Robert

United States
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Travel information
I am currently
At home
My next destination:
France - from Sep 2025 until Oct 2025
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Description
I particularly love being outdoors, learning new skills, and making beautiful things. I enjoy learning about the past, and applying technologies and philosophies discovered by our ancestors in a way that enriches modern life. I wish to conform my own life to that of our lord Jesus Christ, and to become an instrument of God’s love.
Interests
Photography
Mountain
Hiking
Charity work
Adventure sports
Animals
Sustainability
Writing
Van life
Languages
Nature
Sailing / Boating
Music
Hitchhiking
History
Gardening
Fitness
Farming
Dancing
Drawing & painting
DIY & crafts
Culture
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Camping
Books
Astronomy
Architecture
Art & design
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
French: Beginner
Italian: Beginner
Latin: Beginner
More details about my language interests
I would be happy to teach English if needed, and am very willing to learn any other language.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Languages
Animal Care
Life at a Farmstay
Hospitality/Tourism
Eco Projects
Some knowledge of:
Art Projects
DIY and building projects
Teaching
Gardening
General Maintenance
House sitting
Able to teach about:
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
More details about your skills
I have worked several jobs as a Draftsman over the last 11 years. These included time at an architectural company, an oil and gas equipment company, and, for the last seven years, a cabinet company called custom wood products. I was promoted to project manager last year, so I don’t do very much drafting these days. My current role is mostly about customer service, educating others and checking their work, and facilitating better communication between departments.
I have worked at the Kit Carson museum, near Cimarron New Mexico. It’s a living history museum where we maintained adobe structures, taught basic blacksmithing and tomahawk throwing, gave tours, maintained a garden and several animals, and went around dressed in period clothing appropriate for the region as it was in 1853. I have also done good old fashioned hard labor as a cart pusher at Walmart, and a ranch maintenance man cleaning high traffic bathrooms and mowing lawns. I teach historical European swordsmanship on the side, particularly longsword, side sword, saber, and basket-hilt. I have experience in several crafty skills including leatherwork and blacksmithing. I play guitar and am a rather good cook. Earlier this year I wrote a paper on 14th century boar hunting practices, and gave presentations on the subject at St. Louis and Ohio State Universities. I can also do other things. If you want to know anything else in particular just ask :).
Age
35
What else ...
I am very interested in learning more about traditional architecture and unconventional/natural/historical construction methods. Masonry, wood, cob, earthbags, slate. That sort of thing. If you have a project of this sort, I would particularly love to be a part of it. I’m also interested in land management and animal husbandry. Need a shepherd? A cowhand? An elephant wrangler? What I lack in experience I will make up for with enthusiasm.
Also, this is probably a long shot on this site, but I would love to try fieldwork on a paleontological or archaeological site. I am passionate about both human history and the deep past. I am pretty patient and detail oriented, and if I was well managed I think I could be very useful in that environment.
I’m fond of chess. If you wish to know more, there is more. Just ask if you have a question and I’m happy to share.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  No
- Special dietary requirements
  No

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21 Jun 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help care for the ...)

I stayed with Ghassab from about May 26th-June 14th 2025. It was my first time using Workaway, and it was a great experience. On a typical workday we would leave the house in little Petra heritage village at 7:30am, and drive a few minutes to Umm Sayhoun to have breakfast with the family at Noura's (Ghassab's mother's) house. Then we would drive a… read more few minutes from there to the goat farm. There were a few morning chores at the farm including some watering and feeding, and saddling the donkey. Then, with either Noura or Ali (a very cool family friend and employee who helps with the goats and other things) I would go out into the mountains with the goats. We would walk around the mountains to let the goats graze all day. At lunchtime we consistently stopped wherever we were to build a fire, eat lunch, and make and drink tea. then we would herd the goats back to the farm. Noura would issue most of the commands to the goats while I managed the pack donkey, (he carries the food, tea and firewood) we also usually collected firewood over the course of the day by hitting dead stumps with rocks and then pulling the pieces out of the earth. Ali speaks English, and Noura does not. Just pay close attention to hand signals when working with Noura, and try to learn a few essential Arabic words from Ali to help understand her instructions. You will get the hang of it. Sometimes you may be called upon to do some actual herding, like getting ahead of the goats and turning them back from a valley or ridge where they aren't supposed to go. I had some trouble with the donkey early in my stay, which was partly my fault for not being a better listener. If he isn't doing what you tell him to do, stop and look around. He does this job every day, and he might see a safer path up or down the mountain that you missed. If you do have a disagreement with him and he gets aggressive, respond with firmness, NOT submissive behavior. By the end of my stay things improved considerably between me and the donkey. his name is Roc (I think) and the Arabic word for donkey is Himaar but always sounded like "Hamal" to me when people say it. I recommend asking Ali for a riding lesson and other pro tips. When we got back to the farm I put the donkey away and we would milk goats. Or rather, I would hold goats still while Noura and Ali milked them. Around dark we would drive back to Noura's house with the milk for dinner. Dinner would usually be with Ghassab's brother's and mother, and sometimes other guests. His wonderful sister Wahiba does most of the cooking and it was always delicious. Meals are taken on the floor in Bedouin fashion, surrounded by many cute cats who keep the house free of other animals. then we would drive back to the house in little Petra heritage village, usually arriving close to 9:30 at night. So be aware that on your workdays, your time commitment will be 7:30am to 9:00 or 9:30 at night. You are just living with them the way they live all day, and it's totally worth it. Ghassab is very generous with days off, so just communicate with him when you need that. He is also a tour operator, and he helped me explore Jordan much more effectively and affordably than if I hadn't had his advice. You will be living a short walk from Little Petra, a ten minute drive from Petra itself, a couple hours from Wadi Rum, and just 30 minutes from Montreal (shobak) one of the coolest crusader castles in the east. So ask questions when you don't know what to do, and Ghassab will help you make the most of your time here. I liked the whole family, and Ali, a lot. Noura's stamina is an inspiration, I don't know if I have ever met someone who is still so healthy and hardworking at her age (I think 88, although there are conflicting reports :)). Ali is full of interesting knowledge and very kind, and Ghassab is a great leader and generous host. I had a number of adventures and cultural experiences while staying with them, but you should go stay there and have your own instead of listening to me talk about mine. Thank you Ghassab, Noura, Ali, Wahiba, and everyone else for your hospitality and all the wonderful learning opportunities. I hope we can meet again someday in the future.

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