2 weeks later, back in the States Thursday. 7.31.08 6:24 pm I'M BACK FROM SOUTH AFRICA! The bolded, capital letters hardly reflect how I'm really feeling at the moment. I don't REALLY feel like exerting the energy to blog the details of my amazing trip, but if I dont do it now I never will. So here goes: Business first. Here's how I placed:
For a world championship, I'd have to say I'm pretty satisfied   .But the most memorable part of competition wasn't winning. I love being part of a crowd that is so full of energy, always rooting on the home team (or in this case, Team USA). There were five times during the tournament when the crowd lost it, and those were times that I will never forget. Twice when the all-male group nailed both double dutch routines, once when Tori Boggs made a perfect freestyle, once when Robbie Csontos gave the best single rope performance I have seen in my life, and once when all 15 nations attending the World Championships joined the South African team in a chant that lasted for probably 10 minutes. I was hoarse for a day...it hurt to talk, but it felt so good. And then there were the townships. After the competition, Team USA divided into subgroups and joined teams from other countries to engage in an outreach program that would spread jump rope to several townships neighboring Cape Town. What I saw on that day I will probably never forget. Driving to the school we passed countless shacks, hardly qualifying as dwellings, some with a sheet metal roof and others constructed completely of cardboard. The living conditions were shocking. The school itself was hardly recognizable...it was surrounded by a perimeter of barbed wire and metal fences that made it appear to be more of a war zone then a center of learning. And yet the kids were all so happy. We took a group picture with them at the end and I asked some of them their names...then they asked me if schools in America were like the ones in South Africa. I will probably never forget that moment. Before we left, I gave my jump rope to their teacher. It was just a little reminder that the world is so much bigger than some of the petty things that go on in our lives. The next day started on less solemn note; a trip down South Africa's coast and some truly amazing views. I uploaded the scenery to my gallery. The sun was perfect, the sand was perfect, and I was enjoying it all with some of my favorite people on Earth, literally. And now look at me, writing on a laptop back in the States, just biding my time until something equally exciting comes along. But I know it won't. I'm not going to go into the details...like the strange flushing mechanics of the toilets, crazy driving, or how there are no clocks anywhere. Just know that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will NEVER forget. 100% gauranteed to last in my memory. I came away from this trip with a little more than memories; a quote from Motion City Soundtrack: "What doesn't kill us makes us who we are." Use it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Do not try to bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead, try to realize the truth. There is no spoon. Then you will see that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself. 8 Comments. Your trip sounded so cool! My computer is giving me hell, so I couldn't pull your gallery...but I will! AND....congrats on your placings. Pretty impressive :) » lazypuppy on 2008-07-31 10:12:01 A gold medal in a world competition? Freaky. Welcome back to Nutang, wait 'til you see what you missed. :P » randomjunk on 2008-07-31 10:19:07 woahh! Congrats! » Bizzle_whore on 2008-08-01 12:02:23 congrats on your wins. your trip sounds like it was so much fun and quite the learning experience. the pictures of the beaches and cliffs are pretty » LostSoul13 on 2008-08-01 12:44:52 aha, motion city soundtrack... Oversea trips are always awesome, breathtaking, and perspective changing if not life-changing. It's always so amazing. AND You are the GOLD 'overall sing rope' CHAMPION OF THE WORLD! Awesome job! :D awesome awesome » invisible on 2008-08-01 01:03:48 Man, you did great! That's so cool. I'm gonna look into your gallery now. And dude, you wouldn't believe the living conditions in, say, Kentucky. We all tend to think that the US has it made...bah. It's always a learning experience to see people in that situation, homeland or not. Glad you got to experience it. The level of camaraderie and love in that 10 minute chant sounds intense. :D » middaymoon on 2008-08-02 01:47:59 Hmm I guess I didn't specify. I meant...umm concert-like performances. I guess I didn't really think about competitions though. I guess in that case it is go hard or don't go at all. nice job with your accomplishment! » Ajibalaji89 on 2008-08-02 04:47:21 brian all i can really say is that i'm super proud of you. congratulations, on your medals of course but also taking your trip to south africa and really learning from it. =) » Serendipity on 2008-08-04 02:57:57
Sorry, you do not have permission to comment. If you are a member, try logging in again or accessing this page here. |
