The Test of Tests

Paul-
So even before I came to this country I heard tales of how ridiculous the driving exams were. Our friend James had taken the test two or three times and knew way more Japanese than I. So we put it off one week till we would have been illegal to drive and took the test today.

Our friend Keiko was kind enough to go with us and get all the preliminary paper work finished so we wouldn't have to read kanji. Then we had to wait...for a long time. We were there from 8:40am to 2:30pm. Testing centers aren't in every town but one for each prefecture. That would be like having one for the entire state of Oklahoma. So you could imagine how many people were there. So after lunch, our friend Keiko had left, we were sitting and waiting to take the written test our names came up and took the tests. The written was decently translated and had pictures to match the questions. If you have spent more than one month in a car it is easy to pass. Next came the driving test, which neither of us were fully prepared for but he asked us to test then so we went.

If I may preface, I have an abiding fear of failing things. I feel that luck will turn on me at any point and, regardless of whether I know the material or not, I will fail. So I went through the Japanese process of getting into the car, checking under the car, looking both ways before opening my door...stuff like that then I got into the car. Lock the door, check your seat, check the mirrors, buckle up, check the parking break, check the transmission and finally ask for permission to start the car from the instructor. Understand, they can fail you for any deviation from this process...and they do regularly. Now it's time to drive, which is on a course where you drive and make turns like normal driving, with one exception for my Yankee friends back home, you drive on the left. I did fine for a normal driver but I knew that the slightest thing could give our instructor a reason to fail us. After I finished it was Devan's turn, who in my opinion, drove quite well. The instructor actually told me I could learn something from her...pfft! Anyway, we were both ready to hear, "Fail." Instead we get a thumbs-up and head in to take the eye test. On a side note, I thought it to be funny that you take the eye test after you drive their car.

Wrapping it all up, we are both excited to have our Japanese licenses and even happier that we do not have to go back there for a long time. We hope all is well with those who read and miss you as well.