“One never reaches home,' she said. 'But where paths that have an affinity for each other intersect, the whole world looks like home, for a time.”

I came to Jordan a few years ago to study, but I wound up finding work, sticking around and eventually meeting my primary travel buddy and wife. I work in translation and journalism, mostly about a certain armed conflict close to home.

I've been lucky to move around a bit in my life and meet some really kind people. The issue with traveling is that there are so many goodbyes - you meet nice people and the *poof* you're off in two different directions. When those paths cross again its nice to pick things up where they left off.

Por qué estoy en Couchsurfing

To pay forward the kindness strangers have shown me while traveling.

Intereses

I follow regional politics closely for work and talk about them far too much, so it's nice to blow off steam with good people and jenga wherever possible. Translation and linguistics are really cool, and when I meet new people its fun to try and pick out the idiosyncrasies of someone's dialect.

• literature
• politics
• languages
• arabic
• bicycles
• translation
• sharing food
• games of all types

Música, películas y libros

I like a lot of blues music and Arabic artists, although lately I can't get enough of Despacito.

East of Eden and other classic American lit is a favorite of mine, but I try to keep up with my non-fiction reading list too.

I'm a huge science fiction fan with a guilty pleasure for super cheesy Arabic soap operas.

Algo increíble que he hecho

A few years back I biked solo from Detroit to Pittsburgh and back without spending a dime on accommodation. I had a tent with me and a (not-so-reliable) internet connection, and if I didn't find a place to stay I'd pitch my tent on the side of the road.

At one point, I stopped in a small Ohio town on the 4th of July. I stumbled into a BBQ in someone's yard to ask for directions dressed in spandex looking like a traffic cone. I think I was probably the strangest person to wander into this town that particular day.

I was treated to some textbook Midwest hospitality. They wouldn't let me leave until I had tasted everyone's chili recipe and played a few rounds of cornhole. The pastor of the local church happened to be attending the party, and he was kind enough to unlock the church to let me take a shower and crash there for the night underneath the fireworks.

That's the kind of kindness that's tough to pass on - but I'd like to give it a shot!

Enseña, aprende, comparte

My wife and I both speak Arabic (though she's much better than me), and we're happy to give a crash course to our hosts and guests.

There is a great new board game with marbles and cards that is super popular in Jordan right now. Rula and I are addicted. How about we show you how to play so we can take turns beating you :p.

Amman can be a little dusty and dreary. It helps to know good people while you're here to really enjoy it. We can point you in the right direction or if you have time take you around the city a bit.

Países que he visitado

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Palestine, Poland, Slovakia, United Kingdom, Vatican City State

Países en los que he vivido

Jordan, Palestine, United States