Journal lingqi's Journal: July 10th, 2003 3
July 10th, 2003 (5:10pm)
The cool thing that happened yesterday was that I have, on the third try, got my japanese driver's license. Manual transmission OK. I think the approporiate emoticon would be (^o^)V
Actually, yesterday was probably the most unlikely day for me to get the license, or seemed to be the most inconvenient thereof. I turned off my alarm in a half-awake state, and ensured that I got up late (no shower, no shave), and I also almost got there late, which means I almost didn't make the test in the morning; but everything, i guess, worked out. Well of course that does not go for my license picture, which is about the most unflattering license picture I have ever had.
*just gone through the half dozen or so IDs I carry around my pocket, and yup, the japanese driver's license definitly has it worst.*
So, without rehashing all the fun of the actual test part, this is what happens when you take the other (winner's) branch after the test.
First and foremost, you wait, and wait, and wait. Actually it wasn't so excruciating because for some reason (might have something to do with lack of breakfast) I was very tired that day, and waiting enabled me to get in some quite nice naps. At 12:00, the testing is officially over, and anybody who did not get a chance to take it would then have to come back at 1:30 in the afternoon. By that time, we were all aware of the pass / fail rations: out of 14 foreigners that took the test, 4 passed. For two other guys, this was their fourth time, this was third time for me, and I forgot to ask the other lady.
After lunch (nothing eventful at lunch except calling everybody I know and bragging about passing the test - hardly giving myself any time to actually chew food), we all came back and waited at a separate waiting area in front of the elevators. Between the japanese and the foreigners, there was maybe just over a dozen of us. However, I know for a fact there was at least four times as many that took a test that morning.
When the guy finally came (i guess i should call him kyokan (æ(TM)å®)), he lined us up in a straight line - highschool PE (physical education) style, all facing him. Then he distributed to each of us a card and today's application form, and went on for about 15 minutes on verifying every single item on the card, repeating many times that the card was not to be torn by us at the perforation.
And then, we all did a 90-turn left (so now we are in a single-file line) and headed downstairs. It reminded me so much of a school's diciplinary actions thing that it was just... weird. I mean, a bunch of adults (who are not prisoners nor military) walking around like we are at some kind of highly instituted facility... We headed toward where they took the eye exams, and apparently they had photo-booths there.
While walking, i noticed that if the amount of smile is quantifiable, the said quantity in our single file line would exceed the combined sum of the rest of the building.
The machine for photo-taking is almost completely automated. it is very obvious this photographing system is intended for this purpose and this purpose alone. The application form and the little card one recieves are both inputted into the machine, and after the picture is taken, i believe the information on the card (be it written or printed) are transfered onto the final license, and a copy of the picture is printed onto the application form. I wonder how many people recieves licenses for such a custom machine.
Afterwards, we head (the foreigners seem to have somehow separated from the other guys at this point) upstairs to a row of counters just outside of the road-test lounge, there we plucked down 1,750 yen for the actual license. You get a sheet of paper back for that money, the letters on which are blocky due to repeated copying of copies. I was so happy that I forgot to ask for a reciept.
With that done (merged somehow with the japanese guys again) we head back to where we started, again standing in line, as if we were war heros recieving our decorations (I decided that thinking of us as prisoners lining up for whippings wasn't quite as pleasant).
Within the time it took to pay that 1,750 yen, the license cards have been printed and the kyokan handed them out one by one. Once you copy all the information from the license card to that sheet of paper, you are free to go and roll on the bed naked with your new license. (no I did not do, or remotely consider doing this)
All in all, the afternoon session took less than 45 minutes, a perfect waste of half days' vacation. But as one can imagine, I didn't at all mind.
I should mention that July 7th (just a while ago) is tanabata (äfå). Actually I already mentioned this, but: Japanese seem to have some special affinity about hanging wishes on a plant. Because they do almost the same thing at christmas with christmas trees. In the mall (Daiei in Kumagaya closed down, and was re-opened as nitton-mall), they also had a bamboo and a table besides it with wish-paper that you can hang. The poor plant was so full of the said paper strips (technically, colorful plastic strips, kind of like what your grocery bag is made of, except thicker), it seemed like it would fall over from the tremendous weight of the paper and the even more excruciating weight of the wishes.
I didn't bother reading through those (though I noticed that people have a tendency to put cartoon characters there to show off their manga skills), but i did read some from the less populated bamboo on my floor in the company, some examples:
* Won't some customers please buy some more testers so we can get bonus this year
* I wish I can speak english
* Better food at the cafeteria
sounds more like a suggestion box, actually...
Anyhow, july 7th should be according to the old calendar (chinese lunar calendar), but apparently in japan they take it according to the western one. But I guess they are still largly remembering it - while this fairy tale (or, certainly the celebration thereoff) has fell to the waysides in china a long time ago. So as much as the dates are a little off, I shouldn't complain too much.
Congratulations! (Score:2)
Total Congrats man.. (Score:1)
I've gotta tell you, I've been reading this journal daily, almost from the day you started, and you've now been an inspiration to me.
If you wanna check it out (I won't be hurt if you don't lol).. I've posted a blog for a journal now too.
I recently (2 days ago) started a temporary transfer to Costa Rica. I'm from Toronto, so its a very nice change of scenary.
So lingqi, (or anyone else who reads this) if you wanna check it out, it's over at http [vgmfusion.com]
Re:Total Congrats man.. (Score:1)
I will most definitely check out your trips to costa rica. It doesn't have to pale in comparason to japan, though - my spanish teacher (who was like a spanish-speaking parrot, if that makes any sense) was from there, and to produce a character like her, the place has got to be interesting. =)