Using Public Transport
When travelling as a uni student, the cost of transport can increase to the point of a money drain. In preventing and managing these costs, its important to take into account a nation's public transport system.
In handling the foreign systems some basic advice is useful;
- Be respectful of others whom the system is part of their way of life; in nations such as Italy, the city of Milan depends upon its public transport system as its lifeline. Each day, thousands of communters cram into tiny carriages, heading to work. Respect these people as their commute is part of their work and not pleasure
- Carry minimal luggage. When exploring, carry minimal luggage on public transport for security and respectful. Theft can occur often on crowded, busy transport, making you a target for unsavoury characters. Further, packed transport does not have room for you and your friends oversized backpacks. Leave luggage at your accomodation, and try to minimize your transport use when carrying it
- Be aware that the safety standards that you hold in your counrty may not be required overseas. Transport operators may not act as a policing force as they do in Australia, and can be manipulated by corruption.
- Take your time. Instead of rushing onto the first bus or train that comes your way, take your time to sort out your destination, route and stops. Prior planning is esstential when navigating unfamiliar transport systems. In asking questions to locals, referring to maps, and being aware of ticks such as trains stopping at 10pm, the student traveller can stop themselves from being caught out.
-Ensure you know the translation. How many times have you been on CityRail only to hear an annoucement affect your travels? When overseas, ensure that you know the translation, or take effort to understand what is happening around you. Dont let fate control your future; be aware of yourself when travelling overseas.
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