("Driver's License" Continued)

controlled intersection and proceeded through on the green light.  I gave a right blinker, made all the checks, and made my right turn.  This brought me up to a stop sign (tomare), which is shaped like a U.S. yield sign.  I did my best to line up the front edge of the car with the line in the road.  I gave a left blinker, made all my checks, and then proceeded with my left turn.  This was followed by a right turn with all the usual ingredients.  Another quick right followed.  This took me past a parallel parking spot, which is something, fortunately, I didn't have to do.  Instead I proceeded to the next left turn, which was followed by another left.  This put me on the longest straightaway stretch of the course.  Here I had to accelerate to 50 kph, but the road would bend into a sharp curve.  I got to 50 and backed off as quickly as I could, but I had to use the brake to get through the curve.

The rest of the course was just a series of uncomplicated right turns leading back to the starting position.

Well, I was very pleased with myself.  I didn't necessarily think I passed, but I memorized the course, and I think I was pretty good at doing all the necessary checking.  The testing officer thought so too, but I failed anyway.  The areas where I would have to improve were keeping far enough to the left, merging far enough to the right before a right turn, and not braking through the sharp curve after the 50-kph stretch.  We made an appointment to return on January 4, the first day for tests after the New Years holiday.

My appointment was in the afternoon, and I seemed to be the only one taking a test at that time.  I didn't do any practice driving beforehand, but I felt that I just needed to be sure to repeat what I had done well the first time, and make a noticeable improvement in the areas that led to my failure.  The same officers rode with me again (I really believe this was a big advantage, because they seemed to like us and wanted me to do well).  I proceeded through the course pretty much as I did before.  This time, however, I was a little more deliberate, making sure I was far enough left or right as the situation warranted. 

I was pleased with what I was doing until I got to the 50-kph stretch.  It took me longer than I intended to get up to speed, so I had to slow down quickly (does that make sense?) to make the sharp turn without braking.  I ended up making the turn much faster than I would have under normal driving conditions.  I was pretty sure I blew it at that point.  I just finished my few final turns without giving them much thought.  When I got back to the starting area, the main guy shook my hand and told me I passed.  I gave a thumbs up to Yukiko.  The main guy said that it's rare for someone (even a foreigner) to pass so quickly, and that I should be proud of my accomplishment.  I am!

(Continued on page 32)