Here is a picture of Teru rocking out, if you read the post bellow you will learn he is sadly leaving Izena (at least for a while) to pursue his dreams as a rock star!

I am adding this post mainly to tell you all about a song and a class. One of those little things which kick starts your day, ya know! My 4 year elementry kids always have music on when I come in the room and then file past my giving me high 5's. Today the song was in Japanese but had a familiar tune. It took me a moment to place it.....it was the YMCA song by the Village people. That definately put me in a good mood for the rest of the day!

My Lovely bike.

Not an awffy lot to post about but I feel a post seems about due. I am nearing the end of my first week of classes and it has been fun! I am writing during a free period at the elementary school just now. The kids are just as genki as when I left them! The yochein especially, it took me about 5 minutes to get out of the classroom after I had already run almost ten minutes over time, I literally had children hanging off my legs are I tried to gather my things and leave (while giving kids hi-5's and saying 'goodbye!'). This week I have been training in any free time I have which is not enough now that classes have started. It takes almost a whole day to do a big workout, I am hoping to squeeze in a bike ride before I go swimming with the izena triathlon team at 6pm. Last night I did a night time run and a firefly landed on my running top, those things are really bright! Nature is awesome. Also this week a happy sad event. Teru leaving the island and moving to Naha so that he can practice with his band as they plan to release a full album next year. Next week they are doing a gig in Tokyo which will coincide with the mainland Japan release of their EP. I wish them the best of luck but I'll miss hanging out with him, of course we shall meet up on the mainland and I expect he will be back for Izena events. Have I mentioned I bought a bike? Well I bought a shiny newish (2nd hand) road bike. It is pretty snazzy with shimano dura-ace and ultegra components if you are into bikes. I also have a wonderful new hydro pack thing courtesy of Kelly so I have refreshing cold Pocari sweat throughout my rides too! I would like to sign off with a tribute to the late Steve Irwin, conservation warrior and general top bloke. He truly was an amazing and inspiration guy and will sorely be missed by countless people around the world. It was a bizarre way to go, if you don't know (shame on you) he was pierced through the heart by a sting ray while filming a nature documentary, only the second ever recorded death by a sting ray. I hope in heaven there will forever echo his eternal cry of 'CRIKEY!"