Summer is prime internship time for college students. And if you live in the Tri-state Area, it's likely you'll take an intern position in New York City. Summer housing in the city can be super expensive, so the next best and slightly cheaper option is commuting.
That's what I decided to do. Monday through Friday, I commute from Connecticut to Battery Park. And while the internship I have is an incredible opportunity where I've already learned so much in only three weeks, I've also learned quite a few things about commuting. If you're a work commuter as well, here are x things you know to be true!
Your work hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., but your days are really 4 a.m.-9 p.m..
Yup...you read that correctly. In order to make it to the job by 9 a.m., us commuters have to wake up pretty freakin' early just to catch the train. And when the work day is over, you feel a momentary sense of sweet relief--until you realize you still have another three hours until you're even walking through the door.
You're CONSTANTLY eating.
There's something about being awake for seventeen hours every day that just makes you so damn hungry. So pretty much this is how your eating schedule goes as a commuter: first breakfast at home, followed by second breakfast on train, then a mid-morning snack (only 10 a.m. at this point), then lunch, then mid-afternoon snack, then snack on the commute home, then dinner. Lots of dinner.
You're jealous of everyone who gets to make fun after-work plans.
"Yeah, let's all meet up for drinks after work at that cool rooftop bar!" And for a moment, you're like "OMG, yes, totally!" And then you remember that if you stay two hours longer, you won't get home until like midnight--when the trains only run every hour. So, no fun plans after work for you.
It really takes a village to get you to work.
It takes a car, a train, a subway, and a good pair of legs--and a good pair of shoes, honestly--to get me to and from work every morning.
The mad dash to the train station after work is your worst nightmare.
Mornings are great. You get into the city earlier enough that it's not too crowded yet. You beat rush-hour traffic on the highway. And you make sure there's plenty of time to get to your train. On the way home, however, you wear a pair of sneakers and hope you run fast enough to catch the subway that comes around 5:32 p.m. every day in order to make your 6:04 train. Sometimes you make it--but sometimes you don't. You curse the fact that you're not Usain Bolt.
The subway system is SUPER unpredictable...
Cold in the mornings, hot and humid in the afternoons, crowded at random times, uncrowded at peak hours, strange delays, sudden stops, doors that refuse to close the first time--you really never know what you're going to get.
...and so is MTA.
Usually departing on time, but always arriving late. *rolls eyes*
There's always that one person on the train that has to sit next to you--in an empty car.
More like you can't sit with me.
Through all the bad, there are some good aspects about commuting: books!
Since the commute is so long, there's plenty of time to read through that stack of books (or closet-full, if you're like me) that you've been promising yourself for years now that you would actually read. Whether it be a novel, a textbook, a newspaper, or an e-book, get to reading! It makes the time go much faster.
You discover new music every day.
You'll get sick of the new playlist fast--but you've got plenty of time to discover new music and create great playlists for every mood and kind of day.
You feel like a real New Yorker.
At this point, I feel comfortable giving people directions--even on the subway. It makes me feel like I really live here (I practically do considering most of my days are spent there).
It's an experience you'll never forget.
Through all the craziness of commuting, it truly is an unforgettable experience that I will remember forever.
