The C-train

Today I went on a new adventure, this time in English. I met one of my friends from the camp I worked at a few summers ago last night at one of Kelsey's many wedding showers, and we decided to hang out today because she had it off. The thing is though, that she lives on the other side of the city, and to hang out I had to take the C-train.
It's really funny to me because I would've rather taken a train in Japan than the little C-train in Calgary. I thought about that for a bit and realized that in Japan I'm just big and white- I stand out,obviously not belonging, and because
of that it's okay if I get lost or ask for help or press the button that sounds out an ear-piercing security alarm. But in Calgary nobody knows I don't naturally belong, I'm just one of the crowd, and if I make a fool of myself then people, well, think I'm a fool (not that I care so much about what people think). It's the White Anonomity in Japan that allows you to goof up that I was missing.
But I took the train successfully and made it downtown; the only trick was meeting my friend. She wasn't where we had agreed to meet, and I kept waiting and waiting for about half an hour - until I realized I had her cell number in my pocket and thought it would be beneficial to call her from a pay phone and see where she was. And when I called her I realized she was literally 4 meters away (why is it that it always happens that way?)
Now looking back I wonder why I was nervous about getting lost on the C-train at all; there literally are only 4 destinations and two tracks (one going each way) in the whole city. The train system in Japan is much much more complicated, especially in Tokyo. Tokyo is crazy for trains with all the different lines and directions, and throw the subway in there and it's even worse. I figure if I can navigate my way around Tokyo no problem then places like Calgary shouldn't be a problem... if I could just remember which part of this huge city I live in.