I saw something on the Marshrutka (the little yellow city shuttles) today that I have never seen in the USA, though I’m sure it still happens in small towns and such. It was without question, a very introspective moment for me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it on a public bus in America.
I was going into the City (Kiev) to meet up with my wife and some friends, and I was listenin’ to my iPod with my Coopers cap and shades on. I was sitting on the left side of the busy, a couple rows behind the presumed grandmother. The bus, as usual, was somewhat crowded, and all of the seats were taken. Most people cherish their seats on these buses; remember that there are always 2 lines when waiting — one for sitting, one for standing. Therefore when you get on the stuffy often crammed-like-sardines shuttle buses, you (generally) get what you wait for, seat or aisle.

So on this day, all was usual. The bus was full. An older lady, most likely already a grandmother (babushka), was sitting in the solo seat behind the driver. The seat is unusual in that it is oriented sideways and faces the aisle of the bus. I believe it was added after production, just to offer an additional sitting spot. The older woman was sitting contently for her ride into the City. Just then, a couple of stops after I got on (and somehow got a seat), a young mother and her ~18 month old got on. Now remember, that people wait for seats – so it is quite unusual for someone to act upon their chivalrous thoughts [of giving up a seat] (though it does occasionally happen). Anyway, the mom and baby had nowhere to go because of the already stacking bodies in the central aisle, and nobody was giving up their seat. It’s a rough world out there, ya know.
The seated grandmother offered not the seat itself, but indeed, a place for the child to sit: on her lap. The mother immediately agreed without hesitation, concern, thought, worry, or creepy consideration of possible ulterior motives by the very genuine (looking) older lady. The child, also without hesitation, nor demonstrating any hint of questionable affect, turned and allowed the grandmother to lift him straight up and softly placed the little lad onto her right knee.

The mother was relieved, the child was exhibiting standard kid behavior, and the grandmother was hinting at a smile (though, sadly, the vast majority of Russians don’t [typically] smile unless they’ve been drinking).

Nevertheless, the scene was incredibly touching. Yeah, yeah, I know… I’m a softy. But it really was quite adorable. The grandmother was happy, the kid content, and the mother relaxed. Of course the mother kept an eye on the child… but honestly, I think she was relieved to not have to worry about her kid getting squashed during the ~20-30 minute ride. The grandmother was only slightly perturbed by the child’s lack of interest in her. She tried in vain to elicit an approving glance from the kid – but it was not to be had by this generous babushka. The kid was either drugged or completely oblivious to the fact that he was sitting on some stranger’s lap. Or, it was such a typical phenomenon in this culture, that looking up and acknowledging the conscientiousness of the lap-offering person would really just be considered a bonus for the offerer – should he or she be wanting it.
In the end, as we approached our final stop (where most people get off), the mother smiled and said balshoi spaciba (thank you very much), picked up the toddler, and exited the bus. The smile from the grandmother was reciprocated, and a good deed was done. The kid never looked up at the old lady. Crazy… but everyone was happy, healthy, and satisfied = without a creepy or questionable motive entering consciousness.

I’m even from a very liberal and friendly state (if you ask me); but nevertheless, at least in my experiences, that simply doesn’t happen (anymore) in the USA. Perhaps I’m just out of touch with the small town atmosphere in the U.S., but I’m fairly sure I would NEVER see that on a BART train, no matter how packed it was. As you might expect, I’m experiencing many cultural differences. This one came through loud and clear. Hopefully I can take the best from both worlds (cultures) and incorporate them into my being in the future — and contribute to a better world

Peace, Joy, Love, Happiness, Pup-n-Taco.