Driving, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

I caught the last flight to Nagasaki on Thursday night. Not having made reservations at any hotel, I lucked out after only a little walking around. Concerned that part of my problem last time had been a lack of concentration, I didn't even bother taking pictures on the way in. I even went so far as to go straight to bed Thursday night and not have any fun until after the test.

The next morning, I fell into an unpleasantly familiar routine: getting on the bus for the driving test center, passing by the accursed course, and entering the building still so fresh on my mind. Of course, it hadn't changed. Since I had finished the eye exam and written test last time, I thankfully didn't have to take those again. I checked in at the correct desk, hoping for the kindly and exceedingly helpful lady from last time. There was only a kindly and younger man, though, and he informed me that I was an hour early.

So I killed some time strolling around the building and pretending to have the concentration available to read. I checked back in, and he gave me the lowdown: the path used today would be the one I didn't drive last time. I had forgotten my map, so he gave me another one, and walked me through it. I made a point to ask him about speed, wanting to verify that there was only one place I needed to maintain a high speed. He confirmed it for me, and told me when I could come back to walk the course.

I made my way to the exact same kaitenzushi restaurant from last time. On the way there, the way back, and throughout my meal, I was reviewing the general rules: pump your brakes before stopping, check your blind spots constantly, look over your left shoulder before making a left turn in case of bicyclists, come to a complete stop at railroad crossings and roll your window down to listen for approaching trains, and for God's sake, change lanes before getting to the stoplight.

As stuffed with sushi as I felt safe being, considering my nervousness, I headed back to the driving center. I walked the course just like last time, and had to make a conscious effort not to look for caterpillars or butterflies. (Thankfully, the chilly weather had driven away most of them.) I was even less inhibited than last time, going so far as to walk really fast at the part where I was supposed to speed up, then walk really slowly the rest of the way, especially at places where I had to turn. I even made it a point to physically move my head to check mirrors and blind spots every few steps. There weren't many people on the course, but even had there been, I wouldn't have cared anyway.

The exam time slowly approached, and the proctors came out, started up the cars, and took them on warm-up laps. Everyone slowly gathered at the starting place. The proctors entered the room and had people move based on which test they were taking. (Most of the people were Japanese citizens taking the test, with a few taking the same test I was.) I found the right group, and took comfort from being able to understand significantly more of what the guy said than I did last time. The stern-looking guy who tested me last time was doing the full Japanese test today, leaving the guy I'd talked to that morning to handle my test.

After walking us through the test, he reminded us of rules like remember your safety belt; remember the parking brake; if you bump the curb it's not the end of the world, but you automatically fail if you go up and over the curb. That done, he asked if there were any questions.

When there were none, he announced that I was to be the first one to go.