Date: July 26 (Tue)
Time: 8 am to 10 am
Agenda: Third Driving Lesson
We spent the first hour practicing in the school compound and the next hour driving on the road. For the exam, all the candidates need to familiarize themselves with 3 routes. An examiner can pick any one route out of the three to test the candidate during the exam.
My first attempt at driving on road with real traffic was decent, no accidents, no complain honks from other impatient drivers. My biggest problem was I couldn’t change gear smoothly and in a timely manner; there was an obvious pause with the car every time I tried to switch to higher gear. My instructor panicked so he helped me with it. But overall I was satisfied with my performance.
Date: August 16 (Tue)
Time: 8 am to 11 am
Agenda: Fourth Driving Lesson
I took a two weeks break from learning driving because I had my teaching orientation program and I went to Hatyai for a vacation. Needless to say, when I came back for more lesson, I performed as if I had never sat on the driver’s seat before.
We spent all three hours driving on the road, repeating the three routes. Route A is the most straight-forward route: 1 roundabout, 3 traffic lights and a couple of turns and you are back to the center. Route B is the longest route and it involves roads with heavy traffic. Route C is the shortest route but I hate this route because it involves driving into the downtown area. Well, if you are an Ipohan, you will know, Ipoh downtown is filled with impatient drivers that are ignorant of the rules and uncontrolled pedestrians who cross the roads like headless chickens.
Date: August 17 (Wed)
Time: 8 am to 11 am
Agenda: Fifth Driving Lesson
Again, we spent all three hours driving on the road. Often time when I was driving, I was thinking about all sort of nonsenses while listening to the radio. The topic that I thought about the most was the differences between learning driving in US and that in Malaysia.
Learning driving in US is definitely way cheaper and easier than learning driving in Malaysia, because the US government allows the people with learner’s permit to learn driving from any qualified drivers whom are 25 years old and above. Most people begin their driving career in a parking lot, then move on to neighborhood roads, and finally the main roads. I first started learning driving in the parking lot of my church, then the neighborhoods nearby my apartment. Gosh, I certainly do miss those days where I bonded with my driving instructor while we practiced driving.
In contrast, Malaysia requires everyone to go through formal driving school. It’s costly; however, I couldn’t imagine learning driving from my dad or my mum. If I learn driving from them, it’s most likely that they get panic attack every 3 seconds or I run into rage quit after enduring their nags for like 15 minutes.
Date: August 18 (Thurs)
Time: 8 am to 10 am
Agenda: Sixth Driving Lesson
I slept at 3 am and woke up at 7 am every day for the past few days so I guessed the effect of not having enough sleep was finally showing up? I was extremely irritated at every single minor details.
During the exam in the school compound, all the candidates will drive with both front windows down so that they can get a better view at their wheels and at the side mirrors. Usually we practice driving with windows up and air-conditioner on, but today we were doing the mock test so the windows were down and the air-con was off. I was sweating profusely while I drove. Urgh, I hate the high humidity in Malaysia.
Date: August 25 (Thurs)
Time: 8 am to 10 am
Agenda: Seventh (extra) Driving Lesson
I finished the mandatory 16 hours driving lesson, but I was still not confident with my skill; so I requested for another 2 hours lesson before my test tomorrow. The extra lesson costed 28 ringgit per hour.
Today was a terrible day. It rained; so I got to practice driving in a different weather, which was good. But overall I performed terribly.
For the 5 skills that I need to perform in the school compound, I was especially bad at the hill part. It was either my front wheels stopped in front of the yellow line (which they aren’t supposed to; the wheels should be right on the line), or I stopped the car a little early before I reached the top of the hill so the car slid down on its own. I got it right maybe 3 of 7 tries.
For the road driving, I was frustrated at my instructor because he often reached out to my steering and did the steering for me, and he often pressed on the stop pedal at the co-driver’s seat even though I was obviously already slowing down. Could you not?! How was I supposed to learn from my mistake when you were doing everything for me?
Urgh. I felt so unprepared for the test tomorrow.
Date: August 26 (Fri)
Time: 8:30 am to 11 am
Agenda: Driving Exam
I PASSED. ENOUGH SAID. BYE BYE DRIVING SCHOOL. I AIN’T COMING BACK. YOOHOOO!!
In summary, the total amount of driving school fee that I paid is broken down as follows:
Knowledge test (textbook, course, and exam fee)
264.40
Learner’s permit
15.00
Driving lessons (mandatory 16 hours lessons and exam fee)
717.80
Driving lessons (extra)
56.00
Driving license
70.00
Total (ringgit)
1123.20
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