you feel lost and confused, give it a little time, a little effort, and before you know it you’ll be helping others find their way!