I must have been a very rich man in a previous incarnation. Someone who was chauffeured around and did not have to take care of his own belongings…

How else would you explain all the drama surrounding my pursuit for a driving license?

Right after the Stupid FTT incident, I found my Training Record Booklet missing.

I really don’t know where I chucked it. I turned my (already upside down) room upside down and still couldn’t find it.

Argh.

So I arrived like 40 minutes before my first lesson to get a replacement at the school. Little did I expect the queue to be so long. And the staff to be so slow. Thanks huh.

By the time my number was called, it was already 4.30pm

@ the Service Counter:

Me: Hi, I lost my booklet and I need a replacement, please.

Lady at the counter: Sure. Do you have any lessons today?

Me: Ya. 4.40.

Lady: *Gan Jiong* Huh?! Okie! Okie! Quick, give me your IC.

Lady (to colleagues): Eh, 你们有没有用过的Booklet huh?

30 seconds later,

Me: 不要紧啦，你给我一本新的啦。

Lady: 没有，我是要帮你省钱。我们写坏的，换给你，不用钱的。

Me: 哦。不要紧啦. Buay hu liao ley.

Lady: Hah Noh. Ok, 我跟你讲，你快点去那个counter,叫他们帮你剪照片。

Me: 你没有剪刀借我meh？我自己剪啦

Lady: 不可以，不可以。要用那个standard的cutter的.你快点去~ Meh Meh~

@ the Information Counter

Auntie: 剪照片huh? *And slowly cuts, almost like doing Art and Craft.

Me: Ok,谢谢你！ 一张就够了。Buay hu liao.

@ the Service Counter:

Lady: Okie. 好了好了。快点快点。时间要到了。

Me: Thanks. Thanks. 谢谢！谢谢！Bye Bye!

Morale of the story:

When you need assistance, SAY SO.

My past experiences tell me: SINGLISH is much more helpful at a crisis like this. You make your point clear and concise. You bridge the gap that may exist. And of course a wide smile and showing off your dimples (if any, like me) will add bonus points.

Anyway, thanks to the helpful lady, I made it to Vehicle 77 at 4.39pm!

Well, after hearing horror stories from almost EVERYONE, I did felt a little uneasy.

Sit there… Kanna scolded by instructor… Cannot talk back… Wah biangz.

My instructor was a middle aged Malay man who was extremely nice and warm!

Woohoo!

Within 15 minutes, I was in the driver’s seat. *Wah so fast ah?*

After 10 minutes of lurching forward and backward in a straight line (the car, not me), I was circling the circuit. *Wah so fast ah?*

And that was basically it. Go round and round and round and round. Making only left turns.

I’m not really able to gauge the turning point very accurately yet, but I think I got the braking part quite well. Thanks to the girl in front who kept halting. Heng ah, mine’s auto!

And cos it’s automatic transmission, thus not requiring me to act like an octopus, I realized it has some cons too.

Going round the circuit was pretty monotonous. My mind did wander off a bit. I was looking at people… Now I understand how hum sup lows get into accidents all the time.

Had a close shave at the zebra crossing (within the circuit). I didn’t notice that this guy was about to cross. My instructor told me to stop, and I actually stepped on the accelerator, instead of the brake pedal! Of course, I realized my stupid mistake lah! And by the time I moved my leg to the brake pedal, I found it already depressed by the instructor.

*Paiseh Paiseh*

Though I’m sure I wouldn’t have sent the man flying with my 20km/h Honda Civic, I promise to be careful from now on….

In conclusion, the first lesson was FUN! And I’m so looking forward to the next one on Thu!

Woohoo!

Possibly Related posts:

1. Driving Lessons COMPLETE!
2. More Lessons…
3. and so, we begin…
4. Situation of the Day
5. More stories from the driving centre…

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 6th, 2005 at 3:15 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.