I just got home from a two and a half week trip to Tanzania (East Africa if you are geographically challenged). I went over to help Mike Fry with One World, One Rope teach rope skipping at some various schools and street centers for runaway kids. I landed in Dar es Salaam the day before Thanksgiving and then spent Thanksgiving day on an 11 hour bus ride from Dar to Moshi (at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro). If you have never experienced bus rides in 3rd world countries, you are missing out on quite an adventure. I got the back row of the bus comfortably squashed between 7 other people, none of whom used deodorant...and there's no A/C in 90+ degree weather and 100 percent humidity. You get the picture.

I mention this because the conditions of the entire trip were pretty well summed up in that bus ride. Little to no cooling, bathing out of a bucket and really hot weather with lots of B.O. Most people would find this type of trip quite miserable...not me, I loved it. In fact, when you get to a country like this and see how people live and thrive with the conditions they have, you really start realizing what being thankful really is. I have a much greater appreciation for what I have after numerous trips to locations like this. Take a trip to a third world country if you get a chance, it will change your perspective on everything. Now on with the jump rope talk.

I arrived in time for the first 2 day workshop scheduled for the trip. We spent all day Saturday and Sunday teaching 26 kids a bunch of skills in Single Rope, Double Dutch, Traveler and 2-Person 1-Rope. These were all students from 3 local schools who were told they should learn as much as they could and then take it back to their schools and teach others. The principle is quite simple, we teach the teachers so the sport will spread as fast as possible. In this case, the teachers are 7 year olds, 12 year olds, 16 year olds. You're never too young to teach. At the end of the 2 days, we chose 1 student from each school to go to a larger competition/camp that we were doing the second weekend of December. The choice was tough (both this weekend and the following one) because the kids work extremely hard and it's really a difficult decision deciding who will learn the most. But in the end, a decision was made and we encouraged the kids to keep working hard and maybe they would get a chance to go next year.

We headed back to Dar and did 3 shows/workshops at schools around the city. Jumping in the dirt, in dingy classrooms and surrounded by loads of kids was hard. The only thing tougher...those kids did it barefoot, something which I can never bring myself to do. I remember a situation last year where a number of the kids were given shoes, except they kept taking them off because they would miss, it had to be the shoes. Barefoot is so much better. I guess you get used to it. We had another 2 day workshop (from 9 to 6 each day) then had a couple days to prep for the upcoming competition and camp. We ended up getting a really cool location booked last minute, the Makumbusho Cultural Center. We originally stopped by to see some traditional African music/dance, but talked to the owner and he let us use the facility for the competition and then a demo for his customers.

Unfortunately, I was not able to stay through the entire camp as I had a show in Montana already booked for Sunday (and the camp was Sat-Mon). I took off on a midnight flight out of Dar and flew all day to get to Laurel on time for the show. I had a great trip to Tanzania and can't wait to get another opportunity to go back and work with some of the most rugged, hard working kids I've ever had a chance to meet. As I sit in my cold office (which I'm enjoying thoroughly after the heat blast of summer in December), I can't help but be thankful for my wonderful wife, my great living conditions and the fact that I have opportunities most of those kids will never realize. I'm blessed and you are too. God Bless, have a great Christmas!

I almost forgot. Mike had a wheel rope that was red, yellow and purple. He said it was probably the ugliest rope he's ever used, and yet he didn't know why he always had it on him. I told him that the colors were quite inspiring to the kids there and he should showcase it proudly, they were the colors of ketchup, mustard and unicorns. Who says we ever grow up?

It has been a busy couple of months, thus I must apologize for the dearth of posts. I am just about to board a flight to Tanzania where I will be performing and teaching for about 2.5 weeks. Last year, I had the opportunity to perform in Kenya and work with the first ever East Africa jump rope tournament. We are doing the second tournament next month (which I will miss due to a show in Montana the same day). I will be spending the time prior to the tournament teaching the teams located in Dar Es Salaam and Moshi. I will give an update when I get back. Have a great Thanksgiving!

If you've been keeping up with my travels at all, you know that I've been spending an exorbitant amount of time on airplanes this year. A few months ago I sat next to this really interesting lady on one of my flights and I have to say, it was most enlightening. She works as a franchise manager (or some title like that) for Einstein Bros. Bagels. Being a small business owner myself, I love discussing different styles of business ownership and we had a very pleasant discussion where she explained to me the ins and outs of Einstein. I learned about floor plans, sizes, locations, how much the bagels really cost to make (not going to share, but it was one of those things I'd always wanted to know), etc. I'm a huge fan of bagels and Einstein's has always been one of my favorite places to hit when I'm on the road. I can't eat them the way I used to when I was 17, but I sure do enjoy them, especially their specialty bagels and bagel sandwiches. I think that I'm getting hungry...

Thinking about this the other day (and this will probably go to show my wandering thought process), it got me thinking about a quote I read from Einstein quite some time ago. "The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know. The more I realize I don't know, the more I want to learn." I love this attitude and if you want to achieve greatness, you need to own it as well.

