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Welcome to Jack’s Journal—a curated collection of stories, reflections, and dispatches from life on the road. Here, I explore the meaning behind my travels. From bullrings in Spain to mountains in New Zealand, from quiet moments of faith in ancient cities to loud collisions with modern politics, this is where I write to understand what I’ve seen—and what it says about the world, and about us.
Jack's
Journal
Dispatches - 19 October 2025 - Exhausted in the Back Half
Exhausted yet captivated, Jack reflects on a month racing across Turkey—its cities, religions, and history shaping every step of the journey.
Dispatches - 12 October 2025 - Flying through Turkey
Covering Elazig, Harput, Kayseri, and Konya, I catch up on Turkey’s mix of Ottoman, Seljuk, and modern heritage across four new cities.
Dispatches - 28 September 2025 - Southeast Turkey
Exploring southeast Turkey from Mardin to Şanlıurfa, Jack discovers ancient monasteries, Diyarbakir’s city walls, Islamic history, and unique local experiences.
Dispatches - 21 September 2025 - Beginning the Next Leg
Traveling from Spain to Turkey, Jack dives into Turkey’s rich history, shares hostel conversations, navigates passport checks, and rediscovers his love for Turkish food.
Dispatches - 7 September 2025 - Bullfights, Autographs, and Sevilla
From watching trailblazing novillera Olga Casado to reconnecting with Borja Jiménez, Jack's week in Spain blended bullfights, Sevilla, and quiet work time.
Date Night in London: Great Until it Wasn't
Jack tells the story of a date gone wrong with an American girl in London during his first year of world travel.
As I Wrote it Then: My First Time Visiting Madrid
On our last full day, we decided to get out of the city and went for a hike outside the Royal Residence. We spent nearly all day and afternoon out there wandering the paths and woods. It wasn't an especially rigorous hike, but we both enjoyed our time away from the hustle and bustle of city life after the past several weeks. Plus, Jo managed to have us stumble upon the Civil Guard's K-9 training center.
Consequences of War: Travelling the Middle East After October 7th
The war has gone on for more than nineteen months, and resulted in tens of thousands of civilian casualties, mostly Palestinian. As of this writing, there is no end in sight, as neither side is willing to budge on its war aims or political objectives.
The Morning Before the Encierro
It is my morning ritual during the fiesta: awake early, drink a double espresso around the corner from the hostel, and read the morning paper. I'm specifically reading the section related to the bulls and bullfights for the day. The Diario de Navarra publishes the pictures, ranches, and weights of the six bulls that will run through the streets in less than two hours.
A Day Trekking Through the Cambodian Jungle
Our hike started on dirt farm roads where local villagers tilled their fields and built their homes. That part of the hike was hot under the Cambodian sun. The French couples burned quickly under its oppressive rays. They hadn't heeded the warning to cover their shoulders, wear long pants, and wear proper shoes instead of sandals. I, on the other hand, was roasting by the time we reached the jungle. Hot and sweaty, but fortunately not burned.
Where Were the Presidents? Ears and Puertas Grandes in Pamplona
Pamplona’s 2025 Feria del Toro drew crowds and controversy, as aficionados questioned trophy standards and the presidents’ handling of Spain’s famed bullring.
A Tail in Pamplona: The Rejoneo at Its Finest
I still prefer the classic corrida, but after last night, I won't summarily write off the rejoneo like I have in the past.
Spain’s Small Fairs: La Esencia de España
Not many Spaniards in the rural towns speak English, there are rarely special, fast-to-produce fair menus at cafes, and the local attractions—like castles, churches, and museums—stay open during the fiestas. You can run an encierro in the morning, visit a castle before lunch, join a wheel dance in the afternoon, and end the night with dinner among locals instead of raucous partygoers. You don't get that at the big fairs.
ADVANCE CHAPTER: Pamplona and La Fiesta de San Fermín
An advance chapter from Jack's next book, "Aficionado: Discovering Spain Through the Art of Bullfighting." He discusses Pamplona's history, traditions, and the San Fermin Festival
Death in the Ring: A Moral Reckoning with the Spanish Bullfight
Watching the spectacle before me, I realised it was the first time I had seen something die before me in person. This wasn't a movie, video game, or a thought experiment. Death was real in the ring.
The New Testament Along the Camino: 1-2 Timothy
Jack explores Paul’s letters to Timothy that define church order, warn against deceitful spirits, and call believers to faith, modesty, and endurance in the last days.
The New Testament on the Camino: Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians
I work through Paul’s closing church letters as he urges believers to reject manmade rules, avoid idleness, and stay faithful in doing good while awaiting the Lord’s return.
