Millions of people in Taipei rely on the MRT to get to school and work every day. The trains are fast, clean, and usually on time. Most passengers pay with a transportation card, so the payment takes less than a second. During rush hour, however, the stations can be extremely crowded. To avoid the crowds, some people leave home before seven, while others use the public bicycles, which cost only a few dollars per half hour. A glance at any street corner shows how much the city has changed. Getting to school is no longer just about getting somewhere. It is about choosing a healthy way to live.

Last Monday was one of the foggiest mornings of the year. When Jenny woke up, she could scarcely see the building across the street. The buses were running slowly, and she knew she would be late for her first class. She walked to the MRT station and texted her teacher immediately. On the crowded train, she noticed an old man who looked pale and dizzy. She gave him her seat and stayed with him until a station worker came to help. Jenny arrived twenty minutes late, but her teacher praised her for doing the right thing. "Being kind is never a waste of time," he told the class.