They have been getting used to getting on and off the trains as well as figuring out the train schedules. Gerry has been created a listing of her many train adventures:
Train Incident #1:
"Got on
the train okay and was our usual packed sardines because of rush hour. We were
about 2 minutes away from Nakano station when the train came to an abrupt stop.
Everyone went lunging forward. Don’t know if anyone fell down, but it
seemed as though everyone was okay. The board read that there was a passenger
injury at the Nakano station. We were stopped for 10-15 minutes, but it seemed
longer because we were packed in the train car and standing for that long. It
was interesting how everyone seemed so unaffected by the delay. There were
people quietly talking on their phones. I am assuming they were calling work to
let them know they were going to be late. Most either texted on their phones,
listened to whatever was playing in their earphones, slept, or just sat/stood
quietly. If people talked they usually spoke in very low voices. The only
voices I could hear were two older ladies. Then the fun began!!
When we arrived
at the station, when we stepped out of the train, there were throngs of
people on the platform. While the train was stopped, the crowds continued to
load the platform so they could catch the train. People from the bottom of the
platform continued to go up the escalator, not knowing themselves how crowded
it was upstairs on the platform. Being on the escalator, it just shoved them
into the already crowded platform. We maneuvered our way through the mass of
people and onto the escalator. Little did we know what was to await us at the
bottom.
At the
bottom of the escalator there is a long corridor with about 8 escalators or
stairs moving up or down on either side of it. The corridor is jam packed with
thousands of people. Escalators are pouring people into this corridor making it
even more crowded.
We were
poured from the escalator into the even greater mass of people trying to either
enter or exit the station, get on escalators to go up to the platform, or
people coming down stairs/escalators from the platform. People were being
shoved to and fro or moved with the mass. You had to push your way through so
that the mass wouldn’t move you in the wrong direction because people are
trying to get to their destinations. Paul had to yank
his backpack through the crowd and other people were getting their umbrellas
and purses caught on other people. While I was in this crushing mass of
humanity, I was thinking about the poor people at the soccer games that were
crushed and killed in the crowds. Also there are old and physically disabled
people. I hope they were okay."
Train Incident #2
"We left for the train station at 9:00am. We had
to put money on the Passmo (train card). We have two trains to catch. Kichijoji
to Tokyo and Tokyo to Chiba. It should take us about 1 hour to get to Chiba. We
made our connection to Tokyo okay. For the connection to Chiba, we were to take
the JR train line. I don’t think we went to the right place to catch the train.
Paul kept thinking we should catch the red line train (Keio Line). It should
only take us 30 minutes from Tokyo to Chiba. After 35 minutes passed, I asked
Paul if we were on the right train. Luckily he can read some Japanese and when
he checked the train schedule, he said he didn’t think we were on the right
train. After an hour and 15 minutes later, getting off the first train,
transferring to another train, and asking a few people, we were able to make it
to where we were to meet the group. We arrived about 12:00pm. One of these days
the train Gods will be good to us."
Train Incident #3
"We didn’t
get on the train until after 8:00am We found that was a big mistake. The train
was overly crowded. At each stop, more people would push into the car. They
would step backwards into the car and begin to push everyone back. It was as
crowded in the car as it was in our first train incident. You’d think if you
saw that the car was jam packed that they wouldn’t attempt to get in, but they
do! Each time we stopped and if I saw people starting to turn their backs to
the car, I knew we were in for more smashing. I think the train driver was new
or not well trained because he was very jerky in starting and stopping, which
made it even more difficult for people to keep their footing. The trains are
wonderful for getting us around, but not so fun when packed."
Train Incident #4
"The
Harrisons gave us directions on how to get to Hiro-o station, Vicki’s place. We
finally made the transfers without incident and surprisingly the train wasn’t
too crowded. The thing we haven’t figured out yet is what exit to take out of
the station. Of course, we took the wrong exit. The exit we should have taken
takes you right out next to the church office and their apartment. We ended up
having to walk a ways to their apartment."
Train Incident #5
"We
figured that the train shouldn’t be that crowded leaving that late at night.
Well, we were wrong.
We were
going up the escalator at the first transfer. Paul was about four people ahead
of me. Well, when he got to the top of the platform the train was already
there. I heard him holler at me to hurry, so I did. Just as I approached the
train, the doors began to close. There was Paul on the inside and me on the
outside. I don’t know what kind of expression I had on my face, but Paul
quickly stuck his arm into the door so it wouldn’t shut, but it didn’t want to
open. Another man standing next to the door, helped pry it open and I was able
to get in. When I got in the car, Paul said “I told you to hurry.” Not the
right thing to say, but he said it kindly. I noticed that the man who helped
Paul was just smiling and must have thought we were a hopeless couple. I was
just glad that we didn’t get separated because he had the phone and directions
on what trains to take home. I think Paul is going to have a good bruise on his
arm from the door shutting on it. I’m so glad that we won’t be taking the train
every day now. Trains and us don’t seem to get along well."