Above: Me with my single-speed basket bike out in Japan.
About me: After spending three years teaching in America and Japan, I became frustrated by how little my students were communicating with people from other countries. Combining my love for travel with my passion for teaching, I decided to embark on a multi-year cycling/teaching odyssey that would use the internet to link together students in different countries.
Every three to four months throughout my ride, I stopped to volunteer to teach English for about four weeks at a local school. When I stopped to volunteer, I worked on projects that connected my students on the road with students from four schools back in America (three in New Jersey, one in Wisconsin). Some of these projects are detailed on the Videos page of this site.
In addition to the one month teaching stops, I also made afternoon stops at schools along my route to give presentations about my ride and the people I met along the way.
This was my first trip by bicycle, and before the start of the trip, I wasn’t a cyclist. I simply used the bicycle as a tool to help me travel. Bicycle travel is slow, cheap, carbon-neutral, relatively stress free (I never worried about missing my bus!), and, most importantly, allows travelers to meet and listen to countless people they wouldn’t otherwise have had the chance to meet.
Things the trip taught me:
1. People are good. After meeting thousands of strangers over the course of my ride, I’m sure of this. It’s a fact. The world is not the scary place we’ve been led to believe it is. It’s filled with billions of plain ol’ normal people—people just. like. you.
2. Human-powered travel is a spectacular way to experience and learn about other cultures.
3. Figuring out how to stay present while cycling was the most difficult challenge I faced while on the road. The physical stresses of the trip paled in comparison to the mental ones.
4. Your kindergarten teacher was right: anyone can do anything with enough preparation and drive.
5. The more I spoke with people, the more I realized how little I knew about the world.
Hi! Your presentation in Miss B’s class today was great! I think that it would be really cool to interact with other students from different countries! Good luck with your travels!
By: JP on September 19, 2007
at 2:24 am
I just wanted to say that I really admire what you’re doing. Your presentation was awesome and you got me thinking of starting a journey of my own after I finish school.
Best of luck to you, Mr. Morgan!
By: Michi on September 19, 2007
at 8:15 pm
Andrew, your Father sent me your web link – awesome adventure ahead, I look forward to following the journey.
Chris
By: Chris on September 20, 2007
at 2:54 pm
Andrew, rockin site! Best of luck and I’ll be checking your site to see your progress.
By: Jenny Stein on September 24, 2007
at 1:05 pm
Good luck! Maybe I’ll see you when I’m “hanging around” South America.
Your friendly neighborhood
Spiderman
By: Spiderman on October 8, 2007
at 6:02 pm
wooooooohoooooooo see you in panama mon ami!!
best of luck to you man. I’m so excited for you!!
By: danielson on October 9, 2007
at 2:19 am
When your done this you should do it in Europe
By: The Hulk on October 11, 2007
at 1:31 pm
Hey,
I think your idea is pretty coooooool of trip. We are missing you.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD LUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCK
ENJOY YOUR TRIP.
By: Jaymin on October 11, 2007
at 2:16 pm
On your photos why did you bring Flat Stanley?
Emily
By: Emily on October 15, 2007
at 9:29 pm
My email address is flowerpower0515@yahoo.com so if you want to email me your sure wecome to!!
By: Emily on October 15, 2007
at 9:40 pm
Hi Mr. Morgan I hope your having a good time did you happen to go hich hiking yet?
Your friend,
Taylor
By: Anonymous on October 16, 2007
at 9:00 pm
Hey Mr. Morgan I dont think you know me to well but you presented in Mr. M’s class a few weeks ago. Yeah I’m the same Taylor as the who said good luck at the end of my letter just this time I’m using my e-mail.
I really hope your having fun. Mr. M was telling us how you felt lonely at times I say you should pull out flat Stanly!! I love all your pics to! Bye!!!
