Follow Fueled by Rice's Journey

  • Jim Durfey majored in Philosophy at the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University (CSBSJU). After graduating from college, he traveled to Japan and Europe. He taught English in China for two years and then worked as a Chinese language processor at the University of Minnesota Library. He has studied French and ancient Greek, and he speaks Chinese.

    Andrew Spidahl majored in English at CSBSJU. During his time as an undergraduate, he studied abroad in South Africa. He also lived in Cameroon for two years as a child. Andrew speaks French and used to speak Fulfulde, the language of the Fulani people, but he now claims to have forgotten.

    Peter Ehresmann majored in Political Science at CSBSJU. He studied abroad in Germany, where he improved his German linguistic skills. The following summer, he traveled to Kenya, and his experience there led him to write his senior thesis on Kibera, the biggest slum in Nairobi. After graduating from college, Peter spent more than two years teaching English in China.

    Adam Wolf majored in Communication at CSBSJU, where he studied German and took a term trip to Italy. Following his graduation from college, Adam taught English in China for one year.

    Nakia Pearson is originally from the Bahamas. She earned her undergraduate degree at CSBSJU, where she majored in English. She  also spent a semester studying abroad in Spain. After graduating from college, Nakia taught English in Japan for three years. She now speaks Japanese and Spanish.

Fueled by Rice
Building friendships one pedal stroke at a time

By Ashley Keyser

Pictured from front to back, Adam Wolf, Peter Ehresmann, Andrew Spidahl, and Nakia Pearson biking in Hebei province, north China Plain. Photos below: while traveling in China, Fueled by Rice stops often for
music and conversation.

Many aspiring travelers face the same question: how can I see the world on a budget? Five recent graduates have found one answer as they bike across Asia and Europe over the course of a year. Calling themselves “Fueled by Rice,” these graduates have formed a band with nothing but their bikes, a few possessions, musical instruments, and, of course, plenty of rice to keep them going. 

Peter Ehresmann thought about taking a long bike tour for some time but didn’t give it serious consideration until last fall when Andrew Spidahl suggested it. Eventually the idea snowballed as they sparked the interest of their friends Jim Durfey, Nakia Pearson, and Adam Wolf.

“We realized if we don’t do it now, we’ll never do it,” Ehresmann says.

The graduates of the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University were living in Beijing at the time and have been biking since September 16, 2007, spreading the message of green living and cross-cultural communication. Fueled by Rice focuses on the small things, like food and music, that bring people together. But most of all, Fueled by Rice strives for understanding. Inspiring the trip, Durfey says, is the “belief that a lot of conflicts in the world come from a failure to understand other people, other cultures. It’s a lot easier to have negative feelings towards people you don’t know.”

In addition to cross-cultural understanding, the group emphasizes the importance of sustainability and environmentally friendly practices like biking.

Durfey says he worries about China’s pollution problems, especially the dirty water and hazy smog that often envelope the bikers. The Chinese people are aware of the problem, he says, because the pollution has sharply increased in the past 20 years.

“You talk with people who are 30,” he says, “they used to swim in rivers and remember cleaner air when they were children. But with economic development and factories, air and water have become way dirtier. The Chinese government has the best pollution control standards in the world, but they’re just not enforced regularly.”

Biking not only benefits the environment, Durfey explains, but gives travelers better perspective on the country. While biking, he says, “You notice subtle changes in countryside—flats, mountains, crops growing alongside the road.”

The trip so far has been successful, filled with moments of understanding and connection. In the province of Hebei, for example, the group was looking for a lüguan, a type of Chinese hostel. They asked a boy where they could find one, and instead of giving them directions, he invited them to stay at his house. His mother cooked them dinner and allowed them to sleep on their living room floor.

For one stretch of time, Wolf says, the group got a series of free meals as strangers welcomed them into their homes or restaurants. “They want to learn from us, and we want to learn from them,” he says. “You can do it over meal, and that’s what all cultures share—meals are so important to understanding each other, talking.”

Along with food, music has also helped them reach their goals. Spidahl and Wolf play guitar, and Ehresmann plays the “er-hu,” which is a two-stringed, vertical Chinese instrument similar to a violin or fiddle. Pearson sings along with Durfey, who also plays percussion, and they all play the harmonica.

Chinese people have been especially interested in their music because it differs from the Chinese style. “We’re trying to get a lot of harmony going, which is rare in Chinese music,” Ehresmann says. “When we leave China and can’t speak the language anymore, music will be even more important—we’ll need to use music to express our good intentions.”

Music’s ability to speak past the language barrier will hopefully help the bicyclists when they try to travel through Burma (Myanmar) and Iran. To bike through, they’ll need to secure permission and guides.

Travel is an experience that anyone can—and should—have, Wolf says. “With globalization, the Internet, TV, and phones, all cultures are intertwined. We need to understand each other better because it’s vital for survival.”

The bikers post their stories, observations, music, video clips, and information about their journey on their website.