How to pick a guidebook...

Guidebooks are suppose to be useful, but I have discovered they serve only to deprive you of your money and confuse you.

Yesterday, I went to Barnes and Noble and looked through all the Australia guidebooks I could find. Not one cost less then $25! Only one of the books mentioned the city I will be going to. And only two of them mentioned rugby (which is a deal breaker), and one mentioned it only in reference to Sydney. All of them gave different suggestions on where to stay. All of them had a different idea of what the word affordable means.

I decided that guidebooks are really there to make you feel like you are in control while your trying not cry in the middle of a strange country because you are lost and confused. I mean, I have million guidebooks. I carried three of them with me to Venice and I never used them. Therefore, what guidebook one gets and the reason one picks it isn't important.

I picked my new guidebook--Lonely Planet Australia--because it mentioned rugby the most...

Waiting...

I still haven't heard if I'll be studying in Australia next semester, but it doesn't really matter. I've decided if I don't get the exchange I'll go for the summer.

Update. Well...not really

Haven't heard anything yet. Of course, the Study Abroad office did say it would be about a month before they heard anything...

I keep being reminded about the part in Serendipity when John Cusack's character is being reminded of Sarah (I think he keeps hearing her name)and he takes it as sign and goes off to find her. Well, I'm hoping that because I keep hearing about Australia in weird places and meeting Australians (one from Newcastle actually)that it's a sign that I will be accepted and off I will go!

But, then it could be I sign that I won't be going. But, I won't think that way. I refuse.

To prepare for my trip I am reading the hilarious book In A Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson.

Fun facts I have learned from Sunburned Country:

1. 10 of the worlds most venomous snakes are in Australia

2. The only continent more inhospitable than Australia is Antarctica

3. If the critters don't kill you, the ocean will

4. If an Aussie says "Look out. It's a Blue Bottle." They are not referring to an actual bottle, but a jellyfish that you don't want to tango with.

5. Aussie might just be the craziest bunch in the world and yet they are very lovable.