Now that the semester is over, I can now turn my attentions to much more interesting pursuits- like my trip. I can finally sit and read or google until my heart's content without feeling a pang of guilt because I should be studying or working. So, in my recent research, I have found some interesting stuff. Humor me:
1. Australians refer to their country as "Oz," which is very cool to say. And as I sat studying a map of "Oz," I noticed the following place names:
Wollongong
The Great Sandy Desert
Kakadu
Mt. Magnet
The Bungle Bungles
Warrnambool
The Gulf of Carpentaria
Reading these names, I can't tell if I'm headed to Oz or Narnia. Either way, this has to be a unique place.
2. I've also found that every spider, jelly fish, snake, and shark in Australia is likely to kill you or make your life very uncomfortable for a while. Every thing that is "deadliest in the world" resides comfortably in this place. Here's a fun story. In the thirties, a 14-ft. beige shark was caught at a popular Sydney surfing bay. They placed the shark in a local aquarium where, a few days later, it promptly coughed up a human arm. (Bill Bryson, "In a Sunburned Country") I am rethinking snorkeling...or wading into the ocean...or even looking at the ocean.
3. 3 flights there, 3 back, and 3 in between. On the way there, I will leave on the 28th and arrive on the 30th, and lose an entire day. On the way back, I will arrive about the same time I left and gain back a day. My thoughts about this: where does your body go during these obscure time periods? It just boggles my mind. Remember Mike TV from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?" That's what I'm picturing here. Hopefully my fate will be better than poor little Mike's. And hopefully we're not flying Oceanic. (That's for Mel.)
So, here I am now with these thoughts on a Thursday morning. I have so much to do and get ready for. So what do I do? I post on Pleonast. Unbelieveble.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year! Please pray for Randi, Jen, and me as we embark on our little adventure. We will have some sort of blog while we travel, so I'll be sure to put that link up when I know what it is.
Enjoy your day, count your blessings, and praise God in whatever you do!
1. Australians refer to their country as "Oz," which is very cool to say. And as I sat studying a map of "Oz," I noticed the following place names:
Wollongong
The Great Sandy Desert
Kakadu
Mt. Magnet
The Bungle Bungles
Warrnambool
The Gulf of Carpentaria
Reading these names, I can't tell if I'm headed to Oz or Narnia. Either way, this has to be a unique place.
2. I've also found that every spider, jelly fish, snake, and shark in Australia is likely to kill you or make your life very uncomfortable for a while. Every thing that is "deadliest in the world" resides comfortably in this place. Here's a fun story. In the thirties, a 14-ft. beige shark was caught at a popular Sydney surfing bay. They placed the shark in a local aquarium where, a few days later, it promptly coughed up a human arm. (Bill Bryson, "In a Sunburned Country") I am rethinking snorkeling...or wading into the ocean...or even looking at the ocean.
3. 3 flights there, 3 back, and 3 in between. On the way there, I will leave on the 28th and arrive on the 30th, and lose an entire day. On the way back, I will arrive about the same time I left and gain back a day. My thoughts about this: where does your body go during these obscure time periods? It just boggles my mind. Remember Mike TV from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?" That's what I'm picturing here. Hopefully my fate will be better than poor little Mike's. And hopefully we're not flying Oceanic. (That's for Mel.)
So, here I am now with these thoughts on a Thursday morning. I have so much to do and get ready for. So what do I do? I post on Pleonast. Unbelieveble.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year! Please pray for Randi, Jen, and me as we embark on our little adventure. We will have some sort of blog while we travel, so I'll be sure to put that link up when I know what it is.
Enjoy your day, count your blessings, and praise God in whatever you do!