A Long Road to Get Drivers License in NC
This post is my promise. Whenever I get my driver license I will write the story and share it in my blog. This is a special moment in my life, this is a truly life in U.S.A.
So, what does this means? Yeah, finally I got my driver license yesterday, 30-1-2014. I've been waiting for this moment for four months.
Actually I have 2 kinds of drivers licenses in Indonesia, car and motorcycle. Driving for me is not a new thing, not a hobby, I drive because I need to drive. Especially in my hometown, Belitung Island, where is rarely people there use public transportation. I don't know how it starts. Is it because of the cost of public transportation is more expensive? Is it public transportation uncomfortable? Is it people just like to drive by themself? Is it faster? What I know is the number of personal motor vehicles are pretty much enough to mobilize people there.
Anyway, here I am, I need to have a driver license. A car license. It would be more comfortable to drive under the law and to feel confidence. Everybody knows, Indonesian license is not permitted here. Thus, I started my everything required to get a North Carolina drivers license.
Applying for a drivers license requires some documents, for non citizens or an intern like me the requirements are a car, unexpired inspection card, liability insurance (every vehicle must be insured by a company licensed in NC), social security card, passport, visa, J1 paper, and I-94 paper. The car belongs to my company, I just need to ask my supervisor about the inspection card and insurance and then completed other documents.
About 3 months ago, while waiting for the car documents I started to learn the driver's test. First, I need to know how to drive a-left-steer car. Yes, cars here use left steer. It was totally hard for me in the beginning, because in whole my life I only know how to drive a-right-steer car. It was becoming worst, it's not easy for me to considering left and right side.
My friend, Dewi, she said "Dedek, just remember the rule, whenever you drive or make a turn always be in the right side of the road. In intersection, if you get confuse, just remember, right, right, and right". She told me.
I did what she said, yes she's right, it is easier now.
I started to drive from house to work as a driving practice. I felt better day by day.
NC drivers license test divided into four steps.
1. Vision test, our vision must be checked to see that we meet certain standard.
2. Sign test, we must identify the traffic sign by their color and shape and explain what each means.
3. Written test, it is all about traffic laws and safe driving practice. This is the hardest one.
4. Road test, the last test, we will demonstrate on the road with an instructor beside us to perform our ability. Point of view of this test is:
- Approaches the intersection, traffic signal, and stop sign
- Backing
- Turn signal and use of the horn
- Following another vehicle
- Three point test
A couple days before I went to DMV (Division of Motor Vehicle) Office to had a test, I read the driving handbook. OMG, there are a lot of things that I should remember, traffic signs, the laws, points, and everything. It was a hard week. I always felt sleepy whenever I read the handbook. I also couldn't understand some words. Taking some exercise questions on www.driversprep.com. helped.
One day in October I went to DMV office. It was early in the morning. I gave all of my documents to the officer, she checked it and gave me a ticket number. I waited for around one hour until they called my number. I was so nervous.
I had a sit in front of the officer and waited her to input all of my data to the computer. Then she asked my hair, skin, and eye color. Everything was fine. First test was coming, she asked me to looked at the screen tool. It's like a microscope. I read every single numbers, alphabet, and explained the sign. I did vision and sign test well.
Written test was coming up after visual test. She explained to me that I can pass the test if I answer 20 from 25 question correctly. I can skip the question for five times and I will fail if I make five times mistakes. Got it. I took a seat and started to do the test. My heart was beating so fast. I tried to answer one by one the multiple choices question. Time flied so fast.
BOOM!
I failed! I only answered 16 questions correctly. T_T.
The kind of feeling, Oh My God... I didn't make it. I was so sad.
After failing that day, I learned the handbook seriously. I always opened the translater if I didn't know what the words meant. Failing is hurting.
A couple weeks after the first failing day I went to DMV office again. I prayed a lot in the early morning on that day. May God bless me so I will be able to answer correctly 20 questions. This second time the officer didn't ask me for vision and sign test, so I just directly did the written test after she input my data. I took some breathes deeply when I faced the computer. Bismillah.. Time ticks..
