There's a flaw in my travel plans. Although I get from A to B quite well, and quite quickly considering the distance, I forgot to account for the absolute geeky look I pull off while riding my bike to the Metro Station. Why might you ask? Two words: bike chain. The bike chain on my bike might be the best source of humility I have ever met- in order for me to make it to the Metro Station quickly AND without grease stains up and down my pants, I have to roll one pant leg up. Today, I considered briefly stuffing my pant into my sock. Fortunately, that is still beneath me.
But there I am- one pant leg rolled up exposing a surprisingly hair leg and whatever putrid-colored, calf-length sock I could find that day. Like I said, pretty humbling when you're rolling up past the local college kids.
In reality, I try to pretend all day that I'm not one of the 500,000 interns running around this city but there's just something about the khakis, messenger bag, and 16 year old looks that just give me away. I still try to hold myself to a better standard than others- I pretend to scoff like the locals at the people who pull their travel guides out to consult maps: "psshhh, that dude is loooost". (I make sure to only pull mine out when nobody is looking.)
Two songs got me through the day: Blood Bank by Bon Iver (www.myspace.com/boniver) and Blessed by Brett Dennen (www.myspace.com/brettdennen).
haha i can picture it! but for sure - the worst thing to do is look like you're not a local!
ReplyDeletei remember being in spain...and my parents made us all huddle around the same pole in a subway with our backpacks on our stomachs....uhhh we looked like tourists! how embarassing.
:) anna grinter