first step: getting a driver's license
took advantage of the last visit to philippines to do this. went to driving school and applied at the local lto office. got my license on the very last possible day before we left for slovakia. claimed the license in the morning and directly went to manila to get the certification from the central office. we needed this to get my license here in slovakia.
my hello and goodbye ph driver's license
i never even got to use my ph license. we had to swap it out to get the license here in slovakia. it's kinda sad, but it was all for the best. it was easier that way than to get a license directly from here. stricter driving school and slovak driving written and practical exams?!? no way!!!
my beloved slovak driver's license
second step: actually learning how to drive
driving school was a breeze. i really didn't get nervous at all. no problems when the driving instructor tells you exactly what to do, all the time and step by step. not to mention their hands are always close by your steering wheel and hand breaks. :))
now, what happens when you're on your own? yaiks!!! ok, i did some test drives with my cousin in our old mitsubishi lancer on some side streets and empty subdivisions. it wasn't so bad, but not so great either. :D
now with the real deal. when we got back to slovakia, i got to practice with hubby in our family car. double yaiks!!! the car was longer and wider than most. plus, hubby being a very good driver and loving this car so much makes me so nervous. worst time was when i couldn't take off at some stop light. it was a little uphill. took several red lights until the tram came and i was directly on the tracks!!! hubby had to take over. whew! got me really scared.
step three: driving solo
eventually, i got used to driving, specially on familiar roads. i drove the whole family every chance i got, but always, with hubby beside me. the very first time i drove by myself was purely out of necessity. hubby had something urgent at work and alex had to be picked up from kindergarten. it was raining a bit, but i aced it! :D
and then, hubby was hospitalized and underwent appendectomy. :( no choice! got to drive by myself for 5 days. everything went smoothly from there. well, a little bit of kinks here and there. but overall, i feel more confident. we even went for long drives several times during the summer.
finally
so, i can drive. now what will i drive? :D presenting our new baby... and my very first car... well technically it's a family car. but i just can't help owning it, since hubby will be driving the other car mostly ;)
kia venga! black and shiny!
