Woohoo!! I DID it!! I finally passed my driver’s test! Not only did I pass it, I was told I did an excellent job. So excellent I don’t even need to place the legally required “new driver” sticker on the back window of our van. (gag) I mocked Darin for that when he got his license. My, how quickly things change.
The process was incredibly painful. I left at 8:40a and returned home at 4:50p. I really, really wish I were kidding. Here is how I spent the day…
9:50a arrived at driver’s license facility (checked in, paid, and received course number…all at different locations in the building, and watched test instruction video (in Japanese)
11:00a ate lunch
11:50a walked the course twice
12:50p received driving assignments and more driving instructions (in Japanese)
1:15p rode in backseat during someone else’s test
1:30p actually tested and PASSED then waited for the remaining people to finish
1:50p went up two floors to a small room where we waited a few minutes to receive a piece of paper (complete with a stamp…they love stamps here…nothing is official here unless it contains the markings of a red-inked rubber stamp)
2:00p went down one floor to a small machine where we received a “barcoded” ticket that contained all my electronic driver’s license info, then waited
2:30p we entered a lecture (in Japanese) explaining what EVERY, single symbol, number, and character on the driver’s license means. Again, wish I were kidding. For what seemed like a half an hour I stared at a ginormous (to quote Buddy the elf) driver’s license attached to a whiteboard. So large that, had there been a picture it would have been life-size. The lecturer pointed to (with pointer, of course) and explained EVERYTHING…”this number indicates the month you were born. This number indicates the day you were born. This number indicates the year you were born. This number…” You think I jest. No, no. My pain is your entertainment.
Then we queued up (lined up) to get our picture taken. This is where I needed slip of paper with the bar code, to confirm my existence. After the picture process, which, surprisingly, went very quickly we went down a floor to wait for the license to be printed. This usually takes a while so we went to get a snack. Before we could finish the snack my license was ready. (Unprecedented according to my translator.) It was 3:40p. Yes, I finished at 3:40pm.
Although, having my license and the stamp on the back indicating I’m an “excellent new driver” still DOES NOT change the fact that I don’t want to drive here. The test is done on a closed course with only traffic from other Japanese license-desiring individuals. Put me out on the street and I will likely cause an accident.
There is a positive side to my previous failed attempts. During the “Giant Driver’s License Lecture” I learned that the license is good for three birthdays, not three years. For example if I had passed on Nov 5, my license would be good for three birthdays following that date. Since my birthday is Nov 6 that would count as one birthday. I would have only two birthdays (years) left. So now I understand the divine reason why I didn’t pass the previous two times. I would have basically lost a year (plus another day out of my life renewing the license. Apparently, and not surprisingly, renewing a license is a very long process as well). Funny how God allows things to happen things. I fussed and complained, yet, as always, His timing is perfect. Even in things as insignificant as obtaining a license. Sometimes it’s not about the event, but rather the timing of it.
There have been other note-worthy happenings this month too. One I still can’t wrap my mind was my shopping trip to Uniqlo (comparable to Old Navy). I was looking for athletic pants. Since I can’t fit into the women’s sizes here I was perusing the men’s section. The Japanese love, love, love American retro things. The men’s section offered a choice of five different “retro graphic” sweats. As I scanned my choices I saw my alma mater’s logo and mascot. No kidding!!! There he was, Rocky, Western Illinois University’s mascot, with “Leathernecks” written above his head and “WIU” below. For those unfamiliar with WIU, this is not a large university and is located in an obscure part of Illinois. How and why on earth would a Japanese clothing company select and receive permission to reprint the WIU logo then mass-produce it in Japan? Check out the link http://store.uniqlo.com/jp/CSaGoods/259265-03 One of life’s biggest mysteries…things that make you go “hmmmm?”
Canadian Academy had Fall break the last week of October. Darin took the week off as well. We went to Oji Zoo, Himeji Castle, Himeji Safari Park, Universal Studios Japan, and Kyoto. Sounds like a lot, but most people here travel to Bali, Hong Kong, Thailand, Guam, Philippines, etc. during breaks. We are the odd ones who stay here. I feel since we live here I want to see “here”. I don’t want to leave Japan before experiencing it. And I’m still not too keen about traveling far with our three year old. There are pictures of the week on the website www.mccleerysinjapan.smugmug.com.
Celebrated my birthday last week. (Thanks again for all the electronic birthday wishes!) Darin and the kids got me some cool Japanese stuff…tea cups and tea box set. Very thoughtful. Darin took me to our place, “Osteria Guadente”, a great Italian restaurant where we ate our first night ever in Japan. Also got an iPhone. Thought they were overrated. They aren’t. No, no, no, no. It is so totally worth the money. I absolutely love it. I’ve only had it for a week, but it is awesome. Can’t rave about it enough. It is the most practical piece of equipment I’ve ever owned. It’s a phone, iPod, camera, organizer, notepad, meteorological reference, navigation system (very helpful here), compass, and that’s all before I downloaded any apps (applications). I don’t get much chance to use it. Between Nathan, Darin and now Caden (thanks to Casey, my friend, who showed him some game apps) I rarely get to use it.
Last weekend we attended a sake brewery tour sponsored by our language lesson company. There are three big sake breweries right across the bay from us we didn’t even know existed. We pass them every time we are on the Rokko Liner (but can’t read the signs). We spent an afternoon touring them. It was interesting. I still don’t understand the process, but I guess it is very detailed and purposeful, like all Japanese processes. Nonetheless, very interesting and uniquely Japanese.
The other day we had our van serviced. Here is the process for that. The service man comes to our parking garage, drives our van to his shop, services the van, then returns it when finished. Quite a nice service. When he returned the van we paid him while standing in the parking garage. Had visions of TV and movie scenes of parking garage "transactions". Kind of weird. All perfectly legal, but still seemed wrong.
Everyone here has been fairly healthy. No major illnesses, just minor colds, coughs, and a low-grade fevers. The boys are growing like weeds. Nathan is still Shodo-ing and Kung Fu-ing. He finished Photoshop and has selected “Speech and Debate” for his next afterschool club. I’m interested to see how well he likes it and how much his arguing skills will improve. Caden continues to crack us up. He is a very funny child. Darin is really busy with work and I’m…currently leaving to break up a battle in the kitchen…okay, fight over. I’m not sure what I do, but am always busy running errands and doing laundry. Life as a wife and mother in any country.
