Ben came home from work early today and picked me up to take me to take my driving test so I can get a USAER Liscense. The class started at 12:30, went until around 2:15 and then we started the test. They went over the german driving laws, some are different, others the same in the US. There is no speed limit on some parts of the autoban here, but the reccommended speed is 130K (80mph). Because of the high speeds your tires have to have a certain amount of tred and you have to have winter tires to drive from Oct - Easter (it's against the law if you don't). You also have to keep a special first aid kit and warning triangle in your car - but not in the trunk. The person going straight through the intersection does not have the right of way. Whoever is to your right goes first, if there is no one on your right then you can go. Another thing that I was raving about on a previous blog is the fact that you have to get two liscenses in order to drive out of Germany (just like we need two passports to travel out of country.) Apparently this is not the military's fault, it is the rest of Europe that is the problem. Certain countries won't accept a USAER driver's liscense, you need an international liscense. One example: England accepts the USAER Liscense, but France does not. You have to drive through France to get on the boat to England. Therefore, you need the international liscense to travel to England but not in England. I guess there are hefty fines involved. Similar to this is a safety vest that you have to keep in your car, not in the trunck. If you must get out of the car to get the vest you get fined.
So, I take the test and finish by 3, get a 92% and go to my eye exam.
My vision has gotten worse since having had my boys (yes, I am blaming it on pregnancy, not age) and my eye exam isn't until March. I have been stressing about wether or not I will be able to pass my eye exam so before I left for my test, Ben stuck his glasses in my pocket. We have come to the moment of truth. The examiner tells me to cover my right eye and read line B. It looked like a long black blob on the white paper. Well, not exactly that bad. I could distinguish a few letters, but not enough. Reluctantly I pulled out the glasses, put them on and read the line. So, the examiner marked "corrective lenses" on my liscense. That was the first step down from my high of passing the test.
The second step down (actually, the FALL down) from that high was when I pulled my phone out of my purse and turned it on (they made us turn our phones off for the test.) When it powered up it asked for a PIN. I started to panic. The first pin - wrong. The second pin - wrong. Two tries left before it locks me out. Wrong. Wrong. A message that says this phone can only be used for emergency calling appeared. Great. Did I have the house phone number or any phone numbers written down? Of course not (this is a bad habit that my generation has gotten into thanks to cell phones.)
I remembered calling Ben before the test to find out his office phone number because I had to fill it out on the form. I found my form, asked the examiner if I could use the phone and started calling hoping someone would answer and have my husband's number and could call him. If they couldn't call him maybe they could call the LT or our friend who works there and they could get in touch with Ben. I tried three times with no answer. There was noone in the office. Well, I thought, I'll just take the bus back to PHV (housing). I asked someone in the lobby where the bus stop was and headed out. The sun was shining, but it was still a little chilly. I got to the stop and checked the schedule. The next bus was supposed to come at 3:09. What time was it now? I had no watch and the clock on my phone was not visible because it was locked.
I walked into the USO to check the time and out the window I see the bus! I ran out of the buidling and across the parking lot to try to catch it. I didn't even come close to making it. I walk back into the USO and ask them if they have the phone number to the MP's on post. Maybe one of them will have my husband's number or someone elses number who has it. While she was searching for a number I saw another bus outside. I ran out and asked the driver if he was going to PHV. No, he was going to Manheim. As I was walking away, dissappointed, he yelled out "Next bus 5:08." By this time it was almost 3:30. Two soldiers got off the bus as he was yelling that and pointed out the spot to wait at. They told me that sometimes people will stop and give you a ride if they see you are sitting there waiting for the bus. They attempted to unlock my phone but couldn't. They told me I could go to the inprocessing center and they would probably have a number for the MP's. So, I walk over there and the friendly man at the counter and I start calling operators. We try several numbers and someone finally picks up. I asked if they had my husband's number. No, but they know who he is. What about our friend who works there. Yes! I write down her number, call it, it rings....and she picks up!! Yay!!!
I tell her what's going on and she said she will call my husband and tell him to pick me up. Finally! What a life-saver she is. I stand outside for what feels like eternity waiting on Ben to get there (it takes a while to load up the kids, drive up there, and get through the gate.) He gets there around 4:15 or so. What an ordeal. Some may call this an adventure, but I call it a headache.
At least I can drive!
Next, off to our first FRG meeting were Maddox was the loudest child in the room and the crankiest by the end. Yes!
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