Last year before I headed over to Australia, my wife and I decided that we wanted to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef. So we went ahead and took our open water diving class in the diving capital of Oklahoma/Arkansas. I'll bet you didn't know how awesome it is here (quick note: Australia is better...for diving). Anyway, since we finished that class we haven't stopped learning. In the past year we have taken Advanced Open Water, Nitrox, Buoyancy, Dry Suit (Alicia's favorite), Cavern and Sidemount. Tomorrow and Monday we are taking Intro to Cave and plan on completing our Full Cave diving class early next year. Some of you are probably thinking...you're stupid. I will admit that cave diving is not the cup of tea most people like to drink, but I love it. Plus I know that learning a technical type of diving is going to make me a better diver all around. I'll be safer, more knowledgeable...and I'll realize how much I still don't know..even more so than before.

Every time I get into an activity I want to learn as much as I can about it. I love the challenge, but I also love reminding myself just how much there is out there that I can't comprehend. This in turns cycles back on how I teach jump rope and makes me a better instructor and jumper. Be willing to put yourself out there, challenge yourself and be crazy enough to do something stupid every once in a while. I had no clue how much fun cave diving was going to be. Tomorrow I'll probably have a few moments where I'll be a little freaked out, but I'm excited and can't wait to get going at it. I don't know if Einstein would join me, but I'm sure he'd enjoy the challenge and the expansion of his world. I do know he'd sit down and enjoy a bagel.

This morning I was at the airport on my way to security screening. When I got to the escalator there was a line, but no one was on it. I stood there a little perplexed before I heard a little girls voice say, "I'm scared". I then see her mother pick her up and step onto the escalator, before setting her down for what must be one of her first escalator rides. I chuckled to myself and didn't think much of it until a couple things happened which made me think she just may be braver than me. A little girl in a princess outfit.

I was standing in line at the ever efficient TSA when I looked over and they opened a security line just for this little girl and her family. With my super sleuthing skills, it suddenly strikes me that maybe something is going on. I head to my gate and as I'm walking I see a lady in a princess outfit, then another and then the boarding area for her flight is decked out in Disney, complete with castle entrance, Mickey and Minnie and lots of princess garb. Now I'm really thinking something is up.

It turns out, she was heading to Disney with one of the Make A Wish foundations (I had never heard of this specific one, but it seemed to be the same idea). I didn't get a chance to talk to the parents, but the thought struck me, as with most kids in her situation, she's probably very brave dealing with whatever disease is attacking her. In fact she probably takes the shots, the endless hours in the hospital and the grim news with way more class and bravery than you or I ever could. And yet, she's scared of riding an escalator.

Fear can cripple us from stepping out and doing something simple, even if we can walk through some of the worst situations without even flinching. Kids like that inspire me, the fact that they can face death and do so with a smile is amazing. And yet it seems the things that hold me (and you I'm sure) back from achieving our potential aren't the big scary things, it's probably something simple, less dangerous. It's an escalator, something different, something that pulls us out of our comfort zone. The big stuff we can handle, it's that phone call or that conversation with our kids that really scares us to death. The big question...are you willing to step out and see where it takes you.

What a summer! It's hard to believe the number of things I did over the past 3 months, but I took a lot of pictures...and they really did happen. The latest trip was a month long tour through Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. I could fill a book with the number of things that we did (and happened to us) during this trip. The food was amazing, the locations were breathtaking and the people...well, let's just say they were an adventure unto themselves. This was a trip that will go down as one of the most adventurous that I've been on.

We started out with a week touring around Vietnam. We performed and taught a bunch of kids from an orphanage in Hanoi. We then headed up to Lao Cai (right on the border of China), spent some time laying concrete and performing there (the people just stared at me as they never have live performers there) before heading into the mountains near Sapa. We then headed back to Hanoi to catch a flight to Bangkok. Spent some time in Thawang Pa, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Sot. We then finished our trip by taking a 2 day stop in Siem Reap (visiting the famous Angkor Wat temples) followed by a very long bus ride to Ho Chi Minh City and then an overnight junk tour of Ha Long Bay.

During the trip we rode trains (daytime and overnight ones), buses, motorcycles, mopeds, boats, junks, kayaks, skiffs, taxis and when we were willing to risk death...we walked. Crossing the street in Vietnam is not for the faint of heart. We even got in some good old fashioned dental work while in Bangkok (significantly cheaper than the US), Alicia had her wisdom teeth pulled while I got a cleaning.

On top of all the adventure we got to experience, I had the great opportunity to teach jump rope to some amazing kids. We worked mainly with orphans throughout the trip. The hardest part was leaving them at night as they would cling/stick on to you to the last (which gave the nickname of sticker to the kid(s) who really connected with you). A lot of what we saw was quite heart breaking. We worked with kids who were purchased out of human trafficking, some who were raised (quite literally) on top of a garbage dump and some whose parents would simply sell their child off for as little as $12.

If you want an adventure, Southeast Asia will certainly offer you one. As much as we saw and did...I haven't even scratched the surface of what is available there.

