Following the Rules

Last Friday I took a bus to work. This is a rare occurence these days as I normally go in with M, but on that particular day I’m going to our city campus, and M’s going to the main campus, so we go our own ways. I don’t particularly mind the bus as I get to reacquaint myself with my iPod (I either listen to podcasts or play music on shuffle – interesting listening). Sometimes I even read.

Anyway on this morning, I’m standing there scanning the street for the bus while listening to 甜蜜蜜Tián Mì Mì Your Sweet Smiles (lit. “Sweet as honey”) by 邓丽君 Dèng LìjÅ«n, Teresa Teng*. (I have mentioned before that I like schmaltzy stuff when it comes to Mandarin songs, right? It’s weird because I ordinarily can’t stand that sort of thing in English.)

A bus appears, but I don’t flag it down because it is an ‘express’ bus that isn’t meant to stop until it gets to the city. Strangely enough, the bus stops, and the driver beckons me on board, with a great big welcoming smile on his face. It is a bit surreal, because bus drivers don’t normally do such things (smile and welcome you on), but I thank him and get on.

Several stops later, he stops again, to let more people on. Again with the same welcome. Some of them look a bit confused too, because it is an express bus (Perth people are so well trained), but hey, who’s complaining if you can get to your destination more quickly?

When we finally pull into the bus station in the city, the driver stops to let us off, but before he opens the doors he turns to all the passengers and says, in a booming voice, “Jeeeee-sus is Lord! Have a great day everybody, and a wonderful, wonderful weekend. God bless you!”

It’s quite funny to see people’s reactions – half of them just sort of shudder and look at the door hoping the driver opens it now so they can get off, while the other half smile and wave at the driver. Some of them even make it a point to head to the front of the bus, where the driver has finally opened both doors. He smiles and makes it a point to shake the hand of every person who exits through the front door, thanking them, and telling them “God bless you!”

I’m one of the passengers who smiles at the driver, and because I’m closer to the front door, end up shaking his hand as I leave. He seems genuine enough, even though that sort of over the top Born Again behaviour usually puts me off. I’ve just never seen such a happy bus driver.

I do wonder though, does this driver always ignore the rules when he is driving an express bus, and pick people up all along the route, even when he is not supposed to? Is he really doing his job properly, if he ignores some of the rules, even if he does it with such joy? Does he justify it by saying that he sticks to the rules that matter? Is he really doing the right thing? Which rules matter, and who decides?

*Pinyin and Chinese characters from the Wikipedia entry on Teresa Teng.

technorati tags: ,

6 Comments

mooiness 29 November 2005

In his own little way, he practiced a few random acts of kindness. But yeah that born-again thing may put ppl off but he didn’t preach – imagine if he talked throughout the trip. Hahah.

But Transperth may not like it. For one, all that stopping and starting on an express route would end up using more fuel. And that’s bound to be noticed. 😉

cherryripe 29 November 2005

That’s funny. But you know, Jesus may love you, him, and everyone who works for Transperth… but Jesus sure ain’t gonna save the dude when he gets fired for breaking the rules.

tfp 29 November 2005

*snort* Personally, I’d be pissed off if I’d caught a bus that was supposed to be express but it kept making non-express stops. I catch express buses (and trains) to save time and get to my destination more quickly. I’d be a party pooper and report him to Transperth. *censored rude comment about people who say God Bless You*

CW 29 November 2005

I wonder if anyone will report him…

Anonymous 30 November 2005

You would seriously have to restrain me from doing something violently vocal in return if this happenned to me.

M 30 November 2005

Last post from me 😛