Small Town to Big City

After ongoing observations, I have carefully categorized Chicago’s “L” passengers into three major groups. In no particular order, one can study: the readers (materials range from books with Chicago Public Library stamps, to the RedEye and an assortment of other publications), the sleepers (all assuming the same position: sitting up straight with un-tilted head perfectly centered between  shoulders, eyes closed and the ability to wake up perfectly on time for stop), the talkers (depending on time of day, not quite as popular as the readers and sleepers) and the largest group according to my observations, which is made up of the somber (awake, not reading, not sleeping, not talking, staring straight ahead, somber).

Since my first trip on the Red Line, I have been struggling to understand the somber. I realize the fact that I am new to town has something to do with it. I have so much to look at and get excited about. But regardless of how long any passenger has lived in Chicago, so many observations exist outside of those windows (while above ground, at least). Even if these people disagree with my last statement, why don’t their eyes explore some of the ads posted on the inside of the “L”? Sure, a lot of these people ride every day and have seen the ads and scenery, but how can such a large group of people lock their heads straight forward and not have the desire to look anywhere else?

 When I first moved, I was told I needed to mirror people around me, in effort to look like a natural in the city. Advice from loved ones suggested I would be a clear target of which people would attempt to  take advantage, if I was always looking around wide-eyed. I’ve taken this advice on several occasions, but the “L” is a place where I’ll stand my own. I tried during one trip to look straight ahead and mirror my surrounding city “naturals”, but I could only resist the temptation for so long, before allowing my eyes to explore again.

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