Into Georgia

Started June 4, concluded June 5...

Before summarizing the amazing past 24 hours, I would like to dedicate this post to Ryan Hall, another good friend of mine (and trip donor). Since the formation of the Foreign Legion, I have never known a more loyal friend. Though he can drive us crazy sometimes, Ryan has always been there for me. He even (and his lovely family) housed me for my entire senior year of high school! He is likely now in Virginia training to be a marine, also serving this nation in his own unique way. Thanks for being you.

Okay now the juicy stuff. Backtrack to dinner in Greensville at a ketch pizza place on the downtown strip. I met the family of a Bike and Build Board members and sparked a fascinating conversation with Mrs. West, a Brooklyn born home-school consultant. Learning from her expertise, I discovered home schooling has a 1 in 7 prevalence in South Carolina families and surprisingly produced better academic outcomes (GED and college degrees) than the public schools. Correcting my assumption, she told me that the choice for homeschool is rarely made for primarily religious reasons. The state provides a wealth of resources (laboratories and textbooks) to enable such education. Better results with better student freedom and parental involvement...what could be better? BUT a quick research into Greenville's gender income divide revealed the average woman made 10K less than same man. Maybe home schooling is so popular because women aren't encouraged/able to get outside jobs. Regardless, the conversation delved into many social issues, making it spectacular.

Afterwards, a bunch of the riders meandered over to see the end of the Greensville Drive baseball game (Class A). We were hooting and hollering, starting the way and dancing the Macarena. People really were starting to bond. Coming on home, we stumbled upon a glorious sight: a high school graduation after party. The Greenville Class of 2009 were congregated in the cities main park, awkwardly huddling in gender specific groups off the dance floor. I knew what needed to be done. I started breaking it down, as so many of you know I love to do, and the students started coming to life. First the pointing and laughing, but with some help from my fellow riders asking some grads to dance, we soon had the class bopping to the Electric Slide. They even gave me a commemorative cup from the school at the end of the party! I may need to drop by the 10th reunion.

Today we waved goodbye to South Carolina and biked into Hartwell, Georgia. Despite rain and getting a tad lost, I had a fantastic day on my 60+ miler. My joy may have been related to the DQ Snickers Blizzard I savored at the conclusion. In the evening, we did what any good hearted college aged kid would do in the south...go to a church mixer. Holy cow, Southern boys are big! Our Georgia native/expert Adam told me that daily weightroom visits of 2-3 hours are the norm starting in middle school. Without question, the most interesting person there was Chuck, a 26 year old church organizer. From ages 15-22, this powerful man was living 'hard,' dealing out drugs or violence to anyone coming his way. A near death experience on the street opened his eyes to the error of his misdoings, showing him "the light of God." For the last 4 years, he has worked with the troubled rural youth, organizing discussion groups, dances, and educational workshops to help them find a better way. With a wispy Fu Man Chu and flowing dreadlocks, he laughed heartily and hugged firmly at any opportunity. I guess what made this encounter so special was how it reopened the question of religion for me. It can do so much good for many, yet countries are divided and blood is shed in its name. One solution, education through collaborative interaction towards larger goals, has extensive support in psychological research literature. But how can we implement these things? Will we always be fighting misinformation and intolerance? From my evolutionary mindset, will we ever move beyond organized religion? A spiritual oneness or just a belief in shared humanity...whatever you believe...how can we motivate people to do good?

On a final note, in the hope to understand before being understood (Habit 5), I have selected a Jerry Falwell book as my next reading selection. I have many assumptions about the religious right, but its due time I opened my mind to hear their arguments. Where better to read this book than in the Bible Belt?

Photos upcoming...Now I need to go play in Athens, where I just arrived. Go Bulldogs!