Archive

This is my fifth time applying to Survivor. If nothing else, I think fans would enjoy watching the man who cycled the world embarrass himself at the physical challenges. Wish me luck!

The Making of “Cayendo Hacia Arriba: El Secreto De La Vida”

Here is the fifth and final and my favorite video from my trip to Argentina as the Cultural Ambassador. Here we have the real Ambassador to Argentina, Vilma Martinez, and the Deputy Ambassador, Jefferson Brown, along with the women who made it all happen, Shannon Farrell, Press Attaché, distributing the books to all the kids in 12 schools. The embassy gave away about 2000 books to kids that have never owned a book.

I love minute 1:44. I would have never imagined that my cultural exchange program would involve cheeseheads. The Argentina children called me: “the man with the head of cheese”. Also notable is minute 0:24 which shows the books coming off the printing press.

The Making of “Cayendo Hacia Arriba: El Secreto De La Vida”

I had the time of my life in Argentina as the Cultural Ambassador with the US Department of State. We worked with 12 schools to create the Spanish edition of “Falling Uphill: The Secret of Life”. I visited some underprivileged schools, an orphanage for HIV+ children, bicycled through Buenos Aires in their city “bicicleteada” with the Secretary of Transportation, and much more. Rather than write 10,000 words to describe this honor, perhaps it is easier to just watch the movies of my trip below.

The first video is about my trip the Chaco and Corrientes, back where I got stuck in the mud so long ago. The second video is about the making of the book at a school for deaf children. The third video was one of my favorite days at an extremely poor community know as “Fort Apache”. The fourth video is about the “bicicleteada”. And the last video is a TV interview partially in English.

Here I am sharing my story with an elementary school in Corrientes, Argentina, the same place I got stuck in the mud for 5 days. This is Escuela Bernardino Rivadavia, just one of 14 schools I visited. Read the before and after story in the Diario Epoca.

Scott’s Fall News
Cultural Ambassador to Argentina

By the time most of you receive this news, I’ll be on the plane to Argentina. I have one of my biggest opportunities ever—while traveling during a time of war I always thought of myself as the bicycling ambassador, and now I’ve been honored by the US Embassy in Argentina as the Cultural Ambassador for the 2011-2012 school year.

I’ll be working with the embassy’s Outreach Program and Argentine school children to produce the Spanish edition of my children’s book, Falling Uphill: The Secret of Life, which is especially exciting since Buenos Aires has been chosen as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) 2011 World Book Capital. See Argentina’s celebratory sculpture The Tower of Babel. I think/hope my book is in there somewhere.

I’m told every place that I will be visiting is very special. I’ll be traveling to at-risk neighborhoods where kids are extremely poor, as well as a foster home for HIV positive orphans (pictured above is one of many orphanages I saw in Africa), a school for deaf kids, and the two poorest provinces in Argentina. The embassy will be donating 2000-4000 books to children who have never ever owned a book.

It is truly an honor, and I’m very hopeful to inspire so many young adventurers of life with my hard-earned wisdom and a few good laughs. And I’m excited to see the new cultural perspective they bring to the illustrations of "Cayendo Hacia Arriba".

I also get to meet the Buenos Aires city government to talk about bicycling as a way of life and their "Mejor en bici" project (of course bicycles are the cure to all the evil in the world) and participate in their "bicicleteada" this weekend. So, thanks to Argentina itself. As my friend, who coincidentally just left for an embassy posting in Finland, said: this is a rare opportunity because not all countries would welcome a Cultural Ambassador.

Follow The Adventure
Classroom video phone calls

I plan to make as many updates as possible on my website. Also, teachers please contact me to arrange a Skype video phone call from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

This summer I did a mini bicycle trip from coast to coast in Wisconsin, which means from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan. With more than 15,000 lakes, it’s an interesting fact that Wisconsin’s has more coastline than most states, including California. Wisconsin also has the largest bicycle industry, the first rails-to-trails conservation project and some of the nicest bike trails in the world, and I mean that literally. And lo and behold, I discovered another interesting fact: apparently, according to this sign pictured below, Kermit the Frog is an indigenous species of Wisconsin. Wow!

More pictures and a mini-movie to come.

I thought it was funny that according to a Google image search this is what I am supposed to look like.

One of the most popular questions people continue to ask me is: “What are you going to do next?”

If I were impeccable, I would say, “I’m doing it.” Being an author is truly an adventure and I hope to have many more schools illustrate my books of inspirational ideas that I have gathered during my world trekking.

In addition to that at-home-adventure, I have been planning an adventure abroad this winter to celebrate turning 40. Currently my passport is in the process of being renewed.

One of my ideas it to go back to Kenya to visit the local schools and really dig my feet into their culture. (One drawback of cycling around the world is that I actually went too fast.) And hopefully I can arrange a side trip to Uganda to see the wild gorillas. Or maybe I will bicycle-tour Puerto Rico if time and money become tighter than they already are. No matter what I do, I have already started inviting the local schools to follow my adventure. And I hope to make live video conferences from abroad via the internet with the classrooms.

Update: Despite my video being briefly showcased on the Chicago Sun Times website and my overwhelming (quite literally) desire to do this, I’m sad and a bit surprised (along with my friends) to say that I didn’t make it to the next round….

Here is video application to be a roommate at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.

I can’t express how much a dream it would be to live day and night for a month in the museum, and explore and report on all the amazing science. And, I would love to make a display of my bicycle and photos and all the discoveries I made while cycling around the world. And, of course, be part of the experiment to see how this experience changes me and everyone I meet. Wish me luck and stay tuned to vote.