SNAP!
I failed! Again!
Just the same, 16 question correctly. What's beset on me? I didn't know what to do..
Failing two times just made me want to shopping and sleep on that day. Hahhaha~
On 13 December 2013 I went to DMV office again. Yea, for the third time. I already did my best to learn those driving laws and everything. I had no mission, what I knew is I don't wanna go back for this written test. I prayed and drank water a lot on that day. Hehehe~
This time, I read the questions carefully and took longer time to decided the best answer. I forgot how many times I breath deeply. I was so nervous. I answered one by one correctly.. Until I got stuck on question number 18. OMG! I already made five mistakes. OMG! OMG!
Numb...
I took a break, 5 minutes.. 10 minutes.. I still had no idea which option is the best answer. I wanna back home.. to Indonesia.. so I don't need to pass this test.
I was feeling too sleepy to make a decision. Okay, May God hear my prayer in the morning so I answered one of the options.
My Goodness! CORRECT!
Hah!
Yea, I did the same to the next question. I whispered to myself, "I will pass, I will pass, I will pass" continuously.
BANG!
The screen said "YOU PASS".
I made it!
I almost cried. I was so happy. Yeyeyeyyeee..
It was around 5 pm when I finished the written test. I couldn't do the road test on that day because the road test only can be done before 4 pm. So I got a learner permit. This permit means I can drive over the highways only with someone beside me who has a drivers license. The fee for this permit is $15.00.
However, I still need a driver license. I should pass the last test, road test.
On 15th January 2014 I went to DMV office 'again'. I took a half day off from work because it was on Wednesday. A weekday. I went there really early in the morning and arrived around 8 am. After registration and waiting for about an hour they called my ticket number. I entered the room and the officer input my data on his computer. I was so nervous. My hands were cold.
I did the vision test again before doing the road test. Not bad, I still remember each sign.
The road test began. I entered the car. The officer asked me to turn on the left sign, right sign, honk horn, and push the break. He asked me to exit the parking lot. He guided me to the test road. I made right turn, drove carefully, stopped at stop signs, made a three point turnabout, and reversed. It was just 15 minutes on the road and then we went back to the office. He asked me to park the car in a certain spot. I had a bad feeling. He didn't say anything. I followed him to his room. He wrote down something on my road test evaluation with a red ink pen. Hmm. Here is what he wrote:
- Stop quickly and chock rear
- Must stay on the road during 3PT (three point turnabout)
- Practice backing
- Come to a complete stop at all stop signs
- Put vehicle in wrong gear while driving
- Speeding more than 30 mph in a 25 mph zone.
Yes, it's clear now that I failed. My heart was broken. I fold the paper and put it in my pocket. I didn't see that paper again until today. It was so vex. Hehehe..
A minimum of five business days is needed before re-testing. On the next Wednesday I practiced to drive based on my fault. I returned to DMV office again on the next day, Thursday, 23rd January 2014. I took a half day off again. I had no choice.
The same guy tested me again. I drove more carefully and slowly than before. I didn't want to do speed excess again. I did the test on the same road like before. He didn't say anything until we got back to the office. I had a horrible feeling. I saw that he wrote down something on my evaluation paper with a blue ink pen. What he wrote is:
- Went off the road when making turn on Parwood DR.
- Did not do over 20 mph when starting road test.
- Stop in middle of road when no stop sign is present.
DAMN!
I didn't pass again.
Suddenly I felt thirsty and hungry. I wanted to go shopping. Maybe buying 10 pounds of rice and 20 gallons of water will help. I could make puree.
But I had to go to work and tell everybody that I failed. I wanted to flee. Huaaa~
I couldn't believe it, Am I that dumb? Five times at DMV office is still not enough to make a drivers license. It was too much to bear. I had no energy to work and cook, I was dying, homesickness attacked me so bad, I wanted to buy TNT.
The snow came on Tuesday and my schedule to go to DMV again was on Thursday. I was in a dilemma. That was my first snow and I was supposed to be happy. I thought about my drivers license. The snow will be covered up the road and it's not safe to drive. The snow was messed up my plan.
