A Conversation with Author and Intrepid Adventurer, Margo Weinstein

Margo Weinstein is a traveler, intrepid adventurer, class-action lawyer, and single mom. Educated at Yale College and Northwestern University School of Law, she became a partner in a multinational law firm, but that did not stop her from traveling to over eighty countries, moving with her young son to Shanghai and Bali, and discovering how to combine wanderlust and motherhood. For now, she lives with her son in a high-rise in downtown Chicago, anticipating her next move. Jalan-Jalan: A Journey of Wanderlust and Motherhood is her first book. JALAN-JALAN: A JOURNEY OF WANDERLUST AND MOTHERHOOD: "In Bali, jalan-jalan means to go forward, a route used for traveling, and the path chosen in life or career. Jalan-Jalan: A Journey of Wanderlust and Motherhood is the story of my path to Bali. As a Chicago-based class-action lawyer, intrepid travel provided an escape from the demands of my career. I summited mountains, kayaked tropical fjords, almost drowned in icy Class V rapids, and battled baboons in my Zimbabwe hotel room. I took risks that led my son Jake to exclaim, “Mom! How was I ever even born?” But he was born, and my risk calculus changed as I adjusted to the joys, demands, and qualms of motherhood. Instead of camping on deserted beaches in Papua New Guinea and Palau, we stayed at all-inclusive beach resorts in Jamaica and the Riviera Maya. I left the river rafts and kayaks behind for Disney Cruises with Jake. Searching for a better way to combine my wanderlust with motherhood, I gripped Jake’s hand and leaped. We landed first in Shanghai and then in Bali, living as expats and learning about new countries, cultures, and ourselves. Regardless of where you are on your path, if you share my wanderlust, maybe this book will inspire you to travel, too. Or, after reading about my near-death experiences traveling in Pakistan and Burma and how I dragged my young son to live on the other side of the world (twice), you may be glad you stayed home with this book." "I travel because it takes me out of myself and my world. It enriches my life, by being in other cultures and learning about how others see the world, which makes me a better person." To learn more about Margo and her book, and to read her travel blog: Website: https://margoweinstein.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Margo.Weinstein.Author Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/margoweinstein/