...After my first test failure, I promised you my next post would be about successfully passing the theory test. Did I manage to do it? I will tell you now.
So, after a failed first attempt, I had to wait at least ten days to get a chance to try again. I studied hard and passed tests on the official website. Frankly, they are absurd. It is not enough for you to know the road rules to pass the terrorist driving test at the service center. You should know precisely the particular answers to the difficulties. For example, the question: "Should the driver have a medical certificate with him during practical driving while studying at a driving school?". I choose the answer "yes" - it is logical. However, I see on the monitor that my answer is incorrect. Okay, but why? I go to the link and read the comment to the correct answer. And now, it is important to read: "According to the legislation of Ukraine, a driver learning to drive must have a medical certificate. So the correct answer is 'yes,' but you must choose 'no' during the test.” Do you think I'm kidding? No, this information is taken from the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. And there are many such absurd questions. Twisted, illogical, such impressions as if deliberately made to confuse you as much as possible.
It is not a secret for anyone that there was and still is an acute corruption problem in Ukraine. Obtaining a driver's license is precisely where money is “well laundered.” If you bring 200-300 dollars to the people who “need it,” someone will remotely control your computer mouse upon request. All that remains of such a person is to come for a test in person and pretend she is pressing something. Everyone scared me that passing the theoretical exam without a bribe was impossible. Even if I want to, I will go there ten more times until they feel sorry for me and pass the exam. However, are these myths true?
I'll be honest: no one offered me to pay a bribe. Polite young people work in the service center; they take my documents and me to the exam room. Neither the first nor the second time there will be even a hint that I need to pay. And in general, in my life, I rarely encountered the corruption problem. To be more precise, it exists, but if you add more effort, you can settle your affairs honestly and without unnecessary costs. According to my observations, where young personnel work, corruption is much lower. This is a good indicator because, during the war, the most significant blow and rethinking of life fell precisely in the age category of 20-40. I lost several friends in the war. They were incredible young men with whom I studied at school and university, people who were intelligent and talented, excellent and ambitious. Their death should not be in vain; Ukrainians have no right to return to the order that prevailed during the Soviet Union.
So that's why I won't pay any bribe for a driver's license. I am ready to put in a lot of effort and learn because, first of all, it is my safety. Getting a driver's license is easy, but what to do in an actual situation on the road? What will happen if someone gets hurt because of my irresponsibility? I would never forgive myself for such a mistake. I can say that I am even glad that I failed to pass this test the first time. I made mistakes because of gaps in my knowledge, which must be admitted. Only I was to blame for that. However, the second attempt was successful, and I passed the exam without any mistakes.😎
Now it's time to start practical driving lessons. I got a great instructor. He has a good sense of humor and is very calm. I had my first driving lesson on Friday. I couldn't wait for this day because I visited car showrooms in Lviv at the beginning of the week, choosing a car for myself, and I felt excited about touching the vehicles and imagining myself in the role of a driver. This feeling of possibilities helped me prepare for the test more persistently.
Because until that moment, until I found the car of my dreams, until I sat in it and realized that it was a reality and that it could become mine, I had no such motivation. So now I know how my brain works; for it to run at full power, I need to see what I want.
The first class occurred in a parking lot near a shopping center in Lviv. I am learning to drive a car with a Peugeot 301 manual transmission. Driving such a car is much more complex than with an automatic transmission, but as they say, "when it's hard to learn, it's easy to fight.”
The driving instructor immediately invited me to sit in the driver's seat. I was a little confused because I thought he would show me what and how it works in the first few minutes. However, as often in my life, I do something I have never done before without any preparation.😄I worried this was a new challenge but didn't want to show it. He explained to me what and how it works in the car for a few minutes and told me to start the engine. I smoothly release the clutch pedal, and the vehicle begins to move. My heart started to jump out of my chest. I couldn't figure out what to do next, but in a few seconds, I could control my excitement and drove the first few meters by car. The first class lasted an hour and a half, and I was exhausted. Physically, it is not difficult, but the constant tension in my body and brain made itself felt. I returned home happy because I took another step towards meeting my dream. All night after that, I had dreams in which I was driving a car through Lviv. However, there were no beautiful views in these dreams. I only saw the clutch, gas, brake pedals, gearbox, and right and left turn switches.😅I suspect that my brain analyzed the received information during sleep and tried to systematize it.
On Saturday, I had another practical session and felt much more confident this time. I drove around the parking lot, went to the second floor, tried to learn basic parking techniques, and moved at a slightly higher speed. However, I am still afraid to go on the road. I want to hone basic movements and feel confident. The driving instructor supports my position; he says I'm doing well, but I'm too worried about doing everything perfectly. In real life, it won't be like that. There are different drivers, and everyone has their driving style, so for me not to be afraid to get behind the wheel, I should move on to a new, more complex stage only when I get bored and want to try driving on the road myself.
I like driving and look forward to the next lesson to improve my skills. My dad jokes that when I go home to my village, I should warn everyone in my town not to go outside that day because it will be too dangerous for them.😅Let's see what will happen...