I was nervous since the snow came. I was afraid that I couldn't pass the test again. I always awakened suddenly at 3 am on those last couple days. Arghhh...
Thursday was coming up. I took a half day off as usual and went to DMV AGAIN. Around 9 am I arrived there. I went to the registration corner and told the officer that I want to take a road test.
An officer came to me and said that I couldn't take a test at that time because of the snow on the road. It is dangerous for a new driver she said. That was exactly what I thought before. She added that she will check the road condition at 10 am and then decide can I or can't I have a test.
I was waiting for one hour there until an officer told my friend that we could have a test after lunch time. Hah! What a life..
Automatically I couldn't go to work at that day. I should completed this challenge. Oh My Lord...
At 12.30 am I came back there again. I was waiting eagerly for my turn. Finally, they called my ticket number. This time a different officer was my instructor. She looked nice and friendly. I felt a little bit relaxed.
She asked me the same thing as that guy officer. I drove on the same road and I did everything what I did before. Reverse - stop sign - 3PT - stop quickly, and so on. I was glancing at her paper, she didn't write anything there. Exhaled-inhaled. We spent around 15 minutes on the test and then went back to the office. In the parking lot she told me something.
"You pass"
"I pass?"
"Yes, you're doing good, let's go back to the office"
My heart was bursting, I almost cried.
"Thank you, thank you so much"
Ahhh... "you pass" are the most beloved words in this world.
I was so happy, finally.. finally.. My Lord..
In the office she asked me to sign a paper which showed that I can only drive my company's car. I can't drive my friend's car or somebody else's car. No problem.
She asked me again, "Do you want to be an organ donor?"
I said, "No, thanks"
The fee for a drivers license is $4.00. It is so much cheap but it needs a huge efforts. Really.
Then, I took a picture for my drivers license card. Probably I smiled too wide. I don't care, I'm happy. Hehehe.
Now I have a drivers license. I have been waiting for this license for a long time. I got it.
This is U.S.A. You've taught me something. Thanks. Gracias.
By the way, should I mention Indonesian drivers license laws?
So, what does this means? Yeah, finally I got my driver license yesterday, 30-1-2014. I've been waiting for this moment for four months.
Actually I have 2 kinds of drivers licenses in Indonesia, car and motorcycle. Driving for me is not a new thing, not a hobby, I drive because I need to drive. Especially in my hometown, Belitung Island, where is rarely people there use public transportation. I don't know how it starts. Is it because of the cost of public transportation is more expensive? Is it public transportation uncomfortable? Is it people just like to drive by themself? Is it faster? What I know is the number of personal motor vehicles are pretty much enough to mobilize people there.
Anyway, here I am, I need to have a driver license. A car license. It would be more comfortable to drive under the law and to feel confidence. Everybody knows, Indonesian license is not permitted here. Thus, I started my everything required to get a North Carolina drivers license.
Applying for a drivers license requires some documents, for non citizens or an intern like me the requirements are a car, unexpired inspection card, liability insurance (every vehicle must be insured by a company licensed in NC), social security card, passport, visa, J1 paper, and I-94 paper. The car belongs to my company, I just need to ask my supervisor about the inspection card and insurance and then completed other documents.
About 3 months ago, while waiting for the car documents I started to learn the driver's test. First, I need to know how to drive a-left-steer car. Yes, cars here use left steer. It was totally hard for me in the beginning, because in whole my life I only know how to drive a-right-steer car. It was becoming worst, it's not easy for me to considering left and right side.
My friend, Dewi, she said "Dedek, just remember the rule, whenever you drive or make a turn always be in the right side of the road. In intersection, if you get confuse, just remember, right, right, and right". She told me.
I did what she said, yes she's right, it is easier now.
I started to drive from house to work as a driving practice. I felt better day by day.
NC drivers license test divided into four steps.
