The "Chile on a thong strap" guide to talking yourself out of a fine.

Thankyou to all readers who continue to send their messages of....well...not quite support, but generally taking the piss. No really I enjoy reading your comments- keep them coming. I guess before I go any further I should address a few points raised in your comments; firstly Phatty T it would take a helluva lot of $2 litres of Escudo beer, and to be honest I wish you would try to think of something else- you really are a concern (readers who are confused as to what I am referring should read comments of previous post). Krystle thankyou for your not so kind words, I will try to have some postcards in the post soon, those lucky enough to be sent one will probably receive it before Christmas.

Anyway to the issue of this post's title; I borrowed a book or to be more accurate a few pieces of paper stapled together from the library a few days ago. It took about 2 hours of walking between different libaries spread over the vast expanse that is San Joaquin campus, to find the damn book which I borrowed under the assumption that since it was a reserve collection item and the inside back cover had 13.30 printed on it, then I would have to return it within 13 and a half hours. I did this only to discover yesterday when I tried to borrow another book that it was over due since 13.30 refers to half past one in the afternoon and not a loan period of 13 and a half hours. The surly library clerk then refused to issue the other book I wanted and informed me that I would have to pay a fine. This seems to be some sort of curse of mine, during my first year at UniSA I was actually banned from the library for a period of 2 months (can you imagine, how absurd), and those of you who were unlucky enough to attend the Norwood Morialta High School with me will know that I never got on too well with librarians. Anyway readers, I have always enjoyed a good confrontation with authority; its a perverted past time I take pleasure in, and I couldn't let this opportunity to indulge in what is for me an almost orgasmic hobby and in a foreign language pass by.

The best way to express yourself in Spanish as well as most other latin languages is to use over-the-top gestures and facial expressions. Trying to explain that I'd misunderstood the strict loan policy (even UniSA let you have the damn books a bit longer), I threw my arms around and screwed up my chin like Maradonna (of Argentinian soccer and bloating up like a whale fame) whilst screaming and shouting like Madonna (of Evita and miming the words to her own songs fame) . Needless to say it worked and the librarian looked genuinely impressed with my grasp of the language (its all in the gestures), he nulified the fine and issued the other book I'd wanted. I would judge this to be my first great success in a foreign language.

To other affairs of the past few days; yesterday I became the newest student of the Jose Luis Tejo Academy of Dance; I am enrolled in a 4 week basic Salsa and Merengue course, or at least I think thats what I enrolled myself in. It doesn't start for another week but I'll be sure to write about it once it has started, the "Goddess" had better have her dancing shoes on stand-by in July!!!

This weekend I venture further into the Santiago Night scene, Friday night I am having a few drinks with an English girl named Alison that I met, she seems quite neurotic so it should be interesting. Then Saturday night I have been invited to Natalia's birthday, where undoubtedly she will try to extort more money out of me (she seems to see me as her rich foreign freind and enjoys getting me to pay for things; I've never met anyone so upfront about asking me to pay!)

Anyway will write about how it all went soon, take care all, have a good weekend and keep the comments coming.