Licensing Part 2

For those of you who did not know, I successfully obtained my driver's license in Japan. I bring this up now because first of all, I forgot to update you on this achievement, but also because a close friend of mine, T, just recently went through the licensing battle here in Oita.

When I spoke of this last, I was detailing my drama getting together all of the paperwork and setting aside the time and money to successfully obtain the privilege (as this country would have it) to drive in Japan as a foreigner. Licensing Part 1 Well, when B and I went to the driving center for the first time on the designated day, we spent 3 hours being told we did not have the proper paperwork and thus wasting my day of paid vacation, as well as B's and no licenses. We were unaware we would be required to provide proof that we had resided in America for a period of at least one year while in possession of a driver's license. Apparently a passport is not enough proof of this as we were informed we would need a copy of bills, transcripts or tax forms to prove we actually physically resided in the country. Not a big issue for me because I was planning on returning to America in early July and could obtain any evidence needed, but a big deal for B who moved around a lot in the months before coming to Japan and burned her paper trail behind her.

The problem for me arose in the form of nenkyuu (paid vacation), as my journey saw me back in America in July gathering paperwork to signify my presence in America during the times listed in my passport. I was also there to visit my sick mom. It required all the rest of my time off and thus when I returned to Japan in mid-July, I still had no license and now had no time off with which to take the exam. My second year on contract would not begin until August 2nd and my license expired on August 1st.

For future reference, I really should have just printed off a copy of my transcript (although the driving center swears up and down they cannot take copies, I have heard no stories of people unsuccessfully handing in internet printed papers) and taken the driving test before I went to America. Either way, when I returned from my trip, my wonderful boss Mr. S ghetto-rigged a way fro me to use the last remaining half-day of my nenkyuu and to work half a day on a weekend to give me the full day I would need to go to the driving center. This did mean I had to pass on the first time if I planned on doing this before my license expired.

You may be wondering why it was such a big deal for me to get the new license before my old one expired. Well, to be honest, it probably was not that big of a deal, but the licensing center can only be reached by car and my boss as well as everyone I knew worked during the day so I would really have no way of accessing the center unless I paid a taxi driver. Looking back I probably had resources in the form of my neighbors and some student's parents, but at the time it felt like life or death.

Anyway, I went to the testing center the Saturday before my exam and practiced on the real course for an hour with a Japanese friend, then on July 28th took my first attempt at the test. People have since told me it was a miracle, but I passed on the first try. There were still some issues, considering I was in such a state of nervousness that I wore the wrong type of shoes to the exam and actually had to test in my indoor gym shoes, but my driving instructor was very kind and passed me right along.

I got to the center in the morning and was asked to wait for an hour while they sifted through my paperwork and prepared the written portion of the exam. Once it was my turn I was led to the back and questioned pretty thoroughly about the details of my permit and licensing history in America, all the way down to how many questions were on the written exam of my licensing exam in high school driver's education. Once that was finished I took the ten question multiple choice test (missing one question because I legitimately did not know you could change lanes when the there was a solid white line - for reference it is only solid yellow lines that mark lane changing prohibition). I then had to wait for another 2 hours for the driving instructor to meet me (I would be the last person to test for the day) and he first drew the course on a whiteboard to make sure I knew it, giving me a few tips along the way, then he drove me through the course. Then, it was my turn. I started out really nervous and thus slammed the gas a little funny a few times but he told me to take a deep breath and relax and from then on we chatted about his family and kids while I drove through the course. Once we were done, he shook my hand, told me congratulations and escorted me upstairs where the staff all proclaimed that miracles can in fact happen.

I am now the proud owner of a Japanese driver's license which, although it should be renewed occasionally, is good for the rest of my life. Good luck on your own tests and be warned that I only know three other JETs in my area who passed on the first time. The average seems to be about three tries though can go up to over 7.

Here is a link to the driving information I used for my licensing test for reference if you are reading this blog as a guide. Oita Licensing

Love!