The daily trek to Tel Aviv has certainly changed my life, and not for the better. I come home from work totally exhausted. The job is not tiring, the traveling is! I certainly have no desire to go to the daf yomi lesson. I have less patience for my family. I pray that I will find work in Jerusalem soon.
I have learned to make the best of my time on the bus. Here is a list of commuting tips:
1) Books: At least some of the time on the bus can be utilized for learning. I take a chumash and some mishnayot along with me.
2) MP3 player: This device was invented for commuters. After you are tired of learning from the books, you can sit back, relax and listen to shiurim or music.
3) Munchies: Being hungry on the bus adds to the misery. Fruit, cookies and chewing gum are good to have around. I don't recommend drinking too much as having a full bladder without the possibility of of emptying it is not pleasant.
4) Cellular telephone: Don't leave home without it!
Even with all of the above, sometimes I get bored. Taking pictures is my last resort of keeping myself entertained:
3 comments:
Surprisingly, I have come to enjoy commuting the 20+ miles to my work each morning. It is the only time during the day when someone doesn't own me. I do just what you do: learn, listen to my iPod, or read a book.
I empathize. My commute from Jerusalem to Lod on a daily basis just got much better with a door-to-door ride from my neighbour/new co-worker, but the last year of buses, connections and unreliable tremps took its toll on my stress levels, but I did learn to sleep anywhere!!
On the plus side, I have a good job, with lovely people, and I kinda enjoy being here.
It's all about counting the blessings.
I commuted from Jerusalem to kiriat atidim in tel-aviv for 3 months.. 2 hour commute each way, 4 hours on buses and in cabs ever day.
I tried to learn/read but i would fall asleep, I tried to sleep but I would feel disgusting afterwards.
In the end I brought along a notebook and wrote. I wrote a novella in those three months. It was the most fun I'd ever had commuting. It was like reading, since I didn't know what would happen next, but better because I got to throw the characters into whatever situation I could dream up and see what they would do.
I couldn't imagine doing that commute all the time though.
ps. Ex Libris in Jerusalem has been hiring a bunch.. I've been working here for over a year and its pretty reasonable.
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