VARSITY ATHLETICS

May 27, 2008

Palmer Give His Final Thoughts On Trip To Brazil...

By Head Coach Dan Palmer

After ten days and over 10,000 miles traveled, we are back. What an amazing experience! Over the course of this journey we surfed in the ocean, enjoyed Brazilian beaches, explored the mountains and rain forest, saw and interacted with incredible wildlife, consumed more food than I would have thought possible, and spent time immersed in an incredibly diverse culture with beautiful people who were among the most welcoming I have ever met. Further enhancing the experience, we were able to play the game we love while competing with young men from a country where soccer is a religion that is second only to Christianity… a close second at that. Topping it off was the fact we were able to spend a vast amount of time with our teammates, sharing these experiences and growing closer as friends and a team.

Personally, this was my first trip abroad that required a passport or visa. I did travel to and through Ontario and Quebec, Canada roughly 40 years ago and I had a brief stint (about 2 hours in length) into Juarez, Mexico which I made just over 20 years ago. Those two forays were interesting but not nearly as intense an experience as this trip. The impact of this trek to Brazil is profound and the memories are of the sort that will continue to shape how I look at people, the world, and life in general. There are too many things to comment on (this is a blog and not a book) but I do want to share some memories that affected me on many different levels.

There is poverty beyond what I could have conceived. As we drove past villages and through cities I saw shack after shack made of the same brick and stucco. These “homes” averaged roughly 400-500 square feet in size and would accommodate families of all different sizes. Some homes had electricity; few had plumbing. People walked or rode bicycles miles to work…if they had work. Unemployment in Brazil approaches 20%.

The poverty is pervasive. Conversely, so is the beauty of the country. The shoreline of Brazil is amazing. The beaches are pristine and local governments, regardless of size, are diligent in meticulously maintaining these assets. Where a beach does not greet the surf, rocky granite shores or steeply sloped, emerald green hillsides either kiss or pound the shore, depending on the size and temperament of the waves.

Off the shore, islands of every shape and size thrust up from the ocean. Their allure is overpowering… even addicting. Around the islands the ocean water itself was incredibly clear. We swam, kayaked, and snorkeled in the waters around several of the islands off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. I had forgotten how salty the Atlantic Ocean is.

Coral reefs and associated sea life could be easily observed and admired. On Ilha Grande sea turtles ate bait fish out of my hand. I could see several varieties of coral, crab, fish, sand dollars, and I even saw a sea urchin. Kevin Bigart caught a giant starfish and a rather large crab WITH HiS BARE HANDS! I along with his teammates were impressed with his Survivor Man skills.

The beauty of the fauna, the flora, the birds and the immense variety of butterflies all gave me pause and I found myself in constant admiration of nature. Simple pleasures for sure, but intoxicatingly powerful pleasures. The rainforest itself is beyond description. If you get the chance you must see it. Make the chance because you MUST SEE IT!

Of course we played soccer. The teams we played all possessed skill beyond any teams we had ever played. The pace of the matches was very fast. However, our team was physically stronger and more organized than our opponents so our results were positive. The matches were competitive and fun but the end of each match was truly memorable. We came together with each team after we played to shake hands and reflect on the experience. Though we usually could not communicate verbally, the emotions, the comraderie, all the nonverbal communication spoke volumes. It reinforced my belief that people are people and that most people are good people. Without speaking English or Portuguese, everyone at those games communicated an appreciation for what happened and a respect and value for each other.

In observing these events and our team members interact, I could not be more proud of the men on our team. Countless opportunities for our team to explore, learn, and grow were at every turn. With each opportunity, these young men immersed themselves in the experience. They saw a new land, participated in a new culture, and met new people. However, the most significant experience they enjoyed was the company of each other. They bonded. That written word is cliché but the experience was not. They bonded. They had fun, they learned, and they developed a better understanding of themselves and the world around them. They experienced life. What an amazing adventure.

Posted by: Creg Jantz May 27, 2008 02:59 PM | Category:

Posted by: cnj4 (Creg Jantz) May 27, 2008 02:59 PM | Comments (1) | Trackback