日曜日, 4月 17, 2005
Rush Hour and Keio Line
My temporary place requires me to take the Keio line. I heard there's an exclusive car for women in this train line. I wonder why, are people using this line still in the conservative era? The feminist in me was protesting, why such discrimination in the 21st century???? I was about to find out...
The first time I got in Meidaimae station, I was surprised, it's a crowded station. I was delighted to find out though that there's a special commuter train which would skip all 5 stations and stop directly at Shinjuku. This is a great find especially for someone like me who'd rather spend those few waiting minutes in bed. I waited for another minute. When the train arrived and I saw all those commuters stuck inside like sardines (believe me it's even worse!), I didn't know what to do. I bravely lined up as the train doors open and a mass of people got out. I prepared myself and focused only on one thing, I need to get in that train. Well, unlike in Manila where people aggressively hussle for a place inside public transpo, Japanese are more polite and mindful of the person in front. I barely got in, there was absolutely no space. The crowd is so huge that station staff push people inside to get in and allow the train doors to close. Imagine you pour sugar into a canister until you will it completely. Usually there's something else left and so you shake the canister and use your palm to flatten the sugar to make way for the remaining ones. That was how we all felt ~ the train the canister, the palm the station staff, and us the sugar. And yet, I didn't hear anybody complained.
I told myself, it could be a fluke...But after a week has passed. I am bound to change my mind. At least I got the answer as to why there's a special all-women car.
# posted by Unknown : 11:15 午前
Thanks for visiting!