Train Bingo!

How did your games of Train Bingo go? I've been playing train bingo (cousciously or unconsciously) since I moved to Japan. While New York is famous for its subways, trains are fairly new to Los Angeles. In fact, the metro system only got popular after I moved to Japan. Actually, compared to Tokyoites, far fewer Los Angelenos use the train. Most people would rather drive. You would never see a scene like to one in the Crowded Train video (to the right) in Los Angeles. You would never see it in New York or London, either. I think the Japanese are more tolerant of crowds.

The first time I got on a really crowded train it was actually my third day in Japan. I was heading to Karuizawa with an entire International Program class from Kashiwa Municipal High School. We were heading to a three-day English camp. All together, there were 42 students plus 6 teachers. We all got onto one train car at the same time, and boy were we squished. I couldn't believe it. I could hardly breathe. I was shocked, but most of the other people with us seemed to be used to it! Hello Japan!