The past week has FLOWN by! We did seven days straight working with beautiful kids from Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka and more. Staying with mamas we know and love to first time families that welcomed us with open arms. Today we finished our last “With Us” workshop (the alternative high school I mentioned in my previous blog) which ended with a full blown rock concert! Five schools participated in the YA workshop, then invited us to stay for their battle of the bands event. It was so cool! To see these kids that started the day off so shy and timid around us end the day with having mini mosh pits with our guys and “rockin out” all together? That equals awesome. A few days ago we we welcomed with a heat wave and a school full of incredibly talented kids. We later found out that we were working with the schools dance/cheer-leading club, who are top ranked in the nation. As soon as our meet and greet started we knew it was gonna be a great day. With our only challenges being the basketball teams scrimmage games on the opposite court and the beautiful yet intense heat soaking our clothes nothing could have been better. After we taught them our hip hop number we flip flopped and sat in front of the stage to watch them as they showed us what had just been learned! WITHOUT ONE SINGLE YA! CRAZY!!! I mean who does that?! In all of the times I have been amazed by extra-ordinary children during my 8 years in the YA’s that moment climbed the charts quickly During the workshop our cast decided that we were going to, for the 1st time this tour, teach the 3rd dance of our Lion King medley… Shadowland. It was a magical seeing the passion these kids gave to something that we are so passionate for. Watching them watch and cheer for each other, trust each other, trust us, and more importantly trust themselves gave me such a sense of peace. It reminded me that the ability to trust is a strength like no other. As our time here is rapidly coming to a close, and many of us are finding new paths for our lives after YA’s, it’s moments like those where you remember that throwing your head back and spinning around until your dizzy is what life is about. As I sit here in my hotel room on the 30th floor looking out at the night lights of Osaka, my mind is racing for what our last 10 days will hold. Tomorrow we move to families for 2 days and then make our way back up to our home turf, and finally ending with a double header workshop day filled with all our friends and families and familiar faces. YATTA! I just can’t believe we are here already.

• YA Blogger