By: Taylor on October 17, 2007
at 12:56 am
awesome initiative, andrew…bravo!!! i really appreciate your work….keep it going…all the very best,man!n hey…try and visit india someday… you would sure be an inspiration to many kids out here in my country…anyways,i’ll be glued on to ur website from now on….well then,happy journey… ‘ve a great trip ahead!!
By: nithya on November 3, 2007
at 1:06 pm
Andrew!
You started such a awsome project!
Ganbatte!!
By: yuka on November 9, 2007
at 12:58 am
Hi Andrew,
It’s good to read about a fellow tourer who is doing it for a purpose. It will be really interesting following your adventures. I came across your site through a thread on Bike Forum. I’m an acquaintance of Perry and Lep in Houma, LA. I stayed with them a couple of years ago. I’ll have this site bookmarked as a favorite and also will post a link to it off of my website.
Safe travels and you’ve got some prayer backing.
By: Rev Hans Myors on November 21, 2007
at 3:19 pm
Andrew…
Very impressive adventure! I’m a 1999 grad from Cherokee – I spent a couple years in Southern Africa – if you need some contacts/places to stay in South Africa or Zimbabwe feel free to e-mail me.
Good luck!
Erin
By: Erin on December 4, 2007
at 2:19 am
Hi Andrew!
We love looking at your website…Lea misses you! As of yet…I have not seen any spelling mistakes! Keep up the good work and be careful and give Alison and David a big hug and kiss from us!!!
Janet, Lee and Lea
By: janet and lea on January 24, 2008
at 1:54 am
I really liked the wedding pictures!
By: Shawn on February 4, 2008
at 1:52 pm
I’M A MARLTON NATIVE AND I READ THE ARTICLE IN THE CENTRAL RECORD ABOUT YOUR TRIP.IT IS SOMTHING YOU’LL HAVE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.ITS A NOBLE AND DARING ADVENTURE.I SEE A POSSIBLE BOOK IN THE FUTURE.I WISH YOU ALL THE LUCK AND GOOD FORTUNE IN YOUR QUEST TO BETTER THE LIVES OF OTHERS.I’LL SURF YOUR SITE AND SEE IF I CAN GUESS WHERE YOUR PRESENT LOCATION MIGHT BE.SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY YOUR CRAZY BUT I SAY GO FOR IT.YOUR A 25 YR OLD MAN AND NO ONE WILL EVER BE ABLE TO SAY TO YOU(YOU CAN’T DO THAT)BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE.
MIKE
By: MIKE on February 10, 2008
at 8:25 pm
hey! my brother has been talking bout u all day! his name is chris and he goes to kamuk school in CR, i think u went this morning and told the kids ur adventures and vision, wow its really impresive to leave a mark in the world in order to do what God has send us to do.
ok so God bless u and take care in your journey!
xo
Mel
By: Melanie on February 12, 2008
at 3:47 am
hey good friend just cking up on you and making sure thigs are good. old friend jay
By: jason rosner on February 19, 2008
at 2:40 am
Not sure if my response got through!Brenda
By: Brenda on March 25, 2008
at 12:33 am
Dear Andrews,
wonderful project.If its you or your friend or any other kind heart from the west,who love kids,visit our place,since we run two churches in poor agricultural labor dwelling colony protruding right into paddy fields in south India, we have readily built,1450 RCC building,adjacent to our church,so we will give it for a bike volunteer teacher,who can gather kids under roof or he visiting the colony,kids running after him/her,and listening him the english lessons,how nice its,welcome,send,we will honor them.
http://www.orkut.com/Profile.aspx?uid=16352241549280353360
By: Preacher Chitty on May 9, 2008
at 3:16 pm
[...] have been following Andrew Morgan’s bicycle ride from New Jersey through South America since he started about a year ago. His travels [...]
