Today I went back to the hospital. This time though, instead of going to the hotel to meet my boss and co-worker and taking them there, I went straight from my dorm there. This was probably one of the more confusing trips I’ve had to do. First, I had to switch trains two or three times which I can handle pretty well since I’ve had used the train systems here for quite a while now and am able to read the Japanese signs. The real problem was that one of the lines, Toei Oedo, actually doubles back on itself.
So, at one particular station, I had to get off the train and then switch to another train that was technically on the same line but going in a different direction. It’s not just a matter of crossing a platform to the other side, either. The actual platform when I came back was somewhere else.
As for the first time, I left the train, walked around a bit and then got on to the right train going in the direction I wanted. I looked around and realized the people seemed familiar. It was the same train I had gotten off a few minutes ago! Apparently, that time, the same train went on to the other part of the line (since the line doubles back on itself, there are two tracks for the same line in the station). However, when I came back, the train was going to continue on to a different part of the line and I had to switch platforms to get on a train that was going to go on to the right section I wanted to go. Pretty confusing, eh?
In any case, we had more meetings at the hospital and it was interesting to listen to how they spoke Japanese and see how things worked out. I’d write more about it now but unfortunately I have class tomorrow and it’s late again already, so I’ll have to say, yet again, that I’ll write about it later, lol.
As bad as that sounds, it’s still better than Boston transportation!