As I traveled from Richmond to Minneapolis this weekend, I encountered hundreds of different kinds of people. The perfect time to people-watch is during a two-hour layover. As I sat waiting for my plane to begin boarding, I was intrigued by my surroundings. It seemed like people were traveling for many different reasons.
1. The businessman/woman
This is probably the most common type of person you will see in an airport. They are typically dressed in a suit and are very important looking. They, somehow, make me feel underdressed in an airport because when I travel, I'm in yoga pants and a T-shirt.
2. The person talking through an earpiece
This is one of my pet peeves. Whenever I see someone doing this, for a split second I think they are either actually talking to me or to themselves. I get very confused which results in me giving them a weird look, or me trying to talk back to them. This habit is very popular in airports because it is easier for people to talk through something in their ear than actually carrying a phone along with their luggage.
3. The family on a family vacation
There is always that dysfunctional family who is half excited for their family vacay and half already wishing it was over. There are the parents who don't know how to control the children that are under 10. The kids are fighting and trying to beg for candy from the news store while the red-faced parents tell them "no" for the millionth time. The 15-year-old girl stands in the corner rolling her eyes and trying to disaffiliate herself with the family as much as possible. It just makes you wonder how the actual vacation is going to go.
4. The girl on the struggle bus
When traveling, there is always the girl who looks like she just got out of bed. Her hair is up in a bun, her shirt is to her knees, and her sweatpants are sagging. She wants to look like she's been traveling all day and that is the reason she looks this rough. The truth is though, this flight is her first of the day. She actually doesn't care what she looks like for the airport. I personally relate to this look. Why dress up for sitting on a plane for three hours?
5. The mother with a wailing baby
So this one is complicated. I half feel bad for the mother and half would do anything to make her baby stop crying. You'll see her playing with her adorable baby before it's time to board and you think to yourself, that baby is cute but better not be sitting anywhere near me on the plane, and once you board, it's just your luck that the baby is seated right next to you.
Traveling can be the best time to people-watch. It can also be the worst time to avoid those who can be irritating when you are just trying to make it to your destination. All in all, traveling is an experience and it is different for each person you come across on your journies.
