The Evening Rush

Have  you ever seen an baby elephant being stuffed into one of  your local subway train cars? No???!! Well neither have I, but perhaps if you have ever been on one of the subway lines in the heart of Tokyo then maybe you can relate. It literally feels like you and the other 60-80 people hoarding over you are that poor baby elephant. I have never in my life experienced this level of discomfort.

 Imagine this: 

You've had a very very long day. You are extremely tired and you are thinking about what you plan on eating for dinner tonight. You look down at your watch and it is approximately 6:05 p.m.. You manage to board the train just as it is about to leave. The train is already kind of full. There are no seats left so you have no choice but to stand. You find a pulley and hold on for dear life as the train suddenly jets off. You look around and see people playing on their the cellphones or reading their books. It is awfully quiet except for the obnoxious americans to the far right of you, who fail to realize that the locals rarely converse on the trains. You look to the left and see that some men and women are wearing white masks that cover their noses and mouths.DON'T BE ALARMED it is not the bird flu or anything like that. The train slowly comes to a halt. At the next stop, the platform is flooded with locals eager to get home just as badly as you want to.  "Okay its not that bad, there's still some room," That's what the locals think but in your mind you saying, "There is no way in hell all these people are going to fit on this train!" The doors open and about 15 people exit and that was only to let the people get out who actually have to stop here. Next thing you know, a swarm of people board the train. What you were thinking earlier was clearly false. Next thing you know you have purses and briefcases poking you in the back, a man or woman a little to close for comfort and a poor old lady who really needed that priority seating. Talk about uncomfortable! The doors finally close and of course the train jets off again sending the weight of everyone your way. In the midst of the all the chaos people are still reading their books fiddling with their cellphones and playing with their Nintendo DS. YOU on the other hand, are trying to maintain your balance hoping you don't crush the poor little girl beside you. Not to mention when the swarm of people finally  get off the train, you'll be turning and spinning in every direction. But don't worry, you'll finally get a seat and you'll make it home just in time to grab something from McDonald's.