I am not sure what is in store for me Friday (1-22)- but I'm trying to be steadfastly hopeful.I'm heading to the Japanese Drivers test site tomorrow.
This will be my 3rd time there. (For review see this and this).
Tomorrow I'm making the 2 hour train ride to the site to wait in line to reschedule a time to take the driving test. Then I'll make the 2 hour train ride home. Why don't I just save some train time and call to make an appointment? Well let me replay the phone call when I tried to do just that . . .
It went something like this (note- its all in Japanese)
Me: Hello, I um, I need to . .
Official - something really fast in Japanese
Me - Excuse me, can you please repeat that more slowly?
Official - Something in Japanese all I caught was the word for appointment
Me - I'd like to make an appointment again.
Official - Something in Japanese - I caught - the words for no, can't, and appointment.
Me - I'm sorry I don't understand, can you say that again please.
Official -(impatiently)- Is there someone with you that understands Japanese?
Me - (trying to stay calm & trying to speak in the most polite language I can remember) I'm sorry but no else is here. Please, kindly repeat yourself again more slowly this time.
Official - something about this number is only for people with appointments.
Me- I'm sorry, but I had an appointment scheduled but could not come that day and could not call - the phone made a busy noise. I tried again and heard a recording.
Official -(in an annoyed voice) something about not calling before the test was very bad and I must come to the office to schedule.
Me - I'm sorry, did you say I must go to the office to reschedule?
Official (seeming a little relieved to have got at least one point across to this dumb foreigner). Yes, that is correct.
Me - (trying not to let him hear me cry) I'm sorry but it takes 2 hours by train just to get to the office. Is there another way to make an appointment?
Official - (sounding a bit nervous that I'm crying but still annoyed with me) No, you must come to the office - only way - very bad of you to not reschedule same day.
Me - Thank you very much for your kindness, - I understand (kashikomarimashita) I'm very sorry.
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I had to remind myself after I hung up the phone -A) this Japanese person was only trying to do his job B) No matter how dumb I felt - even 6 months ago communicating with him on the phone would not have been possible for me in Japanese. And C) Life will go on even without a drivers license!
When I told my Japanese teacher about this phone call (in Japanese) she was surprised to hear they wouldn't at least use phone or fax to make an appointment, she offered to call the office for me. She let her voice be heard and was an amazing advocate for me and other foreigners taking this test. But alas - the answer was the same.
Note to others taking the driving test here: learn from my experience - don't let this happen to you!
Please pray for me to get an appointment soon and PASS! I know of people who are VERY good drivers who took the test 8 times before passing! My US drivers license expires soon and its harder (and way-way more expensive) to get a Japanese license without a valid US license. Plus, since I'm from MN renewing my US license means a lot of paperwork, and a vision test in Japan using US measurements.
But like I said - I'm trying to remain steadfastly hopeful! I know nothing is impossible with God - yet I'm wondering what He's trying to teach me through this.
- HONK! Ready or not, here I come!
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