Come after 10 days

A line that I still hate to hear...
The line which I had to hear for 3 times...
'Come after 10 days'

Here I am to share my experiences... while striving for getting driving license in US.

I am a 26 year old straight guy who had managed till now without driving on raod.
The fact as it is .... I never felt the need.

Never had anything more than a few rounds on 'hamara bajaj' near my home.

To add a bit more... My brother (who is in US) had been constantly pushing me to go for driving classes from the day he heard that I had to travel. Finally ... I gave up and did had some driving classes in Bangalore. One of those scary experiences. Lucky to be still alive.

It all started with me flying to US for job.

From day 1, it became very clear how hard it is to survive in US without driving.
Like all I started climbing stairs. I was lucky enough to clear the written test on first attempt.


Then started the real fun!
I was on road... if you had seen me driving on those days, you could have clearly made out the lack of comfidence.
I would thank my trainer Mr. Charles to have been really patient with me.

Forgot to mention it was a time when none of my friends had a licence or car so everyone was looking ahead to me getting the license soon as I had immediate plans of buying cars once I get licence.

First test day:
My trainer always ensured that his student was first to reach the test site. I was 2 hour before the test center opened.
My trainer stood for me in queue and asked me to take car for practice.

I was way too nervous.
This was the first time that I was going to drive without anybody in car.
I really went stupid and hit curb badly while backing.
The result was ... test?? forget about test... had to rush in for car repair.
I really felt sorry for damaging Charles car.... felt quite disappointed as well with my performance.
The little comfidence I had, received a further setback.


Second test day:
First one to go for test.
The person who takes you for driving test (hereafter let's call him X) was too serious.
I started making mistake from the very beginning.... It took me long to open door... manual, you see.... I couldn't get honk.... never used it before... and finally when taking car out of parking lot, almost hit a car....
X:'Oh Jesus'
I was already dammed.. went to parallel parking area... couldn't park car close enough to curb ....
You already know by now what was to come out of all this
X: 'Come after 10 days'

Third test day:
I bought a new car 'Toyota corola'. (image above)
Surprised??? must be... however I had international driving licence as well as indian driving license.
If the next question is.. how?... I would say its better if some questions are not answered.

I went all alone for test to a different DMV, the one closer to my home.
I really wish to have somebody accompanied me. I can't express how much.
It will be enough to mention
'In all my attempts I never came across anybody coming alone for test.'
Forget it! let's get to the point.

This time I was not the first one. third one. also not very sure as to whether I would be allowed to give test.

However I was...this time X was a lady.... I drove well... not bad ... but close to the end of the test took a very sharp left turn which scared X and again 'Come after 10 days'.
The turn was a very sharp.... atleast I felt so.... hardly noticed... and the instruction from X came way too late for me to make it smooth.... I flunked.

Fourth day test:
This was the most unhappy experiences ... one of those I would not wish for anybody else.

I was again third in queue.
Forgot to mention there are some interesting people in queue everyday worth listening.
Standing 2 hrs in queue ... mind it, early in the morning!... is nothing less than pain in ass... sorry for being abusive.
One of the trainer was talking about a french beard guy who is horrible.... he never used to pass anybody.

Unfortunately I ended up with the same guy ... because the trainer in front of me refused to allow his student to go with him..... Why did I agree??? I was way too weak to have refused.

By that time I was having good comfidence.... long hours behined personal steering wheel....
I drove really well.. I mean really well....
However I was failed.... that's not justified!!!.... there was absolutely no reason he could have failed me.
I was too disappointed.... felt like crying .... didn't wanted to go back to office and explain ....
Onething I just thought at that moment was 'God is there seeing everything'.

Fifth and final attempt:
I was planning to go on friday but suddenly on wednesday night came to know that the weather on friday is not good.... so suddenly changed plan to thursday.
I was first one in queue.

You will be amused to know that people had somewhat started recognizing me... some trainers... some like me coming for re-attempts... obviously I was now a regular one.

This time I was too observant... I drove really well... mind it this were the words from X.
'You drove really good. I will pass you'.
I can't express how happy I was.

This is not the end.
Now here is what I went through all those days.

Everytime before going for test I used to dream of some nice celebrations to follow up... sweet dreams .... the dreams that used to get brutally shattered....

The toughest part used to be to go back after each test.... and tell others that 'I flunked!' ... create a mockery of yourself.... peolple really love listening to other miseries.... well said is 'someone's pain is else's joy'.... neither did the way back from DMV to office seem so pleasant.

To add on for me the news used to spread like fire for reasons expained at the start....
some people also scared me that there are only three attempts.... also at times I used to get scared that if I didn't get license how am I going to get my car registered.....
Waiting for each of those '10 days' was nothing less than waiting for ages.

All those gloomy days are now gone.

I am happy to have got what I deserved.

There are many lessons that I learned from this experiences... most important being
'Nothing is impossible'.