Kelly and I before the marathon
Kelly and I after the marathon!
Kelly, her Grandparents and I at the Tropical Dream Centre
The orchids drawing in their unsuspecting victims
A vine growing across a concrete roof
Goodmorning!
This weekend was a good one. Two main causal agents were running the
They were very friendly and I liked them immediately, one naturally hopes their impression was similar, then off we all went to gather to the pineapple park. As a side note I share the opinion that Americans are generally very friendly, open and polite, that is to say easy to become congenially acquainted with. They don’t tend to stand on ceremony or be stand-offish. I really like this however I am a cynical and grouchy Brit and sometimes the over the top (subjective I know) exuberance of Americans makes me feel uncomfortable. Not uncomfortable in that I don’t like it, it is great to be optimistic and enthusiastic about everything (within reason of course) but I am uncomfortable acting that way myself. I tend to communicate my positive emotions in devious and subtle ways, so pay attention! I wonder if you can take it as a rule of thumb that when Americans say something one aught to take into account probable overstatement and factor down greatness/awesomeness accordingly. And also when a Brit says something one must factor in understatement and scale up the greatness/wonderfulness.
American English : British English
Awesome = not bad
Well anyway I am going off on a wild tangent and I am not sure I really believe what I just wrote, it was just a thought.
So on with my tale. On Saturday we spent most of the day in
SUNDAY: RACE DAY
Oh boy. The
As for me the arch of my left foot is bothering me but it is not so bad now, my toes also took a bit of a beating. But that was the last endurance event for a little while. I have been in constant training for over a year now and it is time to let me knees and other connective tissue a chance to heal. Not that I am stopping, are you crazy! But I will switch to bike and swim training for a while. Hopefully I can do some 10Km or 20Km races in the near future and build up some speed.
Well done to Josh, Fidi, Charolette and Helen for also running the marathon and to Perry for rocking the ten Km race that day and for getting a PB at the Tokyo Marathon the week before. Good luck for Miako you crazy buggers! Also thank you to Kelly’s grandparents and Yasmine for cheering us on during the race.
After the marathon we had a slap up meal at macaroni grill (camp foster) where we were joined by the ever genki Ryoko. After facing the ordeal of the steps up to Kelly’s apartment again we iced aching limbs again before collapsing to bed.
Monday we went to the Tropical Dream Centre where we were treated to an amazing display of orchids. An old plant science professor of mine once described them as the Brazen Hussies of the plant world. However that think that is a little unfair and I am quite fond of them. A little gaudy and over the top at times but beautiful none the less.
This week I will have my last English conversation class. I am sad as I have grown quite fond of my class. The ‘thank you for being our teacher’ card they gave me on valentines day I will treasure. They are a good bunch of girls and I don’t think I will have time to get to know the new lot quite so well. I am working on giving them a lesson to remember and so far it involves chocolate so I think I am on the right track.
After doing my night time English conversation class on Monday (I have three such classes) I was invited by a teacher to some shindig so off I went. There were quite a lot of people there and lots of good okinawan/Japanese food. Incase you are curious as to food here I posted some pics. On the table you can see pigs tongue and in the bowl; diakon (like a white turnip), pigs ankle, tofu, seaweed, hotdog sausage and a boiled egg. The pigs ankle is pretty yum, its really soft and you just suck the skin, fat, tendons right off the bone. Yes yes, I know, I eat everything. The other picture if off a chap preparing the sashimi (sliced, raw fish). I have another party to go to tonight, there must be something going on, but as usual I am clueless! Probably to do with the up coming gradations and completion of a school year?