Monday, February 24, 2014

Transportation

One of the shocking things that I have faced since I came to Oregon was transportation. In Japan, we use public transportation all the time. When Garfy and I were in Japan, we took trains and buses to go everywhere.
If you are interested in reading our trip to Japan, here are the links for you!
I will never recommend you to compare transportation in Tokyo and in ... Oregon. It's just so inconvenient! I have to have a car to survive here in Oregon. However, there are always pros and cons about everything, so I am getting used to this.
Bus (city bus)
Capital city of Oregon, Salem, has public buses for everyone. The buses only run from only Monday through Friday. Weekend = no bus. Holidays = no bus. The bus which I take daily comes ONLY 5 times per day. If I miss a bus, I have to wait at least 1 hour to get another one. If I miss the last bus at 5:30pm, I have to wait... till the next day. Oh how sad. I have never experienced this situation before in my life. People's attitudes towards bus are very negative. A LOT of people say "only 'weirds' use bus." :(
Train
It's also very inconvenient (location and time -wise). Trains don't come every 5 minutes; they come every couple hours and we have to book the ticket through the website. However, I think it's really comfortable. (comfortable chair & enough space for everyone) If you are a Japanese or have been to Japan, you can imagine the inside of the trains... something like American style bullet trains. The stations are usually very pretty buildings. The train has a dining place where we can buy foods, drinks, and snacks. If I have to use trains to commute on the daily base, I will be not happy about it.

How do people transport?
Car!
People in Oregon use their cars all the time. Even within a walking distance, people use their cars. Oh, how rich. haha The people who have cars and who I met in Oregon HATE taking public transportation. It's interesting. We do have and use cars in Tokyo, but we also use public transportation.
Bicycle!! Walk!!
(especially when it's not raining)
The weather in Oregon is just so beautiful. Oregonians love sunshine! They appreciate how great weather it is outside and always talk about the weather. I had never appreciate the weather like Oregonians do when I was in Japan. Their life-style definitely helped me to realize what I couldn't pay attention to. It may sound so silly and boring to you. However, I noticed how boring my life was because I was seeing the world without paying attention to what we have already. My life has become more relaxed and peaceful. hehe
Since I don't have a car, I have to use the city bus, walk, or get a ride everywhere I go. It's a bit inconvenient for me as an international student since I want to travel around, shop, and hang out with my friends all the time. On the other hand, it's good for me because I can save some money and always have to walk (= a bit of working out?) haha

What is the transportation like in your city/country?
What do you use the most?
What was your experience with the transportation in a different place?

Talk to you soon!
smile
:)

8 comments:

  1. i dont have trains in my city yet, then I usually walk or take the bus, which comes every five minutes. I always wanted to go Japan, I love everything about it!

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    1. Dear Gabrielle ★
      The bus comes every 5 mins!? Amazing! It's completely opposite to the bus that I take to go to school in the US.. You must live in a bigger city. & please come visit me in Japan:)!! haha Thank you for the sweet comments always.

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    2. yes, but the price of the ticket is SO expensive, but there is nothing we can do... but no, I don't live in a big city, compared to cities in the US. I live in Brazil, you must have heard something last year about the protests and everything, the problem is that this month the ticket will be even more expensive than it already is, and this is very sad, and people are starting to get angry again (I might even write a post on my blog about it). And yeah! maybe I will visit you in Japan someday, ahah :)

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    3. Dear Gabrielle★
      Brazil! This is so amazing! Thank you for visiting Smile With Vivian :) I actually have a friend from there. I have never talked about transportation in Brazil though, so this is awesome that you share your experience with me. Thanks again! You definitely should post about it if you have a time. If you do, please leave the link to the page ★ I would love to read that.

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  2. Public Transportation is rarely available in a lot of cities in America...it kind of annoys me because I hate driving!!

    I love cities that have fantastic public transportation. :)

    Christina
    http://kissesandflowers.blogspot.com/

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    1. Dear Christina ★
      Thank you for the comment! I have to agree with you, Christina. Even when I was living in LA area, still, the transportation was not as available as it is in Japan. I felt that strongly because I don't drive. Well, I guess I just need to get a car, huh? hehe

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  3. In my hometown we ride bicycles most of the times if we need to go somewhere within a mile or two, but we also have public transportation that runs every 10 or 15 min. By the way I am from Mexico :)

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    1. Dear my reader ★
      Thank you for sharing the information. It's interesting! I have heard about that from my best friend from Mexico. I would really love to visit & actually see how you guys transport from place to place!

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