So. This is it. This morning’s driving lesson was the last I’ll ever have before my exam. And I doubt I’m prepared for it. Shit. Though I’ll have to admit, today’s driving of mine improved a little, to say the least. Thanks to my dad’s 2 days of couching. You know, I think I would have understood the concept of driving faster and MIGHT actually enjoy driving if I’ve let my dad taught me. Of course, 1 of the reasons being he used English to explain everything to me, whereas for Mr. Eric, I would have to decipher (or worst, guess) the terms he was using before I comprehended what he was blabbering on and on about. For example, when he said, “换 牙”, I would be like, “Change wha?” Then after like 2 seconds (considered long if you were in mobile mode) only I went, “Oh. He meant the gear.” But by that time, he was already jabbering his head off about all that shit on not memorizing the steps and not concentrating when he was talking just because I didn’t change the gear in time. Sucks, right? I know.
The second reason is that my dad didn’t nag. At all. Even when I caused the engine to die TWICE (yeah yeah I know…I’m a horrible driver), he just told me to start the engine and try again, sometimes even helped me out with the hand-break and gear if I was in someone’s way. As for Mr. Eric, patience was his last reaction. So, since he couldn’t possible explode and scold me (me still being a Learner and all), he resorted to nagging. Man, can he nag. At first I didn’t completely believe Amanda that he could nag that much, but, thanks to Law of Attraction, I let him had the chance to do that during the following lesson, right after I allowed the bloody engine to die ONCE. When he started lecturing, it was 8.44am and what time did he end? Around 9.20am. No kidding. It was like he had bottled everything he wanted to say inside of him since my first mistake that morning and well, exploded. I didn’t want to be rude, so I just smiled when I assumed he was mocking my skills and nodded when he asked whether I understood what I was supposed to do, while in my mind, I was making up scenes of me, Amanda, Jing Hua, Joanna, Lucinda, Yeon Li, Eu Chern and Chee Kin on a vacation in Beijing or somewhere with snow. Yeah, I know, I’m skilled in multitasking.
Anyway, Mr. Eric took me (and Shien Yin) to the driving school where I switched to his wife’s car and she went to pick up another guy before leaving for the examination place in Klang. The guy, whose name I later learnt was James, looked like a mixture of Gabriel from CHS Band and Errand from my old English class. He did the talking for most of the journey there, though Mrs. Chin asked me questions before reaching his place. I like her a lot coz she was friendly and liked to joke, also, she understood how driving is like for Learners like me. She told me she didn’t have much confidence when she just started driving so she didn’t improve till later. That comforted me a little, I think.
After we reached there, she took us 1 round through the circuit (slope, parking then 3-point-turn) then let James drove while I remained in the passenger seat. Just as he got into the car, he went, “Huh? 我忘记怎样驾了worr…” Die. To make it worst, we were about to drive up a slope. *Gulp* But we made it to the top in 1 piece, though he stepped on the accelerator a little too hard had to break suddenly, causing both of us to be thrown forward. Thank God I didn’t have a concussion or something. I really hate head-bumps, which make me looked like I have a swollen brain.
But whatever. He pulled hand-break and turned to ask me, “你记得要按拿一个mar?” What the fuck? What kind of bloody question WAS that? Though I went, “Erm…the accelerator.”
“Oh yeah.” Oh God. Why didn’t I jump out of the car and excuse myself to the toilet at the beginning? But it was too late. He fiddled with the gadget but after he released the hand-break, the car engine died and rolled down the slope. Please may there be no car at bottom. Of course there wasn’t any. Though thanks to that, Mrs. Chin told me to get out and wait somewhere else. Hallelujah.
After 2 rounds, it was my turn. As I predicted I stalled the first time and because of that, I was made to go up and rolled down the slope a couple of times before I went on to parking and 3-point-turn, which was very spacious so it was easy to make the turn. I’m proud to say that both went smoothly, no knocking down any of the sticks or stalling or whatsoever. Cheers. Then, when it was James’ turn again, I went to register for the test driving and the exam itself.
Since the registration took an excruciating long time, Mrs. Chin brought James, then me, on the road to practice the roundabout and to recognize the route we would be taking for our exam. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be, but it sure wasn’t as easy as the circuit test. And I’m beginning to detest roundabouts.
Just when I though I was done with 1 round, she took me for another round coz my number (22) was far behind. Noooo…The second time