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