I have been driving for over a year. Wow. I remember one time I asked my driving teacher how long it would take before I don't get nervous anymore when I drive. After one month, he said. A month? Uh-uh! It took me 6 months! My best friend Emilie asked me once over the phone if I feel stressed living and working here in the US and I told her, at that time, my only stress was driving. She laughed and said how could that be when driving was a  de-stressor for her.

Well after a year, I can say that it is the same for me too. Bought a new "Freestyle" CD today at the filipino store, played it on the way back, sang along to it even shimmied in my car seat a little, I actually had fun inside the car!

I didn't tell a lot of people this but the first time I took my written exam for driving I failed. Why? Well, I innocently went to DMV  to apply for an instruction permit next thing I knew I was told to take a seat for the test. Whhhaaa? But hey, like a typical "passive" filipina I allowed myself to be prodded over like a lost sheep. Was given the test sheet and failed miserably.

Went home, took the "Rules Of The Road" Pamphlet (for free), studied to salvage my pride, took the test again and only had one mistake. Ha!

Now came the hard part, the Road Test. 3 months before Tom attempted to teach me himself. Totally my idea. He didn't want to but being the thrifty filipino, I couldn't just bear at the thought of paying $60 an hour for a driving lesson.

Well, it was a bad idea to start with. After 3-4 Saturdays we were both nervous wrecks. The last straw was we ended up on a rail track by mistake, had to step on the brake because of the stop light, was on a deep incline (bad news if you're a newbie and your car is a manual transmission) naturally I stalled, even backslided a little with the car behind me honking in panic. To say it was a harrowing experience for both of us is an understatement.

I did some research on the internet, I came across a driving school that only charges half. I haggled with them on the phone and ended up with the deal of $25 an hour for 10 sessions. My driving teacher's name was Gino. I was surprised that he turned out to be Polish. I was expecting him to be italian. I was startled when on our first meeting he instructed me to immediately get behind the wheel, named some parts of the car and then actually drove around my neighbourhood. I had thought (or hoped hehe) that there was a driving course that we would go to at first.

After our 10 sessions I took the road test. I failed the first time again. The DMV personnel told me to work on my turns. Gino was surprised. I took it the day after next. I passed this time. Just barely, the DMV personnel told me. I think my miraculous passing mainly has to do with my being nice to this guy on my first time there when he was behind the counter. I didn't know that they take shifts. But I was just sooo relieved and happy that I grinned from ear to ear when they took my license photo.

My lessons with Gino continued for another 6 sessions. This time we were using a car with manual transmission. It was funny how our lessons we would take the route going from my condo to the office. I caught the receptionist giving me a funny look when I was dropped off by a car with a big "driving school" signage on top of it. I can't blame her, a lady in her mid-30's learning how to drive? Very unusual in the US.

The turning point for me was when I came from my vacation in the Philippines. Coming back I saw the huge contrast with the roads here from there that suddenly it made driving here easier. Now, my next target? The expressway

Currently listening to: Freestyle All Hits Live
Currently reading: National Geographic
Currently watching: Big Fish