21%

Did you know that 21% of librarians are thought to be caring human beings? No thats complete bollocks actually.

Last week I sat a Spanish exam for foreign exchange students with the purpose of discerning who was in need of the intensive Español para extranjeros (Spanish for foreigners) program offered to exchange students. However there are only a certain number of places so those who want to take the course must take an exam to see whether they are actually in need of it. I scored a mighty 21%, not only is it a not-so-shit-hot grade, but it was also the lowest score!!!!! and whats even better is that it practically guarantees my place in the course. I can't believe it, not only do I hold the unenviable record of "Man with fairest complexion in Australia AND Chile", now I am also the worst foreign Spanish speaker in what is one of South America's largest universities and in a city that claims to be a "University city". Santiago has three main Uni's, so what? you may ask, so does lil' ol' Adelaide. But Santiago's claim to being a university city rests on the plethora of "private" universities that people seem to found in their garden sheds (which more often than not double as their home). I wouldn't be suprised to one day walk past the Zankov University of Burrito-ing.

Not much to report from the weekend, other than I got soaking wet in a downpour and discovered that Chile has not yet realised the wonderful invention that is "the gutter". The roads here are those flat, concrete American affairs and they don't camber into a gutter; so when it pours the roads become rivers and you have to walk about 10 feet from the kerb to avoid being sprayed by the passing maniac buses. Another interesting statistic is that 21% of bus drivers in Santiago have served time for a serious offence. The bus drivers here are paid on commission and so the more passengers they pick up, the more they earn. Consequently all the buses or "micros" as they call them here (despite the fact that they are about the size of a Ghan train carriage) drive like buggery to pick up all the passengers they can; there are no designated bus stops so they stop anywhere and everywhere inbetween hurtling along the streets. When you cross the road here, you really take your life in your hands.

Anyway must go, another lecture to misunderstand. Hello to all.

Footnote: Rob and other interested parties, Iam devising a way to smuggle as much $2 litre bottles of Escudo back to Oz as possible. Will keep you posted.