$586.70...
Oct. 18th, 2005 06:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
akujunkan...and 30% of my yearly vacation down the drain later:
I went in for the test last Friday morning after about three hours of sleep. The test was preempted right as we were set to begin for several hours by the farm equipment test; my period started early, necessitating frequent trips to the restroom for TP (sanitary supplies being unavailable in the DMV); and I made an ass of myself thinking the drink machine had shortchanged me when it hadn't. By the time I actually got into the car to drive, I couldn't have cared less about the test, which had a nice, Zen function. I went in and did it. And then it was over.
"Can you speak Japanese?" my tester asked me before I left the car.
"Yes."
"In Japan, we drive differently from Americans. In America, one drives on the right side of the road. In Japan, we drive on the left."
Oh, boy, I thought, here it comes.
"I understand," I told him.
"Your left turns are too tight. Be careful, or you'll end up going off the road."
"I understand," I said, and in my secret heart of hearts began to wonder could I have actually passed this thing?
And I had. I was one of two people that day to get it.
It was like my birthday and Christmas all rolled into one. I had not been that happy in months. I remember just walking around in a daze for minutes with a massive dopey grin on my face.
I passed the test in TWO GOES. NOBODY has ever passed the test in TWO GOES, but I did. I nearly had a heart attack every time they took my paperwork back into an office while making the actual license thinking that someone was going come back out: お客様、we have no excuse for this, but there's been a terrible mistake... But five hours later I had my license in my hands. What makes this all the more amazing is that I failed my first test because not enough of my back made contact with the seat while I drove. ("Don't feel too bad," my tester told me. "You're a foreigner taking the test for the first time, so it's a fact that you won't pass.") But let's ignore the casual racism for the moment, because in case you missed it,
I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE.
Two times, motherfuckers! PWNED.
That will be all.
I NOW HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE.
I went in for the test last Friday morning after about three hours of sleep. The test was preempted right as we were set to begin for several hours by the farm equipment test; my period started early, necessitating frequent trips to the restroom for TP (sanitary supplies being unavailable in the DMV); and I made an ass of myself thinking the drink machine had shortchanged me when it hadn't. By the time I actually got into the car to drive, I couldn't have cared less about the test, which had a nice, Zen function. I went in and did it. And then it was over.
"Can you speak Japanese?" my tester asked me before I left the car.
"Yes."
"In Japan, we drive differently from Americans. In America, one drives on the right side of the road. In Japan, we drive on the left."
Oh, boy, I thought, here it comes.
"I understand," I told him.
"Your left turns are too tight. Be careful, or you'll end up going off the road."
"I understand," I said, and in my secret heart of hearts began to wonder could I have actually passed this thing?
And I had. I was one of two people that day to get it.
It was like my birthday and Christmas all rolled into one. I had not been that happy in months. I remember just walking around in a daze for minutes with a massive dopey grin on my face.
I passed the test in TWO GOES. NOBODY has ever passed the test in TWO GOES, but I did. I nearly had a heart attack every time they took my paperwork back into an office while making the actual license thinking that someone was going come back out: お客様、we have no excuse for this, but there's been a terrible mistake... But five hours later I had my license in my hands. What makes this all the more amazing is that I failed my first test because not enough of my back made contact with the seat while I drove. ("Don't feel too bad," my tester told me. "You're a foreigner taking the test for the first time, so it's a fact that you won't pass.") But let's ignore the casual racism for the moment, because in case you missed it,
I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE. I HAVE A JAPANESE DRIVER'S LICENSE.
Two times, motherfuckers! PWNED.
That will be all.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
on 2005-10-18 01:31 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2005-10-18 04:16 pm (UTC)And then I swear I will never bother you with silleh requests ever again.no subject
on 2005-10-19 02:21 am (UTC)no subject
on 2005-10-19 06:24 am (UTC)I just received 20 pages of translations to do. Let's see if they like it.
no subject
on 2005-10-19 08:23 am (UTC)no subject
on 2005-10-18 12:08 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2005-10-18 03:27 pm (UTC)insanesystem must've really paid off.You rock!
no subject
on 2005-10-19 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2005-10-18 04:08 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2005-10-19 04:14 pm (UTC)No kidding, right? I can't wait to show you my driver's license - it looks like a total fake by American standards. Wonder if anyone would let me drink on it Stateside. Heheh.
no subject
on 2005-10-18 05:15 pm (UTC)How many times does it usually take?
no subject
on 2005-10-19 04:16 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2005-10-19 09:27 pm (UTC)Yo, I was in the bookstore the other day and seriously had I had the funds I would have picked up Saiyuki. But I had to get a book for school and even though you told be about it ages ago, it just slipped my mind. But I read a bit of it and it looks pretty good. :P
no subject
on 2005-10-21 11:49 am (UTC)no subject
on 2005-10-22 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
on 2005-10-18 05:16 pm (UTC)You truly do own the roadways. :D
no subject
on 2005-10-21 11:50 am (UTC)no subject
on 2005-10-18 10:56 pm (UTC)will buying a car be as much of a 'wonderful' experience? (do let us know)
no subject
on 2005-10-21 11:51 am (UTC)no subject
on 2005-10-18 10:59 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2005-10-19 05:46 am (UTC)*is bricked*
Ochibi-chan: your pun is so mada mada da ne
no subject
on 2005-10-19 04:16 pm (UTC)