Gomi 2

I noticed an empty PET bottle under the seats as I sat down on the right side of the train. I saw an empty Starbucks beverage container under the seats on the left side of the train. I had no idea the locals were such litterbugs. Some may blame the trash on the foreigners. Sorry you Nippon nationalists and crusaders, but you can't explain away all your problems with your gaijin theories. What's with the cigarette butts I see on the streets? I was walking through a dark street one night and a young couple walked by while smoking. One of them dropped a butt on the ground without putting out the burn. Only YOU can prevent forest fires.

Cooling

Recently the air conditioning on the trains has been lacking the arctic chill. Air blows from the vents, but it feels like just a fan. The weather hasn't cooled down that much to warrant a change in train temperature. I wasn't aware that the natives enjoyed practicing Cool Biz on the trains. It's strange that during the humid summer, the train was one of the places to find comfort. During the spring and fall, it's a place of discomfort.

Granny

Lines had formed waiting for the train and I noticed that an old lady came and stood near the front of my line. When the train arrived a few minutes later, she cut in front of the first person in line and waited for the doors to open. I figured maybe granny had bad legs and needed a seat. No big deal. The doors opened and she entered the train without hesitation. She hindered the movement of people trying to get out and kept walking towards the seats. She crossed the line from neediness to rude when she ignored the people trying to exit the train. There were no seats to be found, but she got lucky and another woman offered her seat to granny. It seems as though the Nihon-jins like to reward rude behavior. I must be experiencing culture shock.