1. Vision test, our vision must be checked to see that we meet certain standard.
2. Sign test, we must identify the traffic sign by their color and shape and explain what each means.
3. Written test, it is all about traffic laws and safe driving practice. This is the hardest one.
4. Road test, the last test, we will demonstrate on the road with an instructor beside us to perform our ability. Point of view of this test is:
- Approaches the intersection, traffic signal, and stop sign
- Backing
- Turn signal and use of the horn
- Following another vehicle
- Three point test
A couple days before I went to DMV (Division of Motor Vehicle) Office to had a test, I read the driving handbook. OMG, there are a lot of things that I should remember, traffic signs, the laws, points, and everything. It was a hard week. I always felt sleepy whenever I read the handbook. I also couldn't understand some words. Taking some exercise questions on www.driversprep.com. helped.
One day in October I went to DMV office. It was early in the morning. I gave all of my documents to the officer, she checked it and gave me a ticket number. I waited for around one hour until they called my number. I was so nervous.
I had a sit in front of the officer and waited her to input all of my data to the computer. Then she asked my hair, skin, and eye color. Everything was fine. First test was coming, she asked me to looked at the screen tool. It's like a microscope. I read every single numbers, alphabet, and explained the sign. I did vision and sign test well.
Written test was coming up after visual test. She explained to me that I can pass the test if I answer 20 from 25 question correctly. I can skip the question for five times and I will fail if I make five times mistakes. Got it. I took a seat and started to do the test. My heart was beating so fast. I tried to answer one by one the multiple choices question. Time flied so fast.
BOOM!
I failed! I only answered 16 questions correctly. T_T.
The kind of feeling, Oh My God... I didn't make it. I was so sad.
After failing that day, I learned the handbook seriously. I always opened the translater if I didn't know what the words meant. Failing is hurting.
A couple weeks after the first failing day I went to DMV office again. I prayed a lot in the early morning on that day. May God bless me so I will be able to answer correctly 20 questions. This second time the officer didn't ask me for vision and sign test, so I just directly did the written test after she input my data. I took some breathes deeply when I faced the computer. Bismillah.. Time ticks..
SNAP!
I failed! Again!
Just the same, 16 question correctly. What's beset on me? I didn't know what to do..
Failing two times just made me want to shopping and sleep on that day. Hahhaha~
On 13 December 2013 I went to DMV office again. Yea, for the third time. I already did my best to learn those driving laws and everything. I had no mission, what I knew is I don't wanna go back for this written test. I prayed and drank water a lot on that day. Hehehe~
This time, I read the questions carefully and took longer time to decided the best answer. I forgot how many times I breath deeply. I was so nervous. I answered one by one correctly.. Until I got stuck on question number 18. OMG! I already made five mistakes. OMG! OMG!
Numb...
I took a break, 5 minutes.. 10 minutes.. I still had no idea which option is the best answer. I wanna back home.. to Indonesia.. so I don't need to pass this test.
I was feeling too sleepy to make a decision. Okay, May God hear my prayer in the morning so I answered one of the options.
My Goodness! CORRECT!
Hah!
Yea, I did the same to the next question. I whispered to myself, "I will pass, I will pass, I will pass" continuously.
BANG!
The screen said "YOU PASS".
I made it!
I almost cried. I was so happy. Yeyeyeyyeee..
It was around 5 pm when I finished the written test. I couldn't do the road test on that day because the road test only can be done before 4 pm. So I got a learner permit. This permit means I can drive over the highways only with someone beside me who has a drivers license. The fee for this permit is $15.00.
However, I still need a driver license. I should pass the last test, road test.
On 15th January 2014 I went to DMV office 'again'. I took a half day off from work because it was on Wednesday. A weekday. I went there really early in the morning and arrived around 8 am. After registration and waiting for about an hour they called my ticket number. I entered the room and the officer input my data on his computer. I was so nervous. My hands were cold.
I did the vision test again before doing the road test. Not bad, I still remember each sign.
