Summer Plans and a Book Review

While contemplating the merits of option A and B of summer plans, I decided that option C was really the best, smartest choice. Presuming that I am officially accepted by AIFS to study abroad at Macquarie University on the outskirts of Sydney this fall, I will be staying home and working (if I can find a job this year).

I'm already working up a list of must-see places if I end up in Sydney. I know I definitely want to make the trip to Melbourne, Brisbane, Queensland, Canberra, and, hopefully, Perth, too. I'd like to see both the North and South islands of New Zealand and make a short visit to Tasmania as well.

Lest you think I want to study in Sydney simply so I can travel, I must say I've very excited about Macquarie's course offerings as well. I'm hoping to enroll in courses on Australian culture and food as well as creative and travel writing courses. Looking at the course listings, I realized how much I would have benefited from going to a large school. I get so excited about sifting through all of the interesting course titles and descriptions. OWU just hasn't cut it for me in that aspect; the most interesting courses are always of the travel-learning variety (of course) and those aren't guaranteed. I'm still disappointed about the castles and cathedrals course.

In lesser news, I was reading a travel book this morning entitled Your Gap Year by Susan Griffith. I thought the book was kind of funny from the get-go because I enjoy reading Briticisms and it was published through a British press. The humor sort of dropped off though when I got to the country-by-country information section. Griffith informed readers that while North America can be rather expensive and difficult to travel around due to our fallible public transport, it is also important to keep cash on you so that you can ward off muggers with between $50-100 and avoid physical harm. Not only that, but she also said to be very aware of racial prejudices because it is quite easy to say the wrong thing and start a race war with even the seemingly most understanding individual. I didn't realize America was so awful. She topped off the discussion by warning readers that Americans would likely ask British travelers to remind them again what the capital of London is.

I understand the whole stupid American schtick, but really?!?

Griffith went on to explain that if travelers make their way north to Canada, they will find the country very hospitable. She described Canadians as absolutely, positively "nice," but encouraged readers not to forget they are different people than Americans. Apparently, it's quite possible the only time a British traveler will upset a Canadian will be if they accidentally confuse them with an American and point out the similarities among the two cultures. 

Needless to say, the book was a little prejudiced and lacked credibility because of these outbursts. Funny to think it was published only a few years ago. If you're looking for a laugh or some lightly helpful information for your expensive, parentally-funded gap year abroad, I recommend it though. Griffith certainly has a way of convincing even the most wary of travelers that everything will turn out okay. After all, if you run out of money, you can always call up your parents and have them top off your account like she suggests, right?