Taking the T
When I came to Tufts, I remember feeling very intimidated by the Boston public transportation system. I come from a suburban area, where I drive or walk everywhere I want to go. Fortunately for me, I was taught how to take the T before classes even started, during my pre-orientation, GO. GO stands for Global Orientation, and it was a program through which upperclassmen led activities for incoming students and helped them explore the area surrounding Tufts.
On the first day of GO, my group went into Boston Proper to picnic in Boston Commons. We were all given Charlie Cards, which is a reusable card that you load with money to enter the T, our public train system in Boston. By the end of my first month, I memorized the stops I use the most on the red line train, and now I consider myself a T pro!
This past weekend, I used the T for three separate trips, a weekend record for me. On Friday night, I went into Harvard Square (just two stops away on the red line) and ate dinner at Russell House Tavern with some of my sorority sisters--my two “littles," my “big," and my “grand-big," who graduated last year. We huddled together at an outdoor table, nestled between two space heaters, and feasted on brussels sprouts and pizza.
On Saturday morning, two of my friends and I met up at the campus center and walked to Davis Square, where we took the T to Central Square (three stops on the red line). In Central Square, we browsed at a local thrift store called Boomerangs, which is a business owned by AIDS Action. All proceeds go to AIDS Action, which works to augment the lives of people living with AIDS and prevent new infections. To finish off our thrifting, we stopped in at Buffalo Exchange once we got back to Davis.
Finally on Sunday, I went to visit my older brother in Kendall Square (four stops on the red line). We made a tortellini spinach soup together, and then sat and talked with his roommates (both of whom are Tufts alums). Without public transit, I would not be able to get to my brother as cheaply, and I feel very fortunate to be able to visit him whenever I want to see him (and eat free food).
My Emma’s Advice for today is simple–get comfortable with public transit. Not only is the Boston public transportation system extremely reliable, but it is also often faster than taking a car, easier because you don’t have to park, and more sustainable because you aren’t putting as much of a strain on fossil fuels. If you come to college in the Boston area, skip the Uber and take the T!