Today was a beautiful sunny day, all I needed to wear was a light sweater. This wouldn't be so weird if it wasn't DECEMBER! It is so strange having this kind of weather when I have lived in Minnesota for ten years or so. I am sitting on the floor of my bedroom at my kotatsu (heated table), which is not turned on because it is nice today.
On any given school day I wake up later than I mean too, wolf down breakfast, and hop on my bike to go to the station. Although it only takes about 5-10 minutes depending on traffic and stoplights, this short period of time is enough to start the day off really badly or really well. For the most part, I enjoy the bike ride. A good day is when I get to the station just in time to catch the train. A bad day is when the train just pulls away as a enter the platform (like today).
My bike route is the same everyday. The path twists and turns, taking me past a graveyard, a rice field, various shops, lots of apartment buildings, and the supermarket. Here is a quick note on Japanese graveyards: families share the same grave, and everyone is cremated. The graves are usually one high pillar with maybe smaller pillars in four corners around it. Considering the large population of Japan, you will be unsurprised to find out there is hardly any room to walk at graveyards because the graves are so close together.
Along my route are volunteers in yellow jackets with flags that help the school children cross the street. There is one kinda chubby old man who I really like because I say ohayo gozaimasu to him everyday and he gives me this huge smile; it is adorable. But the other ones I don't really like, and I try to avoid them.
When the weather is nice I can appreciate the scenery, feel the breeze in my hair, watch people starting their days, etc. If it is a good bike day I don't have to wait at the intersections too long, I avoid all the potholes and sewerlids, and don't have to manuever quickly in order to not get hit by cars, motorbikes, or other bicyclists.
The hardest part of my route is the crossing the last street. The bike parking lot is badly located as far as getting to it safely is concerned. I have to cross the road and bike down the opposite side (in the wrong direction) to get to its entrance. This particular road is really busy, especially in the morning. On a good day, I just tail behind a more experienced biker and take advantage of their knowledge of good times to make the run for it. I can cross it on my own now as well, albeit with shakey knees afterwards.
Probably one of the worst indicators of a bad bike day is getting stuck behind and old person on their bicycle. Or even worse, a smoking old person. Yes, the Japanese smoke and ride a bike. A note on women and bikeriding: there are more variations among women bike riders than men. Men usually are salarymen in suits, students or old men. But women have a whole set of bike gear for all weathers. First, they all mastered the art of carrying an umbrella while riding. Or if they haven't they have a special umbrella holder for the job. Second, they wear huge oven mitt looking things to protect their hands. Third, among older women they often wear ridiculously long visor caps to protect their face. Of if they don't have a hat, they have a huge plastic forcefield looking thing rigged to the front of their bike. That shields them from the elements and probably lasers too. Finally, because school girls uniforms always have require skirts this makes bike riding problematic. The good girls keep them at the length intended, and even that can be a problem while riding. But the bad girls hike their skirts up to near indecency and THEN get on the bike.
Which brings me to another side note: I still have no idea what the actual required skirt length is for these school uniforms. You can see three girls wearing the same exact uniform standing side by side (which you see often), but one will have their skirt barely covering her underwear, one will have one slightly longer, and then the third's skirt will be below her knees. I assume the girls who wear their skirts that long are probably considered unpopular.
