Shanimal Planet

Why does it seem as though the world's strangest people are always on the subway with you?  There's always a person with a disgusting illness who seems to only be coughing in your direction.  Then there's the couple that makes out for the entirety of the trip.  My personal favorite is the young punk kid who looks at you like he'll kill you if you don't break eye contact immediately.  The subway also transports a variety of people to their jobs and these individuals have mastered the art of lightly napping while sitting up.  In addition, there is always that one young woman who only rides the subway when she's desperate and you can tell this by the death grip that she has on her designer purse.
Riding the subway is an eye opening experience especially for young, sheltered suburbanites much like my younger sister.  Taking her into the city on the subway was a normal part of my day but probably the most terrifying part of hers.  My sister is a great kid and is still gaining exposure as she gets older and I am trying to assist her in this little by little.  As much as she is growing and learning, she has been unable to shake her fear of homeless people.  Riding the subway then, as you can imagine, is quite a scary experience for her as the stations usually house at least a few homeless individuals.  My sister holds her belongings close to her and eyes everyone with suspicion.
Although her suspicion is usually without grounds, it's not always a bad idea to take caution.  The subway stations are often the feeding ground for pick pocketing predators or generally threatening people.  My friend and I were returning from dinner in the city when we were met by a man dressed in old military clothes holding the leash to his pit bull terrier that was also dressed in military clothing.  Strange, I know.  My friend and I walked as fast as was humanly possible past the man and his attack dog to the other end of the station.
Public transportation is usually pretty convenient and helpful when it comes to traveling into and through the city.  It also serves the purpose of endless entertainment by simply observing people.  As fun as it is to observe others while riding the subway, I can only imagine how people perceive me while I am their fellow passenger.