Pedestrians beware!

Hooray! We passed our written driving test!

We went to BMV on Tuesday afternoon to take our test. Fortunately for us, the centre was strangely quiet. No queues. We went straight to the lady at the counter and, after verifying all our documents, she printed out the test papers for us.

It was very much like doing PSLE MCQs. Have to shade the circle which we think is the correct answer. There were 50 questions in total: 38 in Section A and 12 in Section B. To pass, we cannot get more than six wrong in Section A and two wrong in Section B. We sat in some chairs with tables attached (you know, those that you see in LTs) in the corner of the BMV office. It was not the most conducive place to take the test, as we just sat in a corner of the driving centre, in full view of what is happening in the rest of the centre.

I am not sure why, but the Americans seem to like to ask certain private questions very loudly. This happened when I was applying for my visa back at home (I learnt the whole family history of at least five people in front of me in the queue while in the embassy), and it happened again while I was taking the test. I was quietly shading my circles when I heard someone shouting:

"DO YOU SUFFER FROM COLOUR BLINDNESS?"

"er, no"

"DO YOU HAVE FAINTING SPELLS, OR SUFFER FROM FITS?"

"no" (man shifts back into chair)

"HAVE YOU EVER HAD YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENDED BEFORE?"

"no...!" (man shifting back into the chair even more)

So paiseh! Ah, but then again, maybe the man was hard of hearing...

***

Luckily for me, my officer was much more pleasant... After I got my results and paid up $9, I got my learner's permit! But only a temp one for now. The real one will be sent to us within 60 days.

And have to take a photo for the permit! I wasn't prepared! And of all the colours, I have to wear a green top on that day, which coincidentally was the same colour as the background. I think I blended in perfectly. I didn't get to see the photo after it was taken. Maybe it shows my head bobbing in the middle of nowhere.

Anyhow, I can now drive in the presence of a licensed driver. And unlike back at home, I can get anyone who knows how to drive to teach me. Which means it is much cheaper to learn driving here as compared to back at home!

And did I mention that the practical test is only 15 mins long? Teehee...

Ah, now all we need is a car...