We are Here

After 20 hour plus of being on a plane we are finally spending our first day in Africa. Everyone had their bags make it here so we are of to a good start. We went from the airport to a bbq hosted by the local club. The food was great and the hospitality even better. Our whole group is staying with host families. I will update pictures later of the bbq. Some of the boys are at school today with their host wrestler. They were actually excited to go to school. I think because they were told there will be many girls. Today we will train at 1:00 PM then work on making weight for tomorrow. Most of the boys are close so it should not be to tough.
So we are here and hit the ground running. It is a lovely sunny morning.

Flight Status

The flight to Atlanta landed on time and is already boarding for Johannesburg.
If you or their siblings want to watch the flight status you can do so by going to www.delta.com
and track status for Flight 200 (atlanta to Johannesburg) It gives you real time flight location.
The flight to Johannesburg is 15 hr 5 min. So they should land approximately 8:15 am our time, I think :-)

Saturday 8-1 tournament Information

If you happen to be curious about the International tournament they will be wrestling in on Saturday, I am posting a link to the tournament information and a link just to the South African Wrestling Federation.

here is the link to the SA Wrestling federation www.wrestling.org.za/

and here is the link to the tournament they will be wrestling in on Saturday.

http://www.wrestling.org.za/SAstoei/Tournaments/Provincial/09%20Johnnie%20Reitz%20-%20Big%205%20(International).pdf

The Float

Pictures from the McKenzie River float feast.

The end of a hard workout

And more drilling

More drilling

More Drilling

Drilling Session 1

Camp Warmup Pics

Camp, session 1

End of session one at camp for the boys. They are off to relax with their host families of Thurston..thank you so much for opening your homes to the boys!
Tonight (4-6) a traveling team from California will be there to live wrestle with the team. Then back to their host families for the evening.
Tomorrow they will have a morning drill, relax and cool off with a float down the river and then another session tomorrow afternoon. The Davis' of Thurston have graciously opened their home for a BBQ for the boys tomorrow night........thank them if you see them!

Message from Team Leader

We are 3 days from training camp and I am already staying awake at night with anticipation.
This trip will alter your view of the world in what I think a positive way. As we approach camp be ready to expect the unexpected and to go with the flow. No matter how much research and scheduling goes into to these trips there will always be a hurdle or two. Remember not everyone thinks like Americans so be ready to take in other peoples views and way of life. This is a cultural exchange with the purpose of learning about other people on the other side of the world. So be flexible and be a sponge this is a great opportunity and we need to go with the mindset of learning. Also, don't forget we are there to represent the sport of wrestling so come ready to rumble on the mats and show what great wrestlers we have in Oregon.

Tentative Wrestling Itinerary

This is a rough draft tentative schedule subject to change (besides the flights) but it will give you a feel for the wrestling/touring itinerary. Looks to be around 8 duals and 1 open tournament. Hope the boys are conditioning and ready for the experience of a lifetime!

31 July Arrive in SA Host by Central Gauteng
1 Aug Wrestle J Reitz open Championship
2 Aug Rest host by Central Gauteng
3 Aug Central Gauteng Duel visit Gold Reeve City
4 Aug Mpumalanga Duel
5 Aug Kruger National Park
6 Aug Duel SA National junior and kadet team Nothern Gauteng
7 Aug Duel Nothern Gauteng Sight Seeing Pretoria
8 Aug (Fly) Travel Cape Town Sight seeing Cape Town
9 Aug Duel Match WP Sight Seeing
10 Aug Sight seeing Cango Caves Duel WP EP
11Aug Duel WP Boland Visit Wine Farm
12 Aug Travel JHB Duel EG
13 Aug Depart USA

Flight Schedule

2009 Flight Schedule for South Africa 2009 (Remember South Africa is 9 hours ahead of our time)

7-29 Delta # 2049 Portland to Atlanta Leave 11:23am Arrive 7:08pm

7-29 Delta # 200 Atlanta Leave 8:05pm to Johannesburg Arrive 5:10pm (30th)

8-13 Delta # 201 Johannesburg to Atlanta Leave 8:45pm Arrive 7:00am (14th)

8-14 Delta # 1821 Atlanta Leave 11:07am Arrive Portland 1:18pm



Side Note: Team will fly from Johannesburg to Cape Town on August 9

Team will fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg on August 12

Points of Interest

If you haven't already checked them out with your son, here are links to some of the places they might be seeing on their trip.

Kruger National Wildlife Park http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/
Gold Reef City http://www.goldreefcity.co.za/theme_park/index.asp
Cango Caves http://www.cango-caves.co.za/photos.php
Capital City Pretoria http://www.southafrica.net/sat/content/en/za/full-article?oid=18329&sn=Detail&pid=129
Johannesburg http://www.southafrica.net/sat/content/en/za/full-article?oid=16862&sn=Detail&pid=129
Cape Town http://www.southafrica.net/sat/content/en/za/search-results?search_keyword=cape+town&pid=116

Hope this helps!

