This past Wednesday I took my driving test for the third time.
If you want to know the horrors, you can read my post « Drive Me to the Looney Bin ,» although you don’t even need to bother with the post; the title says it all.
I was crispé, as they say in French (crees-pay) and it means a ball of nerves. In the 35 minute exam, I counted six mistakes that I had made. I didn’t put my signal on in the middle of my U-turn (only for the first and last turn). I didn’t slow down for a priority on the right. I didn’t let a line of cars pass me even though the obstacle (parked cars) was on my side. (I ended up pulling over into the first space I could find and waving the cars past me with a sorry). I started to drive over a solid line to get to the right lane because if you don’t stay on the right at all possible moments you’ll fail. I went 3 kilometers an hour over the speed limit. And I took a left turn too wide because I had trouble seeing the road. She commented on every single one.
I thought I showed myself to be a prudent driver despite the mistakes. I knew the questions she asked about the interior and exterior of the car. I did a perfect parallel park, astonishingly. I handled all the roundabouts, the 90km per hour, the blind spots, the rest of the priority on the right with ease, despite being crispy.
When I was done I said to my husband with trepidation, « I might have passed. » I did everything I could. On a spiritual level, I fasted and prayed (I am not kidding you). I studied. I could only hope that the 5000€ and the 3 year trial were put to good use, because the burden of money and time spent was a heavy one to bear and I wanted to be freed from my shackles.
I could only hope that the law they passed last May to make the permit easier to pass would work in my favor. (So many people started giving up and driving illegally that they had to do something to make it possible for people to actually get a license).
Yesterday with trembling fingers, I opened the results. And I passed. I not only passed, I got a 29 out of 31. I passed with flying colors, or as in the French education system, I got a « Mention Très Bien. » I was shown grace for all my faults and the three times she could have slammed on the brakes crushing my dreams, she just gave me a gentle warning and didn’t count my sins against me.
I am free.
I joked with my husband that we could now stay in France. I am not kidding you – I have threatened to leave this country because of the license debacle. He bought me a new GPS right away so I wouldn’t have to worry about finding my way while still stressing about all the convoluted regulations. « Only the best for you, babe, » he said.
I asked him where my new car was. I like Mini Coopers best.
Now that I am a young driver, I have to put a big sticker on the back of my car to show that I am an « Apprentice. » Now every impatient Parisian will know to screech around my little 92 Toyota Corolla because I’ll be sticking to the speed limit and making mistakes along the way. Now I will be limited to going 110km in a 130km zone. A snail’s pace.
I will be marked with an A for the first three years of my driving life.
My husband said we’re going to have to put a plastic pocket in the rear windshield to slip the A in and out depending on who’s driving. He doesn’t want to have to be limited to 110 km an hour. He doesn’t want to have Parisians spurning him like the plague. He doesn’t want to be degraded thus.
And I?
Never was I so willingly tainted.
Oh, my friend, I am THRILLED for you! Now, should I ever get myself to your land . . . . I expect a drive all through the town!!! HURRAH!!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!! Felicitacions ! I am so happy for you!
I am so happy for you- congratulations ! Freedom indeed , your husband must be so proud of you!
I am laughing so hard!!
I LOVE how much I know because I follow your posts.
I know so much.
And, now, my children do , too.
I love this blog.
Congratulations!
Wow! Is it really so miserable to get a license in Paris? So glad my test was a lot easier than that!!! Congratulations… on the scarlet letter!
Oh, congratulations on being freed from your shackles. From a fellow young driver who also had been freed from those same shackles just this past summer. Wear that “A” proudly. Oh, and feel free to laugh in the face of those impatient Parisiens as you drive that speed limit, I do to the impatient Boulderites I encounter at least three times a week.
So proud of you.
I am truly thrilled for you!! Congratulations:) What a sweet victory…enjoy your new GPS and your freedom.
I’m so glad you passed!!!! Big Smiles!!! Clapping Hands!!!
Congratulations!!! I know too well what a feeling of relief that is!! (As a side note: I never once put my A up – I drive a ton for work and couldn’t afford to drive slower for 3 frickin’ YEARS!! Nor could I stand the humiliation of it after having had my American license for so long).
Hooray hooray hooray for you!! Wear that “A” proudly, girl, never did anyone work so hard to be branded!
Hooray! A for awesome. A for atta girl. A for alleluia.
Congratulations! I never knew it was so hard to get a license in France. I am so thankful that my SC license transferred. Now if only I could find an automatic car life would be perfect.
Congratulations, Dear.
Thank heaven!! I was so worried you’d have to take it yet again. (I would have.) Too funny about the scarlet letter. 🙂
Oh, CONGRATS!!!
LOL @ the A though, that is so strange!
Oh YAY! So glad to hear this. Drive me to the Looney Bin was one of the first posts I read when I started reading your blog and it was such an eye-opening look at the mind-numbing and patience-trying rigors of the French system.
So glad you are FREE.
Congratulations!!!! I am sooo happy that at 43 years old I am in the U. S. of A and hopefully going to take my easy American test next month. 🙂
Congratulations! That’s awesome (and very much how I felt when I took my road test)
Oh yes – I used to get nervous driving in Manhattan and I can’t imagine having to learn there. yikes!
Now there’s a cause for celebration, if I ever heard one! Congratulations! I had no idea the driver requirements were so strict, nor about the 3 year rule. Enjoy your newfound freedom.
It’s not always that hard for everyone. But I don’t do well to harsh criticisms and it took three years because the first two times I took the test I was a) 39 weeks pregnant, and then b) sleep deprived. Then we had to work on our house and just didn’t have the time. Phew. So happy it’s over.