When in Jane Austen Country

"Time will explain."

"Pictures of perfect make me sick and wicked."

"I declare there is no enjoyment like reading!"

"I wish as well as everyone to be perfectly happy; but, like everybody else, it must be in my own way."

- Jane Austen

The more I see and learn, the better it will be for my students. I think Jane would have agreed with me and supported the education system it is today.

When I first walked into the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, England, I slightly chuckled at the visitors who were taking pictures of everything. I asked myself, "What are they going to do with all those?"

Then, while walking around the exhibits, I came to the realization that trips like these are much bigger than myself now. I used to have teachers show us their adventures at a Mark Twain museum or a the 9/11 museum. It's my turn.

Swallowing my pride, I clicked away.

Hopefully, my future students will get to hear my story about the time I saw Jane Austen's home town which inspired and impacted her writing. Plus, they can receive a bigger picture with context since diving into authors' time period and family life will help readers connect more.