34 Comments

  1. Amanda Rinehart
    06/14/2017 @ 4:59 am

    What an awesome idea, and what an enriched life you must lead! What do you teach in each of the countries you reside? And how did you find yourself doing that?! SO COOL!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/14/2017 @ 5:06 am

      Hi Amanda! I have taught all the elementary grades, but I love K-2! I am not sure if you are familiar with international schools, but they use western curriculum in English. What makes it dynamic is that you have kids from all over the globe so teaching geography and social studies becomes so much more interactive. You can read more about my story on my website, but it was my dream to teach internationally since High School. I knew I wanted to travel and a teacher salary in California was not going to cut it. So happy you dropped by my blog today and would love to connect further!! My email is bethany(at)biracialbookworms(dot)com Cheers.

  2. Amanda
    06/14/2017 @ 12:18 am

    I love this! What a great idea! If I ever do travel, this is an amazing idea for souvenirs or gifts for others! Thanks!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/14/2017 @ 12:48 am

      The great thing is that you can do this on any level. Going to a museum, grab a book from the gift shop. Visiting the grandparents, buy a book about the town/city/state/country they grew up in. The sky is the limit!

  3. Marlene Wetch
    06/13/2017 @ 10:17 pm

    While I have never traveled internationally, I think this is fantastic. This is a tradition I am for sure starting!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/13/2017 @ 11:54 pm

      I think it works wonderfully domestically as well!! We always pick up new books in local museums and national parks.:)

  4. Hannah
    06/13/2017 @ 8:59 pm

    What a neat idea to collect books when you travel

  5. RM
    06/13/2017 @ 1:40 pm

    I am an avid bookworm and I love this fantastic idea of books as souvenirs!!! What a blessing you have traveled so much and have such lovely reads to remember them by!!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/13/2017 @ 2:00 pm

      Love meeting fellow book junkies online!! Thanks RM and happy reading!

  6. Ant
    06/13/2017 @ 4:11 am

    Love collecting books on travels, too. I was also a sucker for journals. Having those blank pages to fill was addictive to me!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/13/2017 @ 12:37 pm

      Yes!!! Totally the same here. A fresh new journal is my jam!

  7. Tricia
    06/12/2017 @ 11:12 pm

    Wow, your story is amazing! I can’t believe all the amazing places you’ve lived. It sounds like a dream! I completely agree that books are excellent travel souvenirs. You can remember your trip each time you see the book in your library!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/13/2017 @ 2:43 am

      Thanks for commenting Tricia! It has been a lovely adventure around the world and even on the difficult days (there are many of those days too), we appreciate all the amazing people and places we get to experience with our kids! Cheers and happy reading!!

  8. Jasmine Hewitt
    06/12/2017 @ 10:38 pm

    it’s a really good idea! we have some books a dear friend brought for our son all the way from Kazakhstan!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/12/2017 @ 10:46 pm

      Kazakhstan is such a lovely country!!????

  9. TheMomproviser
    06/12/2017 @ 5:35 pm

    Wow! I love this post (and your blog) so much. What an amazing adventure you are having, collecting all these books from around the world. I am in total agreement with you that there is something very personal and sentimental that attaches to books picked up while traveling. I was just thinking about what a missed opportunity it was for me to have not purchased a book in Spanish while our family was in South America. I had brought so many books from home that it slipped my mind. Next time!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/12/2017 @ 7:07 pm

      Yes!! Next time! I love it; great attitude. I have lots of things I wished I could do over as well. When I find myself thinking that way, I simply put the goal on my list and go after it. No regrets and it’s never too late! Thanks for commenting!!

  10. Jamie
    06/08/2017 @ 8:51 pm

    I love this! I do this whenever we visit gift shops at museums etc because it gives the book a meaning and a whole lot more value. Much more fun than another nicknack we don’t need! Great post!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/08/2017 @ 9:29 pm

      Great idea for museums Jamie! One of my favorites that is now in tatters is the Star Spangled Banner board book from the Flag House in Baltimore, MD. As we moved around the world, I loved reading this to get a piece of home. Cheers and happy reading!

  11. Shannon Sawicki
    06/08/2017 @ 8:09 pm

    What a great idea, I remember the books that i read while on vacation but why no buy one in the location you are visiting. Brilliant.

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/08/2017 @ 8:48 pm

      So much better than a toy that they eventually get bored with. Books last a lifetime!????❤️

  12. Shari
    06/08/2017 @ 3:55 am

    What a lovely idea. If I ever get to travel I may have to do this for my daughter. I love books and we read a story every night before bed even though she’s only 5 months old.

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/08/2017 @ 10:08 am

      That is fantastic Shari! I am putting together a course for parents now called Teach Kids to Read 0-5. It is for parents like you who love reading from birth. You can check it out at http://www.biracialbookworms.com/read-aloud-parent-guide/. Cheers.

  13. Zineb
    06/07/2017 @ 12:31 pm

    Is it really a vacation if you haven’t read at least one masterpiece? I used to devour books like there is no tomorrow on my vacations. When I go now I don’t have as much time to read 8/9 books in 6 to 8 weeks because I only go 2 to 3 weeks at a time.

    Love always,

    Zineb

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/07/2017 @ 1:28 pm

      I think 9 books in 2 months is far and above the average reader! Good for you devouring books like that!! My reading life on vacation is hard with little ones but I make it a priority. I just have to be more creative with it!;)

  14. Rochelle
    06/07/2017 @ 11:49 am

    I always buy a book! My case always weighs a tonne!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/07/2017 @ 11:53 am

      Too funny Rochelle. This is why I had to buy myself better luggage.

  15. Karina Pinella
    11/13/2016 @ 10:55 pm

    What a great opportunity to appreciate other cultures.

    • Bethany Edwards
      11/13/2016 @ 10:57 pm

      Thanks for your comment Karina! My perspective exactly! Do you have any favorite places you have traveled?

  16. John Lauck
    05/07/2015 @ 1:39 pm

    An interesting post. It brought back memories of books I purchased in England, and thoughts of a lovely woman from Turkey I once knew. I thank your guest, and I thank you.

    • Jessica Manuel
      05/07/2015 @ 2:01 pm

      Ah, thanks. That sounds like a delicious dose of nostalgia. Bethany is wonderful; I’m thankful for her sharing her experience. Thanks for stopping by!

  17. mbolannos
    05/01/2015 @ 3:33 am

    I agree with you completely. No matter where I go, my memories of my trips are feelings and photos, and my souvenirs are always second hand books and teas. I really envy your friend’s profession. I cannot think of nothing more interesting than to share the love of books.

    • Jessica Manuel
      05/01/2015 @ 7:28 am

      I do too. She misses home when she’s gone, but traveling is who she is and teaching internationally is her gift to the world. Thanks for taking the time to read!

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