Before I met Jean that eveinng, I had an easy day. I took a leisurely pace to visit Abdoun circle and Abdoun mall to get more taste of Western and modern atmosphere in Amman and enjoyed myself at “books café” in a hilltop neighborhood, listening to Noah Joans music and watching locals and other travelers hang out.
It was at Jefra- a very popular local restaurant where I met Jean who was the other solo dinner like me. Jean is a 65 year old solo woman traveler from New Zealand.In 1970s, she took a 6 month of overland trip from UK to New Zealand with two guys she met through newspaper advertisement.Before that overland trip, she had taken one year and half traveling around the world. After her two years of travel, she settled back in New Zealand and decided she needed a husband and a family to complete her life. That was what she did in the next 20 some years- raised 4 boys till recent years. After her boys grew up and left house, she got back to her solo traveling and got involved in teaching in Berma. Since then she had sponsored 5 kids from Berma and traveled to India 4 times by herself. On her son's wedding, she toasted her son and would be daughter in law that she hopes they continue to give each other space to have each other to explore themselves and the world. She had a glowing smile on her face while we chatted. While being asked what she would like to do with her travel experiences, she said "nothing, really, I will probably write a book for my grand children. That's it." You do what you want to do and enjoy yourself. There ain't anything else you need to do. Isn't life supposed to be this simple and meaningful? Jean gives me her answer and I believe her.
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