After many months of waiting, the trailer for the movie I jumped in is out! Many of you speculated that it was Adam Sandler who I was doubling for the movie, and you were correct. The film is called Jack and Jill and comes to theaters on November 11 (11.11.11). Below is the trailer, there is a short shot of me inside Double Dutch near the end. Pretty much anytime they were jumping inside the ropes I was the one doing the jumping, but through the magic of movies, it looks like Adam was doing all the work.

I used to love playing the old Carmen Sandiego game as a kid. I always thought geography was fascinating and wondered what all those places actually looked like. Today, I have a few friends that joke about playing this with where is Peter. Recently, even I have a tough time remembering where I am and where I'm going. Right this second, I am sitting at Seoul airport about to board a flight to Vietnam.

This is a trip I have to say is extra exciting for me. We're planning on visiting 3-4 countries I have never been to before and I love asian culture. I have a good friend who is Vietnamese and over the years, he has gotten me hooked on pho (amongst other things). Alicia and I are also huge fans of Thai food and this trip has us visiting Thailand, Cambodia and possibly Laos. Over the next month we are planning on bouncing all over the place and will be visiting numerous cities and seeing some awesome sights. I fully plan on taking over 5,000 pictures (which is one reason I love digital cameras).

So where in the world is Peter? Everyday will have a different answer, but I can promise you that wherever I am, it's going to be an adventure.

Here is a short video from the Armed Forces Network (AFN) about the shows I did in South Korea in April. I had a great time performing for the DODDS schools in Seoul, Osan, Humphreys and Camp Casey. Hopefully we'll be able to work out some more trips to other parts of the DODDS network in the future.

I just got word that Frozen has arrived and is ready to ship. Stop by the store and pick up your copy today! Check out the preview below and pick up your copy today, you won't be disappointed!

I just finished my second week of touring in New Zealand during my five week tour. The Heart Foundation has outdone itself with the media blitz they've sent out and I've been having interviews almost everyday I've been here. It's been a busy trip, but quite rewarding as I've been teaching around 120 students everyday for 3 hours how to jump rope.

We started the tour on the North Island of New Zealand heading into the Bay of Islands region for our first event. We then quickly made our way down the coast to Whangerei and then Auckland. We caught a flight to the South Island and have spent the past 5 days making our way from Invercargil to Christchurch. It is such a beautiful country with so many amazing things to do along the way. We are hoping to relax a little in Hanmer Springs before making our way up to Nelson for our event on Monday. We've still got 3 weeks left to go, but it should be loads of fun as we make our way around this incredible country!

I just finished 12 shows in 5 days. I had the opportunity to perform for schools in the Korea DOD (department of defense) area and I had a great time entertaining and educating the children of our overseas troops. This was my first trip to Asia and marked the start of my overseas adventures for the year. I am now headed down to New Zealand for 5 weeks before heading back to the states for 3 weeks of shows. I then turn around and fly to Vietnam for a month long trip with stops in Thailand and Cambodia.

Getting to experience a culture as rich and diverse as Korea through the prism of the American Military was a unique experience for me. I've performed at numerous bases on US soil, but this was my first overseas excursion involving the military (I would use the word deployment, but I'm a civilian and can't pull that off without sounding like a goof). Most of us hear stories about our troops traveling to remote areas and the hardships they endure, but it's easy to forget that many of them have their families right alongside and they go through many of the same experiences. The Korean people were very friendly and you get the vibe that they appreciate the role America has played to keep them safe over the years. On a side note: the food here rocks, I love Korean BBQ.

I was here to do my small part to encourage our troops in what they do. I may not be the big headliner they've all been waiting to see, but I get to encourage their students to live out their dreams. In the long run, that encouragement is going to mean a lot more in their lives than seeing a concert. That's the part that I get to play in the lives of families...helping their kids learn to be a champion in life.

It was a blast getting to talk with students and find out where they are from. I had one girl mention that she had seen me at a school in San Antonio before, when she mentioned the school name I knew exactly where she was talking about. What a small world we live in.

Time to hop on another flight. I get to fly Korean Air this time around and it has been a great airline so far, hopefully that will stay true for the rest of my flights (especially since they are all over 11 hours). New Zealand...here I come!

I am sitting on a train right now headed to Canada to catch a flight to S. Korea tomorrow. Yesterday at 4:45AM I finalized Frozen. Yes, after many months of work, the DVD is done and has been sent to the printer. I have put it up on the store here if you would like to pre-order a copy.

I am very excited to finally have this video available. It has been a long project, but I think that you will agree that it was worth the wait. In case you don't know anything about it, here are the particulars. It features myself, Billy Jackson, Kaylee Couvillion and Lee Reisig. It has a kicking, custom soundtrack by Drum n' Bass master Joey Davis who put together an awesome mix of breakbeat, trance and dn'b that really helps highlight the jumping. It was all shot in slow-motion and is the first jump rope video (that I'm aware of) to take advantage of this type of filming. We shot scenes in water and smoke (along with jumping on a regular floor) that really adds some interest to what we did.

Make sure to tell your friends to pick up a copy and support the projects we put together at Rope Masters. As soon as the DVD's are in, we will ship all pre-orders first. Thanks for your support. I am leaving the country and won't be back for 6 weeks. Time for a breather (though I will be jumping almost everyday...not much of a break).