My photo is on this wall somewhere:

Photo by Kate Heil

I’m a little sad to announce that my dreams to circumnavigate the USA on a bicycle for my Falling Uphill Book Tour has concluded here in Wisconsin. I traveled about halfway around the country before realizing I was being over-ambitious, and that promoting a book is a full-time job, which doesn’t allow for cycling 6-8 hours per day. However, I am grateful to also have discovered that by staying in one spot (planning events can take months) I can inspire many more people; indeed, I have rediscovered friends are the greatest resource on the planet, and I feel honored that the people of Wisconsin have welcomed me back. Someday, I do hope to continue traveling around the country bringing my stories of inspiration to people’s doorstep; however, for now I must also rest my aching body. Unfortunately, according to several doctors, I went too many days without proper nutrition and hydration which has affected how my liver metabolizes sugars. But rest assured, I continue to share my story at all the local schools and special events.

Thanks to everyone who supported the journey. ~ Scott

As a post world tour honor, me and my bike got to occupy first, second and third place on the podium at the Downer Classic race at the Tour of America’s Dairyland. I also had the chance to share my story with the crowd.

I’ve always been impressed that many world-class cyclists and teams that don’t qualify for the Tour de France come to Wisconsin for our excellent race series also including Super Week starting soon.

For tens of thousands of years the New Year has been a natural time to throw away what doesn’t work, so that you may walk unburdened into the future. This year instead of applying the 6-month rule to my material life, I’m going to apply the 6-month rule to the outdated laws that I’ve created for myself. For example, I’ve created a law that I won’t do anything productive until after my second cup of coffee. Out with the old idea, and in with the new idea. I will now occasionally be productive while I drink my coffee. That also applies my new rule: A baby step is better than no step. I applied that rule to going to the gym. I have set zero goals at the gym except to walk through the door. Another old law that I’ve created was that I get one treat at the end of the day to motivate myself. I’m throwing that one away. Now I will remind myself that I do everything for a reason, and that reason is the treat. I have created many more rules, but you should get the idea by now. And I must apply one more rule, and that is to keep this social networking (youtube, facebook, twitter, flickr, blog, etc.) that suddenly society has mandated you must do to be successful, to a bare minimum, and reclaim my life, which makes a nice segue to the question of the day: How does anyone make money, when everyone just gives it all away for free on the internet?

One of my favorite pictures of all time happens to be a snail :)

Why are you biking again?

The first trip was to discover the meaning of life and the secret of happiness. This trip is for living it.

What is your next adventure?

You’re looking at it. I’m circumnavigating the US on a bicycle to promote my book. I’m also having an incredibly different kind of adventure re-creating myself, exploring self-actualization, meeting people, and being a businessman. Though sometimes I wish I were bicycling Alaska or China instead.

I spent 2 hours down in the Port of Milwaukee on top of the salt piles for a photo shoot for Milwaukee Magazine with Dan Zaitz, who seemed like a great photographer. This is a quick snap shot with my phone and it looks pretty good.

The salt piles reminded me of the dry lakes or salt pans in Australia, where the sun fries you top and bottom. His assistant said, “I can’t believe you rode a bicycle around the world and are complaining about the sun in Milwaukee.” For the record, I’m burnt! But it is funny how every one eventually says, “For a guy who biked the world, you _______ !”

Recently my best friends said, after I tripped up the hose that opens the garage door said, “I can’t believe you made it around the world on a bicycle. You’d better go home, get down on your knees, and pray to God, because you owe him one.”

And one of my all time favorites from the ex-girlfriend who had a PhD in relationship counseling, “For a guy bicycled around the world, you’re not very worldy.”

Well, ironically I feel like I’m getting to see a lot more of how the world works on my book tour, zipping from Minneapolis, over the Mississippi, through the dells, and Madison, the capitol of Wisconsin, to the newsrooms of Chicago, a hotdog at Wrigley Field and ride down the Lake Front, and back to the uniquely industrial urbanized Milwaukee.

The Falling Uphill Book Tour continues.

Currently, I am in Wisconsin, my home state. I have been really impressed with the hospitality and friendliness. It’s so refreshing not to be lost in the shuffle. And I’ve discovered that one of the best ways to bring my book to life is by speaking to the local schools. It can be overwhelming at times to be the center of a mad rush of 150 students, but I love to see their eyes sparkle with inspiration.

I shall be here a few months as I try a new strategy of planting some seeds. I have discovered in my traipsing around the country is that a rolling stone gathers no moss, but it also gathers no community either, and I’ve come to believe our greatest resource on the planet is our network of friends.

So, I’d like to extend an invitation to join my adventure.

Of course, bicycling isn’t everyone’s dream, but everyone has dreams. Why not join me for a ride through the countryside as an example that you can take that first small step in your own personal adventure of discovery? Why not challenge yourself and inspire your loved ones by sharing the adventure for an hour?

Maybe you’re not a bicyclist but your passionate about the message. Why not help co-create the adventure (and your own) by helping network, or just sharing a hot cup of coffee and a warm conversation. If you’re a really ambitious community member why not plan a speaking engagement at your business, church or school, or organize a local bike ride in your town. Some quick ideas.

Thanks to everyone for helping to make our “impossible” dreams possible
~ Scott

PS. I’m creating this as I go along, and I’ve literally risked everything I have, and teaching myself the same lessons, so if it’s any comfort to those who may be feeling too fearful to risk living the life they truly want to live—believe me!— we are all in the same boat.