ESPN.com: So Mike, just over a year ago, you left the U.S. to teach in Nicaragua. What's different between now and then? How do you think your experiences of the past year have changed you as a person?
Mike: Everything and nothing has changed. I would say my mind and perspective have expanded, but my core beliefs have been reinforced in positive way. I am now back in the states for the foreseeable future and living in my hometown of Milwaukee, Wis. I recently started a new teaching gig that will allow me the flexibility I need to continue riding bikes as much as possible. Things look different now though. I realize that part of my drive to leave and live in Nicaragua was fueled by a desire to take a step back and look at the life I had set up for myself over the last two decades. Things were great, but I had so many questions such as: Is this it? Am I blinded by comfort and ease of life? Do I need to move on? And I answered all of those and more. For me, life has centered around bike riding for 15 years and I was scared that I may be afraid to look past that to grow. So I left. And though bike riding came with me, it just wasn't the same. The best parts of BMX were not really there. I could ride decent spots with some cool people but the inability to ride at night, the limited infrastructure, and the language barrier made my BMX life there a slim shade of my life in the states. I gave it some time though, and tried all sorts of other stuff. And damn, I missed bike riding in the states. I rode less last year than ever in my entire life. The time off my bike and away from my scene allowed me to clear my head though. I was able to sort out who and what was important in my life as well as what needed to be changed and expelled. It's amazing what solitude can do for you. And though I lived in a city of over a million, and half the time with my lady, a different language and third world conditions can make you feel more alone than you could imagine. I came home this past June and hit bike riding harder than ever before. I have been on the road almost the entire summer and have been riding, filming, and shooting photos while smiling the whole time. One thing is 100% certain to me now: I love the bike riding life I have lived for all of these years. People SAY to do all the things you want to do when you are young and free. I say, never stop being free and you can continue to feel young and do all those things you love forever.

Jake GeiselFastplant on home turf.

Can you name some of the more unique experiences you had during your time abroad?
Daily life was fairly unique due to the fact that you never knew what to expect. Even heading to work at a nice prep school was never predictable. Aside from that, it was fairly amazing to be able to drive less than an hour and either be in a live volcano or at untamed ocean beaches. The question that may stem from this one though is: what was NOT unique? And the answer to that is great: the bike riders. If one thing is constant wherever I go, it is that bike riders are family. Language, socioeconomic status, age, lifestyle, none of it matters. BMX is a big family and the guys I met in Nicaragua were like brothers right away. My little adopted crew took me to the best spots and the cheapest fritangas. They warned me about the sketchy stuff and helped me to survive in a foreign land.

Did your position as a teacher abroad affect your position as a sponsored rider at all, or were your sponsors supportive of the move?
Madera, Sun-Ringle and Sputnic were all great about the whole thing. They all knew this was a good life choice but also that I would still do the best I could for them. While I was there I bought a little Flip cam and shot a few edits. l was a but worried they all might cut me loose though if I stayed for another year. After all, my job for them is to promote the brand, and that became tougher as time passed. A big part of riding for a company is traveling, filming, and shooting photos. I love doing all of those but finding a camera man was almost impossible and travel out of the country was an expensive nightmare. Ironically, after hitting the scene harder than ever when I came home, Sputnic and I parted ways. I am happy they supported me through my adventure, but now I am floating a bit.

A Taste Of Nicaraguan BMX... from Mike Hinkens on Vimeo.

Now that you're back in the U.S., do you intend to continue teaching, or are you concentrating on riding?
In the states, it is pretty easy to do both. Early on in Nicaragua I came to the realization that I still wanted to pursue bike riding to my fullest potential. As a result, staying a second year to fulfill my teaching contract became less and less likely. The final decision was made for me when I was invited with Madera to go on Props Road Fools at the end of summer. As a childhood dream and a huge opportunity, the conflict between a good teaching position and bike riding became a huge dilemma. On one hand I had a great job I liked which would continue to help me grow as an educator, and on the other hand, it had me locked back in Nicaragua a month prior to the trip that was a once in a lifetime opportunity. In the end, BMX won out. I decided to brave the uncertain part-time education market in the states to keep me going while I pursued bike riding to its fullest and while I still had the opportunity. As of now, my new job working with at-risk students is flexible and less intensive so they are okay with me being gone.

Did your presence affect the local BMX in Managua?
I would like to think so. I can say that I tried super hard to help their scene as much as I could, even though they have a really great one to begin with. There are a TON of riders in Managua. I met so many but still not even a fraction of them. They have no shortage of motivation or skills but they do have a shortage of bike parts. In order to help out, any time someone from the states visited or I left and came back, I made sure at least one 50 pound suitcase was loaded full of BMX products. And it was awesome seeing kids ditching their pink little girls bikes for sturdy and safe real BMX bikes. Some of my visitors and I even left our entire bikes as donations. My presence did affect the scene in one way for certain though -- I brought the fakie game! By the time I left, kids were super into 5cabs and backwards manuals. They picked up my favorite tricks way too fast! The scene is growing there even now as I still see more and more photos and videos coming out of there.

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Jake GeiselAiring out of a skatepark at home.

When did you return to the U.S., and has it been an adjustment?
I have been home about three months. And yes, it has been adjustment. Before, I was sweating in a fan-cooled classroom that frequently lost electricity in the middle of the day. Presently, I am typing this interview on my iPhone while flying across the country to start Road Fools. At first, the hardest part was that everyone spoke English. I was getting used to going out and not talking too much. It became nice to be able to shut off my limited Spanish and just chill. When I got home, I could not handle all of the conversations and people. Selections in grocery stores, restaurants, and in all aspects of life were a bit overwhelming as well. I had grown accustomed to taking whatever I could get if I was lucky to find what I needed. Though my state-side life skills have come back over the last few months, my American impatience has slowly receded. Coming from a place where nothing is efficient or works smoothly, the department of motor vehicles, lines at the grocery store, and occasional slow Internet connections are a joke now.

What's next? Do you plan on going back to Nicaragua anytime soon?
Well, next is balancing bike riding and teaching for a while. My funds are running low and the school year is kicking into gear so a little less travel is probably a good plan. I have been invited back to Nicaragua by a friend to judge a BMX contest and bring some other pros. I am hoping to head back for a long weekend in October. The other part of my life that I missed badly was the Milwaukee scene. Upon my return, I found that the scene seems to be at it's lowest point in many years. Lots of people have started to ride less, events have not been happening much, and 4seasons Skatepark needs a boost. I hope to spend some time this fall getting people together and organizing events to revitalize a scene with a strong history and great potential.

Any last words?
I would like to thank all the people who have made these life experiences as rich as they have been. My parents and girlfriend Katelyn have been there to support me through all of this. Also, thanks to the Nica riders who took me in as family. Finally, thanks to Tunney and ESPN for taking interest in my story.

Mike kept a detailed online diary of his time abroad, which can be found here: http://sites.google.com/site/xmikehinkensx/the-news