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I, on Friday, had my most difficult morning on the train. For some reason people were in more of a hurry, or all had some repressed and pent-up anger, or a bunch of people straight from an anger management class had banned together to unleash themselves on the unsuspecting populace of the Shinjuku yuki train. At almost every station, instead of the gentle shuffling onto the train that I have gotten used to, there was a giant football player movement as people shoved themselves and others farther into the train.

Then, much to my chagrin, i became caught on someone's bag and the crowd moved so that there was only room for oneof my feet on the floor. And then I was tilted at a 45 degree angle. So there I am, on a massively crowded train, standing on one foot, caught between 2 people and their bags, leaning heavily to one side, the only thing keeping me from falling on the people sitting down and getting walked all over was my right fingers which were on the ring above me, hanging on by their finger tips as it was one of the straps meant for taller people. I was actually scared b/c i could barely hold on and if i did let go I would have been walked on. My left toes were the only ones hitting the ground while the rest of me was almost perpendicular to my leg. I was immensely relieved to arrive at Sasazuka as most people left the train and I was able to stand on two feet for the first time in 10 mins.

After classes ended at noon on friday the JLSP students went to Bousaikan- the Disaster museum. I had been pretty excited about some of the simulations but they weren't as awesome as I had built them up to be. First we sat through a movie on the museum but my translator was broken so I didn't understand a thing, and then another 3-D movie on the earthquake of 2000 or 2004- don't remember.

Then we went to the typhoon simulation. The guys went first, donning their brightlly coloured rain gear and were subkected to heavy rain and strong winds. We girls (teacher and staff member included) went next, all dressed in pink suits (except for me, who had neon green jacket with my pink pants). Hosaka sensei told me to stand up front, right next to the water jets. I made her come with me. Then I experienced what drowning must me like: b/c I was right up front and my jacket didn't have a visor, water immediately entered my nose, eyes, mouth, and ears. I had to turn my head to try and breathe, but even then it was pretty difficult. When the water ended we all started laughing until we were subjected to typhoon strength winds. We exited wet and laughing.

Then was the smoke maze. which wasn't as exciting- the maze wasn't really smoky and it was ridiculously easy to find our way out, so i wish it could have been darker and harder to get through. The girls made me lead again, though. Am I supposed to be wonder woman?

Then we learned about extinguishing fires and used real extinguishers filled with water to fight a fire. We all had to yell "Kaji Da!" (Fire!) before going and it was funny watching people be self conscious yelling it!

Last was the earthquake simulator and it was pretty cool b/c it took you up to the highest possible level (7). 3-4 people went onto this platform that looked like a kitchen. It raised off the ground and gradually got shakier. We had to turn off the gas, prop open the door, and then get under the table with cushions on our heads. We couldn't stop laughing but it was pretty cool.

What was even cooler was that there was a dress up corner so I got help from the staffin putting on a firefighter's jacket and helmet and then posed in the mini firetruck with an elephant mascot. What can I say? I am jaunty...