Life in traffic
I spent 16 years living in Saudi Arabia, a country often confused with Dubai, a city in the United Arab Emirates associated with luxury shopping and the home of the monumental skyscraper, Burj Khalifa.
Most people would ask me whether we lived in clay houses that were built decades ago and were located in an open and empty desert, or if camels were the only mode of transportation to go places.
The answer is definitely no. Saudi Arabia is a modern country, with lots of grandiose, modern buildings. There are also numerous shopping malls and exclusive boutiques. The day-to-day situation there is far different from what people see in documentary shows or read in history books.
My OFW parents and I decided that I should pursue college here in the Philippines, which meant I had to leave them. They considered having me stay in a dormitory near the school during schooldays, and spend weekends in Bulacan with my grandparents.
I went through a period of adjustment when I started living here, as the culture and customs of Saudi Arabia and the Philippines are so different. I have adjusted well, I think, but there is still one thing I hate: getting caught in an awful traffic jam. Even if my destination is a short distance away, I’ve realized I need to allot a large amount of time just to get there, because the traffic situation can get worse in minutes.
Riding a jeep, I have experienced being stuck for nearly four hours on a busy road. Going home to the province to eat homemade meals served hot and warm after a stressful week of schoolwork is supposed to be exciting, but the traffic basically ruins that moment. The weekend break is also supposedly the time you can put yourself on idle mode and do certain things you want to do. But, unfortunately, caught in unmoving traffic, you find yourself just banging your head back and forth, creating your own dreams under the hot and humid weather.
The hellish traffic situation causes a lot of stress for those of us who commute to work or school. It affects people’s concentration and ability to function, and adversely impacts everyone’s daily routine.
Many roads are under construction these days, supposedly to provide easier access and convenience to motorists. But is this really a long-term solution for the ever-increasing number of vehicles we see on the road? Or is it just a band-aid solution by government leaders to show that something is being done for the benefit of the people who stew every day on the road?
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Harney Wayne Ynel B. Santiago, 19, is a fourth year management accounting student at the University of Santo Tomas.
