....because it annoys your neighbors. However, if you do answer your phone on the train and there is a herd of Americans on it...we will find ways to point out all the do not answer phone signs on the train while laughing to the point of tears. On the trains in Tokyo talking on the phone is annoying to others so no one is supposed to do it; however, feel free to put your ear buds in and have your phone 4 inches from your face the entire trip. I will never feel bad for spending time on my phone...because after a couple minutes after I send that text message I will be putting my phone down to pay attention to the real world.
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| Just a small section of the morning crowd...totally forgot my flash was on! |
I decided to go ahead and try out a couple of Japanese products and do a little consumer research. First product was a pair of pantyhose I purchased in the shop downstairs. Keep in mind, I'm 5'7"...the average Japanese woman is definitely not that tall. I needed them for some business visits today. The first go around with the pantyhose was successful...honestly the best color I've ever put on that actually matched my skin tone. Second go around gave me 2 runs...luckily they didn't show past my skirt and I ditched them in a train station bathroom. Fail. The second product was the shampoo and conditioner in the hotel. Japanese travel with very little toiletries and it has been staring at me for a few days now. All went well the first couple hours, then my hair started to feel weighed down and gross...ponytail for the remainder of the day. Fail.
Our first stop was across town (I guess, or somewhere in the town, basically inside the city limits) to meet with Mr. Komatsu, the founder of Komatsu, to talk to him about his focus on wanting to educate and encourage peace amongst all and to build a peace center as a haven for people around the world. "History can start with a single man, but a single man cannot make history" ~ Mr. Komatsu
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Class and Mr. Komatsu
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After our meeting with Mr. Komatsu it was time to get on the train to head to our next location. This was quite the long train ride but it was nice to see how people outside of downtown live. Small houses mixed in with various mini-fields. We left the sky scrapers and men's suits behind and arrived to small multi-story homes and apartments. The trip was pretty long so I took the stroll to the front of the train and watched the driver as we went down the rail. Very interesting to see the hand signals and double checks he was completing as we were driving. It was just him in the front cab and he consistently did the hand signals and checks. When we went past a construction crew, the crew stopped with a flag out to the side and the driver put his hand up and this was the acknowledgement that both groups saw each other.
As we waiting for the bus to pick us up from the train station there were a few sneak cell-phone pictures taken by the students...we wanted to pose and ask them to tag us on Facebook since we were already being posted to it! Then we were headed to Oberlin University to meet with a professor to discuss leadership and management in the global age. Oberlin is one of the universities world wide offering a partnership opportunity with Webster University. I have finally gotten the courage to ask what each kind of food I'm finding in a Bento Box is, even in front of the entire class. I need to have an idea of what I am consuming...I am crossing the line at tofu though...that's just weird. Takes on the taste of everything else. Blech.
The train ride back we continued to laugh too much and speak too loud. No dirty looks yet but I'm sure there will be plenty others out there. I have learned that no matter what train you're trying to get on just turn around and back in...as long as you don't make eye contact with your peers and back in just to the line you've made it! This evening we went to a little cafe close the to the hotel so we could all be efficient with our time so we could get out tonight! Took bad I reached my exhaustion level and went home already. I did my presentation on the Anti-Nuclear movement groups while at the cafe. Everyone decided to head out to Ropongi but I reached the point of exhaustion (clearly since I'm currently editing this blog the day after), so I decided to stay in while everyone else headed out for some tourist fun. The EBI Filet-o sandwich at the locat MdDonald's down street, wandered into Starbucks for a slice of amazing and light strawberry cake.
Great food and time to sit down at McDonalds with my mom and Vicki to catch up on their day of a great tour and time to enjoy everything. I wish I had gone on their tour today!! Pretty sure I will be making her write a blog then as well! The rest of the class went on a train ride to go out...I am ready for bed! I have to figure out how to get baseball tickets for Saturday evening...another experience! For now I will enjoy my beer, cake and realizing I am typing in the world of reality and as I'm falling asleep typing in the world of Japan (honestly....I wasn't drunk). I also learned that Franzia not only comes in boxes but real glass bottles as well!!
Time for bed...you know you're tired when you start typing nonsense!! Also, I am still not a fan of the music/sounds in the subway station...waiting to hear change falling from the sky! My apologies if things don't make sense...I have reached the beyond tired night...time for sleeping as I finish this beer!
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