Kariakoo

If you're not yet convinced that Dar es Salaam is an awesome city, the next paragraph should help assuage any doubts.

Today, I took a dala-dala (basically a mini-bus - $0.20 U.S.) into the Kariakoo marketplace. It's about a five minute walk from Mnazi Mmoja, where the Peace Day celebration was held last Friday, and is one of the biggest markets in East Africa. The scene was bustling - packed with people, and filled with just about anything you would want. There, I was able to buy 11 mini bananas, 6 mini mangos, 2 oranges, an avocado, a cup of ice cream, chipsi mayai, and mishikaki for less than $3.50 U.S. I still can't get over how good that avocado was. Probably the best I've ever had.

It's been really fun venturing out into the city and discovering new restaurants and shops. Most of the places don't have names, but if you go out for a walk, you'll pass at least a few within a couple of minutes.

The people I've met are all so friendly. It's going to be tough leaving.

Amani,
Mike

International Day of Peace

Lots to write about. Last Saturday night, I met with Zameer Noorali, Program Manager for GNRC-Africa. He invited me to perform at an after-school meeting of several different peace clubs in the area. I jumped for about 90 teenagers, and 35 have expressed interest in instruction. Zameer also asked that I attend the International Day of Peace celebration held this past Friday in Mnazi Mmoja. The Day of Peace is not actually until tomorrow, but was celebrated early due to Eid falling on Monday. It was a great event. Probably around 1000 kids, and several different performing groups. There was a lot of great music, dancing, acrobatics, and singing. I'm so glad I got to go.

The kids at Dogodogo are learning fast, and they're a blast to work with.

A few of them can do the T.S. (behind the back cross), many can do pushups and frogs, and they all love 2-in-1 (Two people sharing one rope). Here's a video of two of the boys jumping a short routine they made up yesterday.

Athuman, the one on the right, is completely awesome. His English is pretty good, and he's able to understand my explanations of almost everything. From the very beginning, he has taken on a teaching/leadership role with the other kids. He has a great memory, and is now able to explain to the others what causes a mistake, and how to fix it. It's really cool to see. He can do several rope releases already, a pushup, toad, double under, 360, E.B., and is a solid Double Dutch turner.

34 mosquito bites and counting - and that's just from the past few days. Sipendi mbu. Still loving the food, though - I found a great place near the Haven of Peace Academy where I can get chipsi mayai (basically an omelette with fried potatoes - delicious) and mishikaki for 1800. That's less than $1.50 U.S. Amazing.

Much more coming soon,
Mike

Saturdays in the Village

Amanda Maxwell, one of the teachers at the Haven of Peace Academy, has helped organize a Saturday morning games session for a group of children in a village near Mbuyuni, Dar es Salaam. They'll play soccer, run around, do puzzles - and now, jump rope. I've gone in with her the past two Saturdays, and had an absolute blast jumping with the kids there. Here are some of the pictures:

First Performance

Friday was a good day. My first performance of the year took place at Dar es Salaam International Academy. Beautiful school, and the kids were really excited to watch. I'll be working with them on Mondays and Thursdays - in the morning during P.E., and after-school as part of a "Middle Years Program" for the older students. A few of the teachers there are very interested in learning.

In the afternoon, I visited the Dogodogo Centre for a performance and some teaching. The kids were unbelievable. I will say this: Lukas...you've got some serious competition. Jump rope world, meet Amisi.

He's 8 years old, and he can do a back flip. Today, in about an hour, he learned a frog, a pushup, and a forward roll kip. He then did a pushup directly into a forward roll kip, and can almost do a kamikaze. I showed him a freeze, and he can hold the position really well. I'm sure he'll be doing it easily with the rope in a few days. Many of the kids were able to do front crosses, and a few learned the toad, double under, and crougar. I taught one kid a nice Double Dutch strength sequence without the ropes, and another is fairly close to the Nederman Pop. If he gets it, I'll post a video, and listen for the sound of jaws around the world slamming into the floor. They all seemed to really enjoy jumping long rope, and there are several natural gymnasts in the group.

I can't wait to see what Day Two with them brings.

Dar es Salaam is a beautiful city. The people are so nice, and the food is delicious. Two mishikaki (grilled beef on a stick) with diced tomatoes and onions is about $1.50 U.S. Best. Dinner. Ever. You all should come visit...right now.

Upendo na Amani toka Tanzania,

Mike

It begins!

After an intense final day of dentist appointments, root canals, shots, shopping, packing, and some pretty hard goodbyes...the trip has started! I'm now in the Washington D.C. airport waiting for my flight into Johannesburg, South Africa, which will be followed by a 20 hour layover, and my flight into Dar es Salaam. After so much running around, it is nice to sit and rest. I can't wait to work with the kids, and teach them everything I can. I'm extremely optimistic, and may need to remind myself to stop for a brief rest at least once a month.

Thank you so much to all of the people who went out of their way to help me these past few days. Surprise parties, surprise visitors, the midnight rope-sorting crew, friends, family, and anyone I've talked with on the phone. You all mean the world to me.

East Africa, here I come! Kwaheri!

Getting Ready

This week has been feverish. Planning for the trip, contacting staff and suppliers, getting a new website ready, ordering T-shirts. I was able to import the blog into the new blog on the website. Pretty neat.

Nationals

I just returned from the National Championship in Galveston, Texas, where I received an outpouring of support in the form of donated ropes. Thank you so much to all of the coaches and individuals that helped! If you are interested in donating/purchasing ropes to help get this program off the ground, please contact me at mfry@oberlin.edu.