Three's a Crowd: You, Me, and Jane Austen

Faces on the Road - made possible thanks to Jane Austen & you!

When you work in the field of international education, most if not all the entirety of fall is consumed by making university visits and attending regional conferences. So here we are. All together again at the end of October, and finally taking a deep breath as winter encroaches upon Colorado. 

In the months since I've posted on WWJaneDo, I've celebrated the marriage of one of my younger sisters, traveled to Australia for WYSTC, moved apartments, and connected with many new and familiar friends on the road. A whirlwind? Yes. But the kind of whirlwind that keeps a smile on my face after every adventure has concluded.

As I settle into being home in Colorado, it struck me a bit by surprise this week to receive a unique notification from my LinkedIn account: it was a message letting me know that October marked the three year anniversary of What Would Jane Do. It was enough to make me smile once more. To some, three years might not be much, but this anniversary continues to hold a special place in my heart and in my professional life.

Girl in Transition: Two Years & Counting

"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."    

- C.S. Lewis

I've always loved that quote. I like to think that as you get older, it's discovering the magic in reality that makes for a true fairy tale. If we can discover the happy endings in every obstacle and challenge that comes our way, it's safe to say that one never really has to outgrow fairy tales.

Earlier this week, I marked my two year anniversary with GoAbroad.com and it's been a fairy tale of the best variety - filled with ups, downs, moments that made me laugh and cry, and the kind of learning that comes with a job you truly love.

Working in international education isn't everything I imagined it might be - it's more. It's more work, more persistence, and more passion than even someone as obsessed as myself thought it would be. And I'm not even close to done learning or connecting with others who dedicate themselves to international education opportunities. 

This is what they call a girl in transition. Or something like that. And on this #ThrowbackThursday, I'm jumping back to take a look at two of the biggest lessons I've learned about international education so far. Grab your coffee or tea. It's about to get all sorts of introspective up in here.

Three Reasons It's Okay to Make Mistakes With Your Job

It it a truth universally acknowledged that nothing ever goes according plan. 

The same can be said of your job responsibilities and projects not always turning out the "right" way.

And you know what? That is perfectly okay. More than that, it's my thought that you SHOULD have moments of failure and falling down - thus learning what it takes to stand up, brush your behind off, and try again. Or in some cases, try again and again and again.

Before you head into your weekend plans, be them exciting adventures or low-key relaxing, let's take a look at three reasons why making mistakes with your job is a good thing, and how they allow you to become a better employee and thought-leader in your field.


At the very least, these should help when you arrive back at the office on Monday morning ;)

Tuesday Travel Inspiration: Dreams

Have you ever had one of those mornings when you wake up from a dream, and no matter how hard you try to recall the details, they continually slip out of reach? Then at some random point mid-day, you're struck by a sense of déjà vu and clarity. 

I find that life tends to work in the same fashion as dreams, in that it's only when you take a step back from the finer details, the entire picture comes into focus.

Ever since returning to Colorado and following up with connections post-NAFSA and TBEX, I've been thinking a lot about the big picture, and how all the "details" experienced at both those conferences helped remind me of what it means to be an international educator. 

I should start by saying I've always admired those who are able to sell their belongings, travel the world one continent at a time, and document their experiences along the way. Actually...admire is a tame word - "jealous" is more appropriate. To live as a nomad, to really experience the world and its cultures - I mean, what isn't there to admire about that lifestyle? Of course, it isn't always glamorous - I've read enough blogs and traveled enough to know that - and like everything in life, there is more to it than meets the eye. Still, it was dreams of being a travel blogger that fueled much of my early motivation to travel.

NAFSA 2011: What Dreams Are Made Of

The Expo Hall in Vancouver

Thanks to repeated viewings of Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio as a child, I used to believe that wishing on a star could make all dreams come true. I may be older now, but a shooting star still has the power to make me catch my breath. The only difference is that I know I can't leave all the hard work to the stars.

Over the course of the last year I've learned a lot of lessons, taken a few knocks and met some amazing people along the way. It's been a roller coaster ride of experiences, where fulfilling my dreams has required dedicated effort, patience and a strong belief in self. I never could have imagined, though, how striving towards the future would fulfill one particular dream long held: attending the Annual NAFSA Conference. And to think I was worried about the Blue Fairy never showing up with her magic wand--it turns out she wasn't needed after all.