The road test began. I entered the car. The officer asked me to turn on the left sign, right sign, honk horn, and push the break. He asked me to exit the parking lot. He guided me to the test road. I made right turn, drove carefully, stopped at stop signs, made a three point turnabout, and reversed. It was just 15 minutes on the road and then we went back to the office. He asked me to park the car in a certain spot. I had a bad feeling. He didn't say anything. I followed him to his room. He wrote down something on my road test evaluation with a red ink pen. Hmm. Here is what he wrote:
- Stop quickly and chock rear
- Must stay on the road during 3PT (three point turnabout)
- Practice backing
- Come to a complete stop at all stop signs
- Put vehicle in wrong gear while driving
- Speeding more than 30 mph in a 25 mph zone.
Yes, it's clear now that I failed. My heart was broken. I fold the paper and put it in my pocket. I didn't see that paper again until today. It was so vex. Hehehe..
A minimum of five business days is needed before re-testing. On the next Wednesday I practiced to drive based on my fault. I returned to DMV office again on the next day, Thursday, 23rd January 2014. I took a half day off again. I had no choice.
The same guy tested me again. I drove more carefully and slowly than before. I didn't want to do speed excess again. I did the test on the same road like before. He didn't say anything until we got back to the office. I had a horrible feeling. I saw that he wrote down something on my evaluation paper with a blue ink pen. What he wrote is:
- Went off the road when making turn on Parwood DR.
- Did not do over 20 mph when starting road test.
- Stop in middle of road when no stop sign is present.
DAMN!
I didn't pass again.
Suddenly I felt thirsty and hungry. I wanted to go shopping. Maybe buying 10 pounds of rice and 20 gallons of water will help. I could make puree.
But I had to go to work and tell everybody that I failed. I wanted to flee. Huaaa~
I couldn't believe it, Am I that dumb? Five times at DMV office is still not enough to make a drivers license. It was too much to bear. I had no energy to work and cook, I was dying, homesickness attacked me so bad, I wanted to buy TNT.
The snow came on Tuesday and my schedule to go to DMV again was on Thursday. I was in a dilemma. That was my first snow and I was supposed to be happy. I thought about my drivers license. The snow will be covered up the road and it's not safe to drive. The snow was messed up my plan.
I was nervous since the snow came. I was afraid that I couldn't pass the test again. I always awakened suddenly at 3 am on those last couple days. Arghhh...
Thursday was coming up. I took a half day off as usual and went to DMV AGAIN. Around 9 am I arrived there. I went to the registration corner and told the officer that I want to take a road test.
An officer came to me and said that I couldn't take a test at that time because of the snow on the road. It is dangerous for a new driver she said. That was exactly what I thought before. She added that she will check the road condition at 10 am and then decide can I or can't I have a test.
I was waiting for one hour there until an officer told my friend that we could have a test after lunch time. Hah! What a life..
Automatically I couldn't go to work at that day. I should completed this challenge. Oh My Lord...
At 12.30 am I came back there again. I was waiting eagerly for my turn. Finally, they called my ticket number. This time a different officer was my instructor. She looked nice and friendly. I felt a little bit relaxed.
She asked me the same thing as that guy officer. I drove on the same road and I did everything what I did before. Reverse - stop sign - 3PT - stop quickly, and so on. I was glancing at her paper, she didn't write anything there. Exhaled-inhaled. We spent around 15 minutes on the test and then went back to the office. In the parking lot she told me something.
"You pass"
"I pass?"
"Yes, you're doing good, let's go back to the office"
My heart was bursting, I almost cried.
"Thank you, thank you so much"
Ahhh... "you pass" are the most beloved words in this world.
I was so happy, finally.. finally.. My Lord..
In the office she asked me to sign a paper which showed that I can only drive my company's car. I can't drive my friend's car or somebody else's car. No problem.
She asked me again, "Do you want to be an organ donor?"
I said, "No, thanks"
The fee for a drivers license is $4.00. It is so much cheap but it needs a huge efforts. Really.
Then, I took a picture for my drivers license card. Probably I smiled too wide. I don't care, I'm happy. Hehehe.
Now I have a drivers license. I have been waiting for this license for a long time. I got it.
This is U.S.A. You've taught me something. Thanks. Gracias.
By the way, should I mention Indonesian drivers license laws?
KEREN..., 2 jempol.. :D
BalasHapusThanks Utin..
BalasHapus