By Nur ‘Aainaa
Pic: This is the smallest, most civil crowd you’ll see around our buses on campus 
I just want to share a story with all you guys about ‘USM Syndrome’ (I’m the one who named it). Well, I’m not sure when and how this syndrome started and spread, heck, I’m not even sure it’s limited to USM. Anyway I just want to be a storyteller, so sit back and enjoy this fairytale.
Once upon a day, oh well, it was yesterday when the sun was at its happiest, smiling away and turned me into shrimp grill (well maybe chicken grill because I have dark skin). Gosh, I’m so going to be dehydrated especially due to the fact that this is the fasting month. Darn! I was also already running late for class (Girls don’t spend 5 minutes in front of the mirror, ok?).
So, as irrational as this sounds, I decided to wait for the “U-Komuter” bus because I thought it’s only fair that I get a service for what I’ve been charged for. RM60 per semester is not cheap at all.
“Come on I’m late to the class…..WHERE IS THE BUS?”
I waited almost 15 minutes and the bus stop at Padang Kawad was turning into a sea of sardines (in a sardine can, of course) already. Finally, after what seemed like an endless wait, a bus arrives! I’m happy But guess what happens? Ok, I risk sounding naive, but USM students don’t have these two words – queue and lines – in their vocabulary. As if a ‘maniac disease’ descended from the skies, everybody started pushing everybody just to get onto the bus instead queuing for their turn (is this the norm or do I sound stupid?) Phewwww… I felt like I was turning into a ‘Chipsmore’ biscuit from being among the first in front I found myself suddenly relegated to the back of the enormous crowd! Gosh, I wished I took pictures of that madness. And when it finally came to my turn, the bus was already full, dang! Sigh, that wasn’t the most painful part of it all. When the bus started moving, I realised that there’s a lot of empty standing space at the back of the bus. Argh, why can’t you imbeciles just move towards the back, fill the bus, and let more people in? (I’m turning vermillion already just writing this)
What to do? *brain tapping against cranium furiously* So I waited for the next bus, and after another eternity, David Blaine magic happened to me again! As though something made me levitate and fly towards the back of the crazy crowd, I never seemed like getting anywhere near to the bus. So I decided to walk.
You see, USM is a ‘Garden University’, the scenery is pretty magnificent! I see Aman Lake along my journey, blablabla. But that’s not the point, ok? The thing is there’s only a tiny portion of path for “walkers” along the road. What made my hair burn was there were two jolly fellows crawling on path jolly enjoying their time and didn’t bother to make way for angry me coming from the opposite direction. The path is supposed to be a two way thing (one go one come) and I was tempted to knock right through them. Alas, I walk on the road. Phewwww, now you all know why my hair is black.
Well, I’m sure you readers are turning into sleeping beauties already. Usually all fairytales end ‘Happily ever after’, not this one.
~~~~~
Editors note: Please feel free to leave your comments in the comments section below. Is it worth fighting to get on the bus? Do Malaysians even queue? Is it a problem of queuing at all? What if the buses actually came and left every 5 minutes? Would there, then, be a need for there to be a crazy crowd so bent on losing their patience?
Ahuhahuk. Chill, gal. Don’t turn into fried mutton plak
hahaha!!
for me,we dont have to fight our way just to get on the bus.
we have to be smart.
there’s a certain strategy that i use to get on bus.
because i am waaaay too smart,i manage to board the bus every single time.
you have to understand the bus and get to know every driver.
just remember their face and how they usually drove their bus.
i.e the pakcik with dark sunglasses usually take a puff at palapes and it takes forever to wait for the bus to run again.
so ditch his bus if you’re in hurry.
i.e the younger bus drivers are more committed to their job.
so, board theirs.
and for “amaniax”, we are soooo darn lucky.
we have 2 bus stands.plus 1.
its just the matter of you, willing to walk a bit, to wait for the bus at IK.
cool huh..?!
i know.
…and thats why i prefer to walk
LOL aainaa…knew ur post would be an interesting one.
well, i just don’t bother taking the bus unless im in the mood to travel like a tourist in a persiaran bus. weyh serious. (applies only when i get a sit lah. kalau i’m standing thats cerita lain).
that aside, i still think that the level of civic awareness among ‘university’ students are mighty low. no, they won’t bother giving space for students to alight the bus. “kalah la liddat…i came first watttt. (even if i don’t, i still wna board first)” rational is, if the ppl alighting hve a tough time getting down, don’t expect to board the bus fast, what more boarding itself.
in a nutshell, we pay a wholesome rm60(?) per sem to experience a helluva ’squeeze’ & uncouthness.
“Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are.” — Bertolt Brecht
Hey guys…..thanks for reading my writing (even though it is all crappy stuff)=) but then this is what Ive been gone through since the first time Im in USM phewwww Well, Im not sure if the USM syndrome can still be cure or not coz it’s already stick like “Elephant glue’ haha U guys rock!!=)
Cheers
Aainaa