'Silent' Rules of Traindom

I guess you now know the drill. I do a review one week and the next I do something else, just to keep it interesting. I decided that since this blog encompasses three elements; books, photography and trains...I hope to cover all three. So, I will do a review of a book one week and the next, indulge you in my train experiences. Of course both take care of the photography bit. Sounds good? Great.

So today I speak on one thing I have observed in the world of 'traindom' (just made that up). Rules! Am not talking about the usual rules the transport authority has in place. Its those other 'unwritten' rules that kinda just apply. Let's call them 'silent' rules, or better yet, 'courtesy' rules. I bet you're trying to figure out what am talking about. Let me demonstrate. Every morning as I prepare to board the train, I alongside with others will do something that may seem completely normal; pave way for the alighting passengers before we ourselves board. Well maybe you might be thinking...that's not a rule! People are just nice. I beg to differ...and am no expert in the field of figuring people out but I can easily say...people over time do things out of habit or rather because someone did it first. Like the art of standing in line. Another concept I'll get to shortly. So, try to imagine it's rush hour and people are in a hurry to get home. The oncoming train is packed with people waiting to alight. So the minute the train stops, they alight. Then you notice one thing, the passengers outside paving way for the alighting passengers and no matter how many people alight, the waiting passengers do just that...wait. Once the last of the alighting passengers alight, then the waiting passengers board on. It's amazing. Okay, maybe this concept differs with cultures...and maybe Perth's culture is courteousness. But why do you think people do this? Out of habit? Or maybe they're just following the first persons lead. Don't you agree however that it makes things so easy and even sane. Wouldn't you agree that it in a way, its kinda a 'silent' rule? Maybe it was once a habit and slowly, it grew into a kind of rule. 

Let me walk you through another example...standing in line. The first time I saw this was during one
rush hour in the platform I take my train home at. At first, I didn't seem to notice. But then it became clear as I saw one after another person line up behind another. You might be thinking...not new at all! Let me tell you why I was amazed... Having grown up in a country where people don't really like waiting in line (and if they absolutely have to, someone would always be complaining), I was amazed that the concept works beautifully at the train station....the one place where lots of people converge all at once. That's another thing about my lovely country...the art of patience. People only exhibit patience to situations or people when they absolutely have to. Am I right fellow Kenyans? :)

However, I have a theory about this level of courteousness. It's a choice...and fortunately, most people in Perth, rather, most train passengers choose to be courteous. So whether it grew out of habit or by following the first persons lead, being courteous especially in 'traindom' has its benefits. Things certainly move along and sanely at that! And like I said before, as long as you don't disturb the peace, no one really cares where you came from or even how you look. That's one other thing I have come to appreciate Perth for...how accepting they are. A topic for another day!

Have a sane week :)

Living For Now

Ever read a book and every so often went back a few lines and read every word carefully...just to make sure you didn't miss a thing? Maybe you, like me, captivated by how the author described a situation, felt you were literally right there with the character as it happened. Maybe you wished that you could think of things that way. That you could, well...live out those book characters lives. Well, that was my experience with 'A Hundred Pieces of Me'... Were it not a library book, I'd keep it among my belongings just to remind myself the insights I received from it. I have to admit, am envious of Lucy Dillon's writing prowess. If I could talk to her I'd ask her one simple question...'how do you do it?'

I absolutely loved reading this book. I feel like I just got out of a 'Life Lesson'...a class where I was taught what mattered and what didn't because that's what this book has taught me. I found myself asking myself the old adage question....am I living or just existing? You might be thinking...okay Sharon...stop right there! But am serious, this book has opened my eyes literally to the sort of living I'd like to be doing...and I owe it all to 'a hundred pieces of me'. So anyway, enough about me...let me introduce you all to Gina.

Georgina (Gina) is a recently separated middle aged woman just starting out life on her own. After five years of marriage, part of which she battled cancer, she's looking to de-clutter her life. She describes her marriage with Stuart as a housemate-y kind of situation....having dedicated their time to making their house feel like a home. In the end, the house remained just that, a house. So in her new life, Gina focuses on making sure that what she keeps is only what she needs, and that's a big step from the familiar!

In the book's prologue, Gina talks about that ill-fated day when the horrific news was made known to her and her then fiance, Stuart. It is here that we are introduced to one of her 'one hundred pieces'; a red cashmere scarf. The concept behind the 'one hundred pieces' came about when she read a self-help book given to her by her best friend Naomi to cope with the separation and talked of this man who got rid of all his possessions except one hundred important things. Imagine that! One hundred things... if this were you dear reader, what could you possibly keep or get rid of? Okay maybe you should keep in mind that these one hundred things do not include the much needed day to day stuff. I bet you're already thinking up a list!

One thing I loved about this book is how Lucy was able to nicely interweave Gina's present experiences with her past. Here, I was able to meet the old and new Gina and reconcile them together. I especially loved how each piece of her that she kept related to her experiences and the lessons she learnt  really brought home the concept of letting go past mistakes and hurts and forging on.

Needless to say, there are a few parts of this book I'd had wished had been written differently. At some point I felt cheated when halfway through, the 'one hundred pieces' concept was fazed out and replaced with snapshots of Gina's life instead (you would have to read the book to understand this) but isn't that life really...not 'picture perfect' (no pun intended). Nevertheless, I read this book unwavering to the end because it spelt hope, love and new beginnings for me. If you do get your hands on this book, I suggest you clear your mind and prepare to be inspired...I know I was.

My Train Story

Remember in my last post I mentioned I have a fond memory of trains? I do...trains hold a special place in my heart. Okay, that sounds a little too mushy and now you're probably thinking...I need a new hobby. First, let me tell you why then you be the judge. :)

I love the thrill. Riding the train to me is like eating a bar of chocolate...gives you absolute delight, and a sugar high. Each time I catch the train, it takes me back to the first time I did. The best ride of my life that was. My dad decided that our annual family vacation one year would be a one week holiday in Mombasa and yap, we would be riding down in the train! Now my fellow Kenyans can appreciate that this is a treat of a lifetime... I mean..who at the tender age of 10 wouldn't have been totally excited! So down we went for about 12 hours from evening to morning. You see the thing about this train, it still had a pre-colonial touch to it. The service was really good and we had the good fortune of watching the vast savannah landscape as we went along. It was awesome. Never had another trip like it and I doubt I ever will. So you might wonder why am going back to the past instead of talking about present day experiences...well, don't all good stories begin with 'once upon a time?' So this is where my love for trains began...and now I have the absolute pleasure of riding them everyday. Joy!

Over the past one year, two months, I've ridden up and down to and from Perth city and I have made several observations. One, you meet a vast range of people...I mean, from jaw-dropping characters to your very friendly and may I add, chatty neighbor. Two, it's like a playground, there are rules. And three, if you don't disturb the peace, no one cares! You might look like you just dropped from outer space or maybe stink really bad (insert my own experience with a stinker, story of another day) but no one really gives... everyone is just minding their own business and that's okay. I observe one other thing, and it makes me smile. Readers.

In this era of Ipads and Iphones, people tend to prefer reading online or through Apps and downloaded e-books. It is however very refreshing to see that some still enjoy reading hard copy books and like me, may view this as a passion rather than past-time. It's become a habit of mine actually, once am in the train to take a quick scan and try to see how many people in my line of vision are reading books. Most times I find just about four or five out of maybe 30 of them which is good enough. I try at times to make out the name of the book they are reading but this is usually a bit hard and I wouldn't want to be caught 'snooping'. So after completing this ritual, I sit in and enjoy the ride whilst reading my book and of course, looking out for my stop!