In Pakistan, if you are influential, semi-influential or remotely influential then it is really easy for you to get your driving license at your doorstep without you even making a formal request for it. And trust me, then it shows on our roads well. With so many roads made in the urban cities and still no sense of driving – we know what the root causes are but we would stay silent unless somebody fix the basic building block – the compulsion of taking a driving test!

Khair, things are totally different in the developed countries and this is from where – my love story begins.

As soon as we landed in Sydney, my husband wanted both of us to take the driving test together. Although, I sheepishly kept emphasizing upon other priorities in life and how my driving test can wait until infinite number of years but he kept forcing me to do the needful at its earliest.

I told him that the public transport system is great and totally facilitate mothers with double prams but he was of the view that a car is a basic necessity and that once I will pass the test, I’ll be forever indebted to him :O)

Khair, here you get the learner license upon passing a written exam and in case you have your license (from your home country which is more than 3 years old) then you can get the full license as soon as you pass the driving test which can happen anytime after getting the learner license.

Ab apki dost ka license to janab was made on her birthday :/ tu it was understandable that I was getting the full license upon passing the driving test per woh pass kis nay kerna tha? 😕

Passing the written exam was easy. It took me 4-5 days to get hang of the things and then I started clearing the sample test every time I took it. And then on one fine day, we both left our kids at our relative’s place and went for the learner test.

It was a good day for both of us and we came home with flying colors. But like I said earlier, the hardest part had yet to come. People generally take driving classes to understand the road rules and polish the maneuvers and other driving skills but it costs you an arm and a leg here.

About 95% of the people I met here had passed the test in the third and fourth attempt so the pressure was really high. Here driving is actually complex especially if you have a desi driving background. My weakest area was ‘shoulder check’ i.e. to turn your head right or left upon changing the lane or taking a turn. Life was, all of a sudden, very hard :/

We booked a driving class which was offering a 50% discount on the first two hours. Idea was to get ourselves assessed and see where we stood. It was a double bonus for both of us because we somehow convinced our driving instructor to assess us in the same class. He was, to our luck, was not the greedy sort and agreed.

He told us the maneuvers and after thoroughly assessing our driving skills gave us his final verdict. According to him, we both were driving well but needed practice on the road, understanding the road signals and doing the maneuvers. He said that we better do it ourselves. His role ended rather quickly from our lives and there began the story of my life!!!

Since we got our assessment done two weeks prior to our test hoping that we might end up taking multiple classes, the first week was spent rather lazily doing absolutely nothing. When the second week approached, the husband announced that he will teach me the stuff during the same time our test was booked to understand the traffic flow during that particular slot. Idea was good, and hence, we loaded the kids at the backseat and started our practice.

And then those things started happening which are usually happened between a husband and a wife (sorry to burst your bubble – no adult content here) :/ He pinpointed a mistake and I listened to him once – then he said something the second time – and I tried listening to him the second time as well but then when he said something again (of course about my driving) – I exploded :O) *dhuzzum dhuzzum dhuzzum*

All the wives in this world will be super happy that I somehow manipulated this into him not being a good and empathetic husband ( makes me laugh now) and then a fight broke. The practice session got jeopardized and we came home.

Day 2: We went again for the test practice. And we found ourselves in the same state of affairs. When he would practice, I would comment not only on his driving but also the way he generally is. I need to make a disclaimer here that he is the best life partner one can think of – this ‘teacher-teacher’ role playing was sucking big time. Our second day practice got so much colored with our irrelevant exchange of statements that we had to stop the practice there and then and again we came home.

The fun part was that as soon as we landed back home, we were alright, chatting and laughing and doing our business as if nothing had happened. We had asked our instructor to assess us one last time before the test day and to our surprise, he kindly refused because of his prior commitments.

Chulain ho gaya hamara kaam !

I started pushing dear husband to postpone my date but he refused, saying that I was a good driver and needed to take the test. Even it was meant to fail, he urged me to take it as a lesson. With very heavy heart, I agreed.

On the date of our test, kids accompanied us. When you are in a different country, managing your kids is a bigger challenge then one can imagine. We had hired the instructor’s car for the test and my exam was scheduled before my husband’s.

Upon inquiring we got to know that our examiner, by chance, was the same. My husband was to take care of the kids until the time I had to come back and then it was my turn. This was quite an uncomfortable arrangement for the kids but we had no choice.

When I told the examiner that the back seats have car seats on them as my kids are here too and so is my husband – she got really amused and commented: “Oh, the whole clan is here for the test!!!” and I was like “:|”.

Anyway, the test duration was 45 minutes. This time duration had given me goosebumps. I mean, I imagined this to be a lot of time. Anyhow, we got onto the road and was given clear instructions to make certain maneuvers and take the car on a route. I wont lie but I was tensed. I had been driving for the past 11 years but never had been judged like this before.

Other than the instructor’s voice on giving me instruction, there was a visible quietness in the car. We came back at the prescribed time and she asked me to wait for a bit before she completes her paperwork.

And then, the moment of truth came. She called me and congratulated me. I had passed the test in my first attempt.

 

*drum rolls*

 

I was very very happy but you need to believe me that my husband was the happiest. He was my teacher. Had given me non-stop piece of advise, made me read and memorize the rules, worked on my weak area and convinced me into taking the test at first place.

We were so unbelievably happy that we started dancing in their office. Our kids joined us – It was a full DDLJ scene minus the fields.

Right after this small act of craziness, my husband was called upon and then he left. 45 minutes later he came back with the similar result. We both had passed the test on the same day – we both were each other’s instructors. We were really really happy. You can’t imagine :))

But the story doesn’t end here my friends. I called back home in Pakistan and told my family how jubilant I was upon getting the driving license and perhaps they yawned over it – lol. I had to explain them the terror associated with failing the driving test but in no vain. A moment after hearing this story, my pretty mother was updating me with something extremely irrelevant ‘dooooooor-k-rishatar’ ki detail. lol. Masooom log xoxo

Anyway, my friends – that is that. Please do not follow this post in case you are taking a driving test. We were good drivers (pats my own shoulder), picked up the rules, found a ‘not-so-picky’ examiner or may be – we got just lucky :!

And in case your test is due and you have actually gone through the whole post hoping you might find some hacks – here they are!

1. Driving test in the first world countries are more so about judging your temperament against the people/things/environment in general. They get an idea how good you are in the first 5 minutes may be – may be less. They just want to check your patience and empathy. You need to give way to other people, you must be vigilant and informed of the things happening around you and act accordingly. Be patient, never show any hurry. LIKE NEVER EVER show any hurry.
2. Talk to your friends and family who have taken the test and failed unfortunately and then memorize the lesson out of it. We are all similar people and tend to make similar mistakes. But when you hear the outcome pretty loud and clear – that’s when it becomes a deal breaker. I talked to a million people and asked them why they failed. And most of the times I felt that I might have done the same – but then I took a mental note – ALWAYS.
3. Work on your weak area – like a champion.
4. Know your route. Usually all the driving school instructors take you to the same route where actual test happens. Pick the same time (rush hour/school zone and speed limit) and practice on the same road. Memorize the signs – work on your speed limit. Not only your driving should be good but your memory and general body language should also be ready for the test.
5. Practice (unlike me).
6. I actually saw few VLOGS on understanding the maneuvers and read the book on driving which is available online. Sometimes, you are more good at retaining information when you read/watch them. I’m a better reader so I read the rules. They help!

I hope you will get some benefit out of this.

Good luck to you and yeah, let’s drive now!