Driving License Part 1!

We ventured to the License Center to go through part one of our driving test this week. Thankfully, we were accompanied by two women from our relocation company because we would have been clueless. What an experience nonetheless!

First, we arrived by train at 9:30 to the License center only to take a number (we were 7 and 8 and the numbers started at 4) and wait.....and wait.....and wait. Finally at 11:45, they called us back to go over our paperwork. Remember, last week, I had to go and get our US licenses translated. Then, we had to have our passports so they could figure out how long we have been in and out of the US and Japan. We also had to have pictures, money (of course), our alien registration cards, and some other forms. We go into the office and they begin going through our documents. Suddenly, they start firing questions....1. How many questions were on your ORIGINAL (yes, when I was 16) drivers test? 2. How many hours of drivers education and driving experience did you have before you got your license? 3. What types of questions were on your written test? 4. What types of things were you asked to do during your driving test?
5. What is your mother's blood type? (Just kidding on that one...but you get the picture).

Next, they start looking in the passports. They notice that for Bryce, he once went to Europe in 2005 and got an entry stamp but not an exit one. So then they are accusing him of living in Europe. Oh my goodness....it was crazy. Finally, we got to take the written test.

For the written test, it was 10 questions and we had 5 minutes to take it. Here are a few examples: (we thought they would bring a smile to your face)
They are all true and false!
1. When crossing a railway you should gear down so you can accelerate quicker if needed.
2. With a yellow blinking light, you can go through the intersection without paying attention to other drivers
3. If you are in a hurry it is okay if you do not slow down for an ambulance.

They are funny. You can go to : http://www.japandriverslicense.com/writtentest.asp and see lots more questions and even take the practice tests yourself.
Anyway, both of us passed not missing any questions...secretly hoping that the other would just miss one to hold it over their head :0) Then we had to go down and make an appointment to come back and take the driving test.

The driving test we have heard is just about impossible to pass the first time. On the website above, you can also see the driving course we have to go through. Not fun! Now, we are to come back on the 24th at 9:30 in the morning. Then, we take a number and we wait until NOON! At that time, we can go and walk the driving course. At 1pm, they will begin the driving test. You drive in their cars, not your own. If you fail, you get to go home, if you pass, you have to wait until 4pm that afternoon before they will issue your license. I am still deciding if I want to pass this thing or not :0)
More to come later this month!