When the rush begins
every moment vital,
do not hesitate
This post could be made on any number of days, but this morning was definitely a shining example of what the train can be like on our morning commutes. When we got to Tokorozawa station, we headed for our platform as per usual. From the top of the stairs you have a good view of the platform and any trains arriving on either side. Often we time our walk to the station pretty well, so when we get to the platform there's just a minute or so before our train arrives. There are often people rushing and running around the station in the morning. We sometimes join them, as it's important to get in line for the train before it arrives to get a good spot. A standing spot still, but there are better more comfortable places to stand. On days like today though, we can see the train arriving at the left of the platform and know we have to hurry down the stairs to get in line before all the people getting off the train on the left join the line for the train on the right, while all the people in line for the train on the left squeeze through them to get on the train the others are getting off. If you think that sentence is complicated you should see what it looks like in person. People rushing at each other and darting in between each other on a crowded platform while trains pull up and get filled up in no time at all. It's pretty impressive and would actually be a joy to watch if you didn't know you had to enter the fray yourself.
Getting a seat is rare enough that when Aykut and I both got a seat one day this week we actually took a picture. When we got on the train we actually grabbed the only two seats that hadn't been rapidly snatched up and they were across from each other. A gentleman next to Aykut spotted that we were together though and gestured that we could switch seats. It was very polite and allowed us to get the snapshot. I call it, The Professors.
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