By: W H Y ? » TravelBlog Archive » a i m l e s s on May 19, 2008
at 12:43 pm
Totally rad, man, totally rad. You need a coffee table book deal. If you don’t already have one, find a literary agent and get one, the pics alone are amazing, and what you’re doing is super cool
all my best, keep pedaling, TBW
By: TBW on July 16, 2008
at 7:35 pm
Hey man, hope your parents got their ok. I gave your dad the compass so hopefully it will keep you headed in the right direction. There are so many people all over the country that I have talked to. Especially at the Outdoor Retailer. And all are fascinated by your trip. I drove down your street and was like woah…I wonder what it was like for Andrew to start pedaling down his own street. Stay safe man.
Joe
By: yedrek on August 17, 2008
at 4:38 am
Hey Andrew. Hows it going. I know you read a book or two along your way, and I remember you saying how you liked one in particular. Was it Three Cups of Tea? I can’t remember, and I wanted to pick up whichever book you read. If it was not Three Cups of Tea, Jess suggests you read it.
Joe
By: yedrek on September 22, 2008
at 11:35 pm
Hi Andrew. I can’t express how excited we are to meet you and have you stay with us in Santiago, Chile. Being able to talk with you in the midst of this journey and being able to help you in some small way as you try to make a difference in children’s lives will be a highlight of my time in South America. I’m looking forward to all your stories.
Untell we meet, Brian
By: Brian and Chisaki Lee on October 22, 2008
at 3:15 am
P.S. I think I had the exact same bike when I was living in Japan. Funny
By: Brian and Chisaki Lee on October 22, 2008
at 3:18 am
Hi! I’m a 24 year old college student trying to decide between teaching and cultural studies. I just wanted to say it’s really encouraging to see someone integrating both of those passions! That’s really inspiring to me. Kudos to you, for seeing a need and making a change.
By: Khouri P. on November 18, 2008
at 11:08 pm
An inspiring journey. Have a safe trip always
By: Jules on January 4, 2009
at 4:39 pm
Andrew,
What a great blog! I was just in Europe this summer doing a solo overland trip (by train) from Norway to Bulgaria. I can’t tell you how many times I thought, “This would be so much better on a bike!” So, hats off to you for setting off on such a grand adventure and not letting people tell you its impossible. Also, if you ever decide to do this again… the eastern side of South America is a completely different flavor to the west…. Brazil and Venezuela are absolutely incredible!
Thanks for the inspiration!
-Tiffany
By: Tiffany on January 8, 2009
at 6:11 pm
Andrew: congratulations for youe new adventure in Argentina.
we are going to miss you in SEK school in Chile.
The best for u
By: Elizabeth on January 27, 2009
at 12:00 am
[...] by Penelope Trunk lamenting the emphasis on perfect blogging soon after I read a blog whose author hates spelling mistakes. It made me rethink my personal vendetta against typos and in the end, I didn’t change my [...]
By: ((little fat notebook)) » Blog Archive » Grammar Police on May 11, 2009
at 10:04 am
Andrew – It’s been a long time man. I stumbled onto your page from Ben’s hot sauce and was browsing around for a bit before I realized “Hey, I know this guy!” So, it’s really cool to read about your travels and the work you’re doing. Quite impressive. I hope you’re well and I wish you all the best man.
By: AJ Faas on March 10, 2010
at 5:38 am
hello teacher
great of you to u tour the world for teaching and that too free,when we hear of stories of how every american MNC want to conqeror the world to make profits.keep it going and hope to see u in India someday.
elaiya
By: elaiya bharati b on April 3, 2010
at 3:09 pm
I think your travels have inspired many and I hope to talk with you about my trip next year to do much the same, only in different areas of the world. Its too bad that I didn’t come across your site and purpose whilst you were in Africa. We would have welcomed you at IST gladly! Happy holidays and success in your next plan for cycle-traveling.
By: Tamara Peterson on December 23, 2010
at 10:27 am
Firstly , thank you for being inspiring to me .now ı wanna do this like you but my job healty .so ı wanna help all the people that lıve this country .
maybe one day ı can find chance to meet with you .
what a great thıng to look same wievpoint of the world ,
my all the best wishes wirt you …
By: meryem on February 16, 2011
at 4:39 pm