And then there were two (drivers)
Who knows why, but the United States and Spain are in a tiff and we can't share driving privileges. So, foreigners who want to drive legally in Spain with their residency have to take the exam just like Spaniards. For Chris, the hurdle was the theory test, which he took in Spanish after attending a small class each day to learn the rules and taking multiple practice tests every day. Just before our first November regional conference, Chris passed that exam, and then in December he took a few hours of classes with an instructor at a recommended school to prepare for the exam, which he passed with no problems (because he already knew how to drive, and had been driving legally with an international license).
Chris is a legend because he passed these tests on the first try. When he started in seminary, people he had never met said they had heard about his accomplishments.
I started taking those classes and practice theory tests as well, but I was quite busy and not as motivated. I really did not want to learn to drive a manual. Finally, for a few months this winter I kept at it (I had to learn to say no to other things), and I started passing the practice tests regularly. After a delay thanks to our unprecedented snowstorm, I passed the theory test in January.
In the New Year, I took about 30 classes with an instructor helping me learn to drive a manual and follow traffic norms for our city (lots of roundabouts meant to keep traffic moving, for example). This process was NOT FUN. I suppose that normally they are teaching 18 year olds who have never sat behind a wheel and need to be shown how defensive driving makes you and everyone else safer. But I am already a safe driver! I didn't need to be taught to look, to maintain safe distances, to slow down at crosswalks. Some weeks, especially recently as we prepared for the exam, each class was a disaster. I couldn't do anything right, especially parking. Because there is so little space for parking here in our ancient city, they teach parallel parking as a two-maneuver task. You turn the wheel all the way, back into the spot, turn the wheel all the way the other direction, straighten the vehicle, and then stop. In the states I was taught to turn the wheel at the same time as I move the vehicle, in order to save wear on tires. But there really isn't room to slide into spots here, and I kept missing the perfect point of reference for those stops. A few times I ended up in tears!
Apparently appointments are hard to come by right now, and they finally they set my exam date for May 11. We drove together every day for a week and it was intense. I felt like I was inventing ways to make my instructor angry. She would insist I didn't stop long enough, that I was about to hit a barrier, that I was doubtful entering glorietas (like everyone...) but finally during our last two drives I was calm, she was quiet, and I felt like I was living up to her expectations.
On my way to my last practice drive, I got a phone call that the black car I had been practicing in was at the shop after it broke down. So we rescheduled my class for 6 pm. Rush hour is actually a great time to be out practicing because one spends a lot of time in second gear, just inching along. Anyway, I did fine, finally tapping into my relaxed driver persona. On exam day, my instructor (the instructor sits in the front seat, the examiner in the back) was saying I just needed to be calm and I'd do fine, like the day before. I said to myself, well, yesterday I drove how I drive, so that's good!
Because of the broken down car, the driving school only had one car. We had seven students wanting to take the exam and only four time slots. But, they thought if we moved quickly, they might be able to fit them all in. We even got a little lecture about not driving below the speed limit when its not necessary. Of the four of us who drew "sÃ" in the drawing, the three young guys did not want to go first. So I went first, and my exam only lasted 12 minutes! For Chris, who saw me leave, this was bad news and he was quite worried! He said he saw me running towards him and he thought, "oh no, she's upset and doesn't want anyone to see." But then I pumped my arms and he knew - I passed!
The examiner took a look at my residency card and said, "37 years old, eh?" We drove towards Madrid, took a service road during which I got up to 5th gear, turned around, drove through some neighborhoods (he said i could speed up), parked in a giant parallel spot (thank you, God), and drove back. At the end he said, "obviously you already knew how to drive. Enhorabuena!"
What a relief. It took the time it took, I guess, and now I can drive a manual. Honestly, when I take stock of the many things I've accomplished in my life, this one is up there. Not because it was so hard, although at the time it felt hard, but because of how I wanted to give up so many times, and because we've been doing fine with one driver. I know doors will open for me after this, and I look forward to how God will use my new skills. Chris is helping me get used to our bigger, heavier car, but I've already driven to the train station alone.