Commuting in Japan

I'm back! I wasn't really gone anywhere, but I know I've been MIA for quite a bit. So get ready, I'll bring you up to speed on what happened and what has yet to come.

To start, these past 3 days (Mon, Tues, Wed), even though I'm staying at the Iwasa's home in Tama Center, I've been commuting to Tokai University by train to attend a few last practices before I leave for Hokkaido.

Which means... in order to arrive in time for the morning practice which starts at 7:30, I had to wake up at 4:30, leave the house at 5, take the 5:14 train to Shinyurigaoka, transfer at 5:40, get off at TokaiDaigakuMae Station, and then walk from the station up to the campus (about a 15 min walk). And I had to carry a big bag on my shoulders during all that. Because I wouldn't be going back home to pick up my stuff, I had to bring everything with me, including spare clothes, my judo gui, some tape, breakfast and lunch, etc. The first day was ok. I think I was pumped on adrenaline that day. But then, on Tuesday and Wednesday, it got a little bit harder to wake up and my shoulders started aching from the weight of the bag. But it was all worth it in the end. As you'll see in my next post ; )

I was offered to stay at another residence closer to the university so that I wouldn't have to commute but I opted to stay at the Iwasa's and commute. It's something that is not at all uncommon in Japan. Businessmen and students alike sometimes commute as much as 2-3 hours one-way just to get to work or school every day. The great thing with trains is you don't have to drive so there won't be any accidents if you happen to doze off. And that's pretty much what everyone does, especially in the morning.

The only thing is you have to be careful not to miss your stop... which luckily, I have yet to do.

Commuting, even just for three days was tiring. But also another experience to have in Japan. Probably the only perk to taking the train that early is that you're almost 100% sure to find a seat because there are so few people at that time. : )

Cultural adaptation

It's amazing the things we get used to. The human body is made to adapt to even the most extreme environments. Ok, lol, my environment isn't really extreme... but I've still gotten used to a few things since I've been here:

1) I've gotten used to having people lean against me on the train and almost fall asleep on my shoulder. I've also become that person as well. I usually wake up a few times and I always end up elbowing my neighbors by accident.

2) The words "typhoon" and "earthquake" have become part of my daily vocabulary. In fact, there's currently a typhoon in Japan. It started in Okinawa and has made its way to Honshuu Island. We're not in the worst of it, but the wind is blowing (making these really cool whistling sounds) and it hasn't stopped raining since this afternoon.

3) Japanese don't all look the same. True, they do look very similar. When I first started practicing at the judo club, the girls all looked the same to me. But now, I've gotten to know them, and now they appear very different from one another.

I'm sure there are a lot more things I could write about... but I'm tired, so you'll just have to wait till next time. : )

It's all about perspective

This morning, I took the train to Shinjuku, which is about a 1h ride. Usually, there are stops where quite a few people get off so you can snag a seat at that time. However, today, just as I rushed to take a seat, someone else took it right before me. This happened about 4 times. And I'll admit I was getting kind of pissed off because I had been standing for about 8 stops already and the people who were just coming on to the train were getting seats. Then, finally, I got a seat! Right on the edge, the seat that everyone likes the best. But... then I notice an old man who just got on at the last stop who's standing right next to me, holding on to a handle. And... even though I had just took out my textbooks to start studying, I put them back in my bag, I stood up and gave him my seat. And then, nothing mattered anymore. I could have stood all the way to Tibet because I was no longer angry or frustrated. I had given him my seat and done something good. Then, a few stops later, I was able to sit down, in the seat in front of him. And he looked at me, and ever so slightly nodded his head, thanking me for what I had done. And that made my day.

Disneyland : Where dreams come true (that's the motto anyways)

Yesterday, along with two Russians, one Afghan, and two Japanese, I visited Disneyland! All my classmates had gone but I hadn't had the chance yet. The chance presented itself on a cold and snowy day but we still had a lot of fun.

We took the train to Shinjuku and then took a 1 hour bus ride to Disneyland. I don't know what we would have done without the two Japanese girls. They'd already visited Disneyland so they knew their way around. It's so much better visiting a new place with people who have either gone there before or who speak the language. You don't get lost as much... and don't lose as much time trying to find your way ; )

From left: the two Russian girls (Katcha and Flora), me, Fahima (from Afghanistan) and Yuka

From left: Flora, Yuka, Fahima, me, Tomoka, Katcha

A parade of boats going through the park

We only visited four attractions:

1) Big Thunder Mountain: a roller coaster built on a rocky mountain. Probably the biggest attraction in Disneyland, but really not that big or scary at all. I love the adrenaline rush you get from roller coasters but this one was very short-lived.

2) Mickey's Philhar Magic: a short 3D concert by Donald Duck in which various Disney characters appear on screen and sing songs. It was all in Japanese unfortunately...

3) Space Mountain: another rollercoaster ride but the whole ride happens inside a big dome. It's dark and there are only little specks of light here and there to create the illusion of space ("Experience an exciting rocket journey through space" as the pamphlet advertises). That was probably the scariest attraction of the day (although on a scale of 1 to 10, it probably only reaches 3 or 4) because you're just flying in the dark without being able to see the track or the contraption you're sitting in.

4) Haunted Mansion: again, really not that scary. You just travel through rooms where ghosts or shrieking characters pop up randomly. But the design of the house was pretty incredible. I'd like to have a closer look at some of the popping characters.

The rest of the time was spent waiting... and waiting. The lines were long and seemed to go on forever. I never know how you're supposed to feel when you get to the sign that says: "You now have 80 minutes left from this point": Frustrated that you STILL have 80 minutes left, or relieved that you ONLY have 80 minutes left... Anyhow, it isn't so bad when you talk with your friends. You can also play cards like a group of girls were doing.

Then we did a little shopping. I gave up after about 45 minutes because I got tired of being pushed and having to squeeze through mobs of people just to get to the mirror. But there are lots of shops that sell cute hats, toys, and other Disney merchandise.

Then on our way back, the train from Shinjuku to Tokai was just packed. For the first half hour, there weren't any places to sit... then finally, we were able to snatch seats. You have to be pretty quick lol. It's an ability you acquire pretty fast.

I'm always curious to know what the maximum capacity is...

Kamakura

The day after Christmas, my roommate Moe and I had decided to visit Kamakura together. As said before in my blog, my roommate is going to Canada (specifically to Vancouver) to study English at University of British Columbia. She'll be leaving at the beginning of January so before she leaves, we wanted to spend a little time together.

The morning of, I left for the station and took the train to Shinyurigaoka. The night before, Kenzo (one of the Iwasa's sons) had explained to me which trains I should take in order to get to Fujisawa. After arriving at Shinyurigaoka I checked the screen for the 9:20 train which I had been told to take. The only train at that time was the Limited Express Romance Car. So I imagined that was the train Kenzo had meant for me to take. So I boarded the Romance Car. The Romance Car is the Odakyu line's fastest express train. And the most comfortable as well. Not long after we left the station, a man in uniform came walking through the alley to verify our tickets. Uh-oh... I didn't have a ticket. So I explained to him that I had made a mistake and that I had boarded the wrong kind of train. He understood right away but then asked me to pay 700 yen (about 8 $) for a ticket.

Then, when we arrived at Sagami-Ono, they announced that the train would be separated. Cars 1 through 6 would be going to Hakone, and cars 7 through 10 to Katase-Enoshima (the direction I wanted to go). At that time, I was sitting in car number 2. So I had to walk all the way to car number 7. Ouf! I'm just glad I paid attention to the announcements. Usually, I just tune it all out because it's information I already know. But if I hadn't listened to it that day, I would have gone in a complete different direction.

So, I met up with Moe in Fujisawa, where we took another train to get to Kamakura, our final destination. And in Kamakura, we spent the whole day walking around, visiting various shrines, taking pictures (see below) and climbing lots and lots of stairs. One day is definitely not enough to see everything there is to see. And in the spring and summer, it's even more beautiful to see because all the flowers are blooming so I'm planning to go back around that time.

Here are some pictures, but of course, I couldn't upload them all.

the train station in Fujisawa

The two upper middle masks (the geisha mask and funny looking man mask) are the exact same masks
that we have hanging on a wall back home so I had to take a picture

o-mamori: people write down their prayers or wishes on these pieces of wood (many of the people hoped for a successful entrance examination, which is very important in Japan to enter university)

The Great Buddha of Kamakura: very impressive. We were able to see the interior as well because there is a hollow part on the side from which people can enter.

I'm not exactly sure whose shoes these are...

That was my last time seeing Moe before she goes to Canada. Good luck in Canada Moe! : D