Weather in Johannasberg

Starting next Thursday
Sunny. Winds from the NNW at 5 mph. Jul 30
Realfeel®: 63 °F
High: 64 °F
Thursday Night, Jul 30
More Details
Partly cloudy. Winds from the NNW at 4 mph.
Realfeel®: 46 °F
Low: 44 °F
Friday, Jul 31
More Details
Intervals of clouds and sunshine. Winds from the N at 5 mph.
Realfeel®: 63 °F
High: 63 °F
Friday Night, Jul 31
More Details
Clear to partly cloudy. Winds will be light and variable
Realfeel®: 49 °F
Low: 43 °F
Saturday, Aug 1
More Details
Sunny. Winds from the NW at 4 mph.
Realfeel®: 64 °F
High: 63 °F
Saturday Night, Aug 1
More Details
Clear. Winds will be light and variable
Realfeel®: 49 °F
Low: 43 °F
Sunday, Aug 2
More Details
Sunny. Winds will be light and variable
Realfeel®: 68 °F
High: 67 °F
Sunday Night, Aug 2
More Details
Partly cloudy. Winds from the ENE at 9 mph.
Realfeel®: 40 °F
Low: 45 °F
Monday, Aug 3
More Details
Sunny. Winds will be light and variable
Realfeel®: 75 °F
High: 78 °F
Monday Night, Aug 3
More Details
Clear. Winds will be light and variable
Realfeel®: 38 °F
Low: 33 °F

Baggage Information

Carry-on Baggage
All Delta passengers are allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item that meet the criteria below.Size and Weight RestrictionsIf your carry-on bag doesn't meet these size and weight restrictions it must be checked, and all checked baggage rules will apply. Your bag must:Weigh less than 40 pounds (18 kg). Not exceed 45 inches (length + width + height). Fit easily in our SizeCheck® unit (approximately 22"x14"x9"). Fit in an overhead bin or underneath the seat in front of you. Personal ItemsYou're allowed one personal item from this sample list:Purses, briefcases, camera cases, and diaper bags Laptop computers (can’t be checked and must be carried on) Items of a similar or smaller size to those above
Other Carry-on Items Allowed You may also bring these items onboard. They do not count toward your personal item. Food items for immediate consumption Assistive devices such as wheelchairs or crutches One box or bag of duty free merchandise A coat, jacket, or umbrella

Checked Baggage—International Currently when traveling to or from cities outside the United States you can check two bags, per passenger at no extra charge. For customers traveling between the U.S. and Europe for tickets purchased on or after May 23, 2009 for travel beginning July 1, 2009 customers in economy class will be charged $50 US (or the local equivalent currency) for the second checked bag. Exceptions to the second checked bag fee include: Latin America (South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Mexico), the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Canada - Economy Class2 checked bagsEach bag at a maximum 50 lbs (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height)
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/baggage_allowance/index.jsp.

Team members

Coach- Mike Simons / Thurston
Team Leader- Scott Shannon / Elmira
Team Mgr. - LaMont Simons / Thurston
95-100 Colton Schilling / Sweet Home
112 Zorg Loustalet / Henley
119 Chance Lindquist / Redmond
125 Trever Olson / Sweet Home
125 Riley Omlid / Thurston
130 Aaron David / Henley
135 Ryan Davis / Thurston
145-152 Steven Sturdevant / Thurston
152 Eric Luna / Cleveland
160 Alex Simantel / Scappoose
160 Chris Kramer / The Dalles Wahtonka
171 Cody Jones / Dallas
171-189 Cory Davis / Thurston
189 Jordan Haag / Thurston
215 Trever Gwin / Scappoose
215 Jacob Abrams / The Dalles Wahtonka
HWT Weston Strohmeyer / Elmira
**** Here are the actual weights for the Open Championship Tournament we will wrestle in on August 1st :Fila Cadet ages 15-17 92.5 101.25 110.25 119 127.75 138.75 152 167.5 187.25 187.25 - 220.5 275 Fila Jr. ages 18 - 20 101.25 110.25 121.25 138.75 145.5 154.25 163 174 185 211 264.5

Oregon Cultural exchange team website

This is intended to be a private blog for 2009 Oregon to South Africa Cultural Exchange Duals Team members and their families only. It will be set up so that authors will be have to be authorized by me first. Upon a final list of team members, their emails will be added to this blogsite. If there are some extended family members or otherwise that you would like to be able to share this with, I will be more than happy to add them to our authorized viewers. This is for the protection of our kids and for the enjoyment of their families. Most will be traveling at the mercy of the team coaches only and hopefully this will give families a way to feel connected to their kids through this awesome journey. I hope to begin with emailed information that has been provided, team camp and anything else that I can provide that will assist Mike Simons with the huge undertaking. I will also allow family members to post to this site as well so long as it is positive towards the team. The only information that will be posted while they are actually in South Africa will be what we are able to recieve via phone calls or their limited access to the internet. Please remember I am an amateur and am doing this for the kids and their families. It will not be perfect.