Funny Story

The line of trams was longer, but I couldn't get the shot.

One of my favorite stories from the trip was when Grant single-handedly broke the train system in Vienna. We were going to a university in Vienna (the oldest college in the world, so I was told) to street witness and were riding the tram to get there. It was rush hour and the tram was packed full of people. At a stop when the doors opened Grant’s backpack got pinched in the door. This story is initially funny because Grant yelps, "I’m stuck!" and squirms to get free. We all laugh and the people around us try to keep from laughing to be polite.

Grant can’t get his back pack lose so he slides it off and it hangs in the door. People get on and off while we wait for the doors to close on their own and set his backpack free. But, nothing happens. We keep laughing, "Ha, Grant you broke the train!" Then a guy from the street forces the doors closed to the train can leave. More laughter. A minute later when we still aren’t moving the train driver comes and manually opens and closes the door. More laughter. Another minute later the train driver comes back with the train driver of the tram behind us. Both yell in German at each other and mess with the doors more. More laughter. Grant is really embarrassed, but handling it well. Another minute later there is a voice on the loud speaker that says, "Everyone must get off the train."

When we unloaded we looked behind us and saw at least 6 more trams full of upset people piling out the doors. We got out of there as fast as we could. Stupid Americans ;)