So according to my last entry, I'd covered up to November 15th where I was reunited with the lovely Eve <3....To be honest, nothing happened whatsoever between the 15th and my birthday so I feel it more appropriate to cover my birthday in a separate entry (with a few photos of course).
Why waste a post, though? I think I'm gonna mention something I've learnt about Japan so far and its craaaazy lifestyle...
Before coming to Japan, I had this preconception that the Japanese were among some of the most polite people in the world...Oh, ho ho! Perhaps I was wrong here. I actually find Japanese people more rude than the British! It made me consider not wanting to ever come back here to work but there are so many other aspects of Japan that are attractive so I think I'm aiming to come back and work in the future despite some of the attitudes I've encountered in Tokyo.
Actually, the Japanese are fairly polite and modest in general...but collect a large group of them, cram them into a train station and give them a destination and they become these merciless animals with only their goal in sight. Vacant but somehow determined stares, briefcases and handbags clutched at their chests, with no regard for any other human being in the station, they stride forward towards their platform....and once they start a-striding, nothing shall get in their way.
Being a short arse, I often find I've got the short straw in a place like Shinjuku Station at half past eight in the morning. Let me give you an example...
I shall take you inside the mind of a salary man in Shinjuku Station during rush hour:
"My platform is number 7 as I am to catch the Chuo Rapid service to Tokyo Station. My platform is on the far side of the transfer gate and I'm in a hurry (for no real reason as the trains on the Chuo line leave every couple of minutes). I'm in Shinjuku Station; there's an etiquette that I need to comply with.
I shall either
a) pull my briefcase up to my chest and break into a run (like a bowling ball in a skittles alley)...or
b) to make sure I have a clear path to the platform in the distance, I will keep my briefcase by my side and use it as a weapon.So I've chosen method 'b' but there are a number of obstacles between me and my destination platform (namely other persons). I'd like to have a bit of personal space between myself and them so I think I will make some room.
I will have to assess the situation appropriately for if I take a swing at a slightly larger person than I, it is fairly certain that my attack will rebound and I shall be sent spinning into a crowd of people walking the other direction.
...Aha, large salary man ahead: I shall avoid him by walking around him but will give him a good jostle on his shoulder for good measure.
...Crowd of business women: method 'a' works quite well with these. I shall hold my briefcase up to my chest and break into a run. Watch as they tumble like dominoes.
I'm back on track and the platform is well within reach. What's this?! A tiny gaijin? Yes, I believe it is and she seems to be making good progress to the very same platform as I. But she's so tiny...a well-aimed 'b' attack would rid her from my path and there's absolutely no chance of a rebound as she is much smaller than I. I approach at high speed, lift my briefcase a little higher and, oh my, this is perfect. She'd never expect a thing, not with her earphones crammed into her head, pumping out very angry Japanese rock...I hold my briefcase out to the side and push past her. The collision produces a marvellous, audible "smack" sound and...and...K.O! Tiny gaijin to the ground! The platform is mine to conquer!
I pound up the stairs to the platform. I find if I hold my arms out to the side like the wings of an aeroplane as I run, the heaving crowd of passengers coming back down the stairs seem to just part. Sure, I look very silly doing it (what with my slightly overweight, typical salary man stature) but according to the rules of Shinjuku in the morning, I HAVE to be in a hurry.
I'm at my platform...and the 8:37 has just left without me. Ah well, see, this is a minor matter. The 8:39 will arrive in a few seconds and I shall just hop aboard that one. There's no rush."
Miraculous. Am I right, ladies and gentlemen?