The New Testament Along the Camino: Galatians, Ephesians, and Philippians
Jack dives into Galatians, Ephesians, and Philippians, each challenging false gospels, hierarchy debates, and calling Christians to live biblically, not culturally.
The New Testament Along the Camino: 1 and 2 Corinthians
Exploring 1 & 2 Corinthians, Jack found Paul’s letters reveal not just doctrine but living guidance on division, leadership, women in church, and true faith.
The New Testament Along the Camino: Romans
Jack reflects on reading Romans along the Camino, exploring grace, faith, and the marks of a true Christian while rejecting manmade obstacles to genuine belief.
Coming Home and Leaving Again: What It's Like
Coming home after long-term travel isn’t always joyful, leaving again not always exhilarating. Jack explores the hard truths, shifting ties, and bittersweet pull of life on the move.
Faith, Blood, and Ink: Evaluating My Original Travel Goals
Jack reflects on three goals, bullfighting, religion, and writing, set before a round-the-world trip and revisited after two years on the road.
The Symbols I Wear: The Meaning Behind the Rings, Necklaces, and Bracelets
Contrary to popular belief, I am a highly sentimental person. Not with photos or gifts, but with symbols of something greater than...
What I Learned from Publishing My First Book
Publishing my first book was a ton of work, and I had a steep learning curve as I steadily marched towards the launch date...Here are my top 10 lessons learned from this first publishing journey
Faith and the Faena: Biblical Lessons from the Spanish Arena
There is more to the religious angle than simply commitment to God in the face of an uncertain end of the night. There are lessons to draw from the corrida as an allegory for Christian life, from the written law to our behaviour in the face of social change.
Faux Morality in Europe: Air Conditioning
Europe resists air conditioning in the name of virtue, yet heat deaths outpace US gun deaths. Jack looks at the faux morality behind this resistance and preventable death.
Mosque on Fire: Spain's Immigration Boiling Point
Spain faces rising tensions over illegal Muslim immigration amid mosque fires and street violence. Jack takes a closer look at what's fueling unrest and growing public concern.
Talking Tariffs: Vietnam, Communism, and Trump's New Trade Agreement
I was disgusted with this policy. I wasn't disgusted with the businesses which used the legal system to lower costs, but with the Communist Part of Vietnam for allowing its people to be exploited by foreign capitalists. It was the very definition of hypocrisy. I was also disgusted with Americans who supported communist ideals back home while simultaneously decrying President Trump's tariff policy.
ADVANCE CHAPTER: A Poverty-Stricken World
Poverty, true poverty, was a systemic issue on the international stage. There weren't rich forces at play controlling the world economy like some conspiracy theorists may have believed, but there were real problems out of an individual’s control that caused them to live in poverty. It wasn't simply a matter of moving or pulling yourself up by your bootstraps; when the average income for your country was 4,000 USD, getting out of a poverty-stricken world took more than sheer g
The Things You Miss: Clean Underwear and Other Luxuries
Before I left home, I never realised just how many little things I took for granted. I’m not talking about cultural differences; I'm talking about the practical stuff: drinkable tap water, air conditioning that works, toilets that flush. They say you don’t know what you have until it’s gone, but I never understood just how much I had until I found myself sleeping in a stagnant room with no fan, no power, no working Wi-Fi, wondering how to ask for directions in a language I di
Building a Travel Rhythm: Routines, Recovery, and Movement
Jack discusses how to create a sustainable travel rhythm with routines, rest, and slower movement to avoid burnout and make the most of your long-term journey.
Travel Slow, Stay Long: Why Moving Less Means Experiencing More
It is impossible to fully experience a new destination in just one or two days. Even the sleepiest of towns have more to offer in the way of exploring and atmosphere than just a couple of days' stay will provide. When we rush through new places in the name of "doing" the city or country, we often miss out on "experiencing" the city.
Pack for the Long Haul: My Complete Packing List For One Year Abroad
I spent months (about ten) packing, unpacking, and testing my packing list to perfect it before leaving in June of 2023, and even after all that time, I still got some things wrong.
Gearing Up for Long-Term Travel: What I Packed, What I Regret, and Lessons Learned
Few things are more daunting than packing for an open-ended trip around the world. When you pack for vacation, you pack with a theme, like beaches, camping, or exploring cities, but on an open-ended trip to destinations unknown, the packing list can get confusing.
Money Matters: The Price of Freedom on the Road
"How do you afford it?" The answer is as simple as it is unglamorous: financial discipline. Not hacks, not complicated investment strategies, not collaboration with influencers, just good old fashioned discipline.
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