Writing Classes, Jeepneys, and some useless blather

We were supposed to ride a jeepney in our Writing Workshop class. It was supposed to be an exercise in observation– a very important tool in a writer’s arsenal. The jeepney would be a wonderful place to practice since, as my prof said, “It’s a microcosm of Philippine Society.” The Jeepney, unlike the Bus or the FX vans, has its passengers facing each other. One can see everything and everyone in the jeep, and one is always in earshot of whatever word is said. In this kind of situation, we would have to keep our eyes and ears open, peering into the lives of our co-passengers, discreetly listening in on conversations, and mentally jotting down notes to be used in whatever creative exploit we might try.

The riding a jeepney part? Easy, I ride a jeep almost everyday.  The observing part? … We’re going to have a problem with that.

As I’ve said, I ride a jeepney almost everyday. It’s not my favorite mode of transport, but it’s the only public utility vehicle that has a route that passes by my neighborhood. When using a jeep, I’d have to brave thick clouds of vehicle exhaust, stifling temperatures, hellish traffic jams, and great amounts of boredom. My sanity survives the commute through my trusty mp3 player and my book-of-the-moment (though I wouldn’t really put much trust in the book. You know, reading in moving vehicles and everything.). Basically I survive commutes by blocking my Audio-Visual senses. I’d go mad if I don’t get my anti-social fix. But for the sake of observation, I am asked to abandon it.

So did I?

Nope.

But I still tried observing and everything, and what I saw didn’t really give me material to write the next Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel. What I observed in my commutes were people, just like me, who were in the jeep, bored out of their minds, looking out the window to at least entertain their eyes with scenes they’ve scene a bajillion time before. They were people, just like me, who wanted to be where they were going, wishing that there was a cheaper and better way of travel, one that didn’t involve smog, traffic jams, and uncomfortably hot temperatures.

I don’t know, but maybe I should have done a little more observing. But I’ll just use the “Baby Steps” excuse. Let me take this bit by little bit, I’ll eventually get the hang of it. What’s important right now is how I’m going to bullshit this in class.