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PHILOSOPHY
During college, after a spell working in a
bathroom-fixtures factory, Phil Deutschle made a pledge to myself that
from then on he would only take jobs that were so fun, rewarding, or socially
important that he would be willing to do them for free. Since then, that
self-imposed pact has taken him around the world twice, working almost
exclusively among society's so-called fringe elements: impoverished students
in Asia and Africa, handicapped kids in Denmark, drug addicts in California,
and currently remote-dwelling children in the Navajo Nation. He likens
the world to a giant smorgasbord—he has difficulty staying in one place
for very long, and he’s been quoted as saying, "One of life's great challenges
is to get from one end to the other without getting bored in the middle."
To date, he has apparently never been bored—not even close.
JOB & LIFE EXPERIENCES
Peace
Corps Volunteer, Aiselukharka Secondary School, Nepal: Math/Science
Teacher (all in Nepali Language, chronicled in his first book, The
Two Year Mountain); Neot Mordechai Kibbutz, Israel: volunteer apple-picker
and dish-washer; Options For Recovery, Sacramento, CA: GED Instructor for
recovering addicts; Batanani Community Junior Secondary School, Botswana:
Science/Math Teacher (chronicled in Across
African Sand); Brohaven Youth Center, Denmark: Counselor, integrating
activities with multi-handicapped children (all in Danish language); The
Francistowner magazine: Photographer/Editor/Art Director; Red Mesa
High School, Navajo Nation: Science Teacher, sponsor of AISES (American
Indian Science & Engineering Society).
ACHIEVEMENTS
Bachelor of Science in Physics,
magna cum
laude, California State University,
Northridge, John W. Nagel Award for Outstanding Senior in Physics &
Astronomy; Associate of Arts, cum laude, Los
Angeles Valley College, Bank of America Award for Top Student in Science
& Engineering, Cross Country Team Captain—Finalist at State Cross Country
Championships (California); Conceived and organized Children's Bicycle
Relay For Africa, fund-raising project in Denmark-- now a biennial event;
Best marathon time, 2:49:13, Aarhus, Denmark; Coach of National Champions
Track & Field Team (Botswana); Mentor for regional and national Science
Fair winners (Botswana); Languages: Fluent Nepali (taught school in Nepali),
Danish (ditto), Swedish/Norwegian, Kalanga (Botswana), Setswana, Spanish,
pitiful French, German, Hindi, Navajo, and some words and phrases in two
dozen other languages; Grand Prize winner, nation-wide Exemplary Projects
Contest (science teaching).
JOURNEYS & ADVENTURES
Climbing: First ascent Hell's Bells
route on Warlock Needle, Sierra Nevada; Extensive Himalayan Trekking, including
solo ascent of Pharchamo Peak, 20,580 feet (chronicled in The
Two
Year Mountain); Ascent of Pico de Orizaba, 18,701 feet, Mexico.
Paddling:
500 miles down Congo River in dugout canoe with two Japanese; Inflatable
kayak through the Snake River's Hells Canyon.
Bicycling: 4500 miles
across U.S. & Europe; Riding a ramshackle one-speed bike from Nile
River to Congo River (Bicycle USA article); Cycling 3000 miles across
the sands of the Kalahari and Namib Deserts—first bicycle crossing; Pedaling
2099 miles through Southwest with three-year-old daughter on back of bike
as sole companion. Hiking: Backpacking on six continents— including
Inca Trail with seven-year-old daughter; Leader of first unsupported trek
across Namib Desert (filmed for TV series, Classic
Adventure).
Hitchhiking: Three times across U.S., throughout
Europe, and across Africa. Wildlife Encounters: Rammed by a rhinoceros,
struck at by rattlesnakes, and stalked by lions.
WRITINGS
Books: The
Two Year Mountain: A Nepal Journey, published by Universe
Books (Hardback, U.S.) and by Bradt
Publications (hardback & paperback, U.K. & worldwide);
Guide
to Namibia and Botswana (Bradt
Publications): major contributor; Language Guide: 12 of Nepal's
Minority Languages—booklet published & distributed by Peace Corps,
Nepal; Across African Sand: Journeys of
a Witch-Doctor's Son-in-Law, DIMI Press. Magazines: Troef
(Netherlands),
Bicycle
USA (cover photo & feature article);
Footloose (UK);
Globe;
Wanderlust (UK); BOTSA; Marung (Botswana); Flamingo (Namibia);
Parent's
Monthly; The Francistowner; Family Press. Newspapers:
The
Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA); Bay Area Parent; Neighbors/Sacramento
Bee.
MEDIA EXPERIENCE
Television: On-screen adventurer for
Into
The Unknown and Against The Elements, opening two episodes of
Classic
Adventure television series (BBC1, A&E, PBS); Interviewed on
Sky Channel (London) and Danish Television. Radio: Professional
appearances on In A Word and Traveller's Souk (both British
series); Promotional interviews on various radio stations in London, Cambridge,
New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, California, and Denmark. Newspapers:
Interviewed for assorted publications where radio/ television work took
place. Public Speaking: Gave presentations at schools, associations,
and public forums in U.S. and abroad, including: Speaker at Arizona Science
Teachers Annual Conference; Featured Lecturer at the Independent Travellers'
Seminar, London, hosted by the Royal Geographical Society; and Guest Speaker
at the Travel Summit, Melbourne, Australia, sponsored by Lonely
Planet Publications.
PRESENT SITUATION
Living in the Navajo Nation, teaching science
at Red Mesa High School—an
all-Navajo school. Most students have no phone, no electricity, and
no running water. Nearest supermarket is 50 miles away. Phil
personally has no television and no car (he has never owned a car, and
hopes to never own one). Single-dad to African-born daughter, Teto,
now eight years old. Their local transportation is by bicycle, foot,
and thumb. Activities: hiking, writing, photography, telling jokes
to students, Navajo ceremonies, playing with Barbies, archaeology, astronomy,
languages, and so on. For Phil, this life is good—really good.