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Trying the Trolley - Day 4

Day 4:

One of the most interesting things about immersing yourself in a story that puts you in places you wouldn’t normally frequent, are some of the people you meet.  This evening I ran out of the station right after my live-shot to catch the trolley going home.  It was right on time!  I boarded and sat next to a man who rides the trolley and bikes to work every day.  He knew the precise time-frame in which not to try the trolley, (apparently it’s usually late between 3-5 going to the beach) and he’d seen the trolley system grow and change over the years.

Overhearing our conversation was a man riding ahead of us who worked for the trolley system.  He told us all about the newest trolleys they were acquiring and what they had in the works for next year.  He works on getting funding from municipalities and state agencies to improve the system.  They’re working to add weekend hours from 8am-8pm if they get the funding during the next fiscal year.  It wasn’t until the end of our conversation that I told him he’d just accidentally been interviewed.

During my transfer, while waiting a few minutes for the next bus, I decided to find out exactly where many of the Slavic-accented trolley-riders participating in summer job programs are from.  Many are from Russia, but the girls I talked to were from Moldova.  It was interesting to see that they are here for much the same reason I am… to work at the beach.  They said it made a good summer vacation where they can work and travel abroad at the same time.  They chose the U.S.A over other opportunities in the Middle-East and Australia.

Shortly after my conversations, the trolley dropped me off right near my apartment complex with a short walk home.  Another successful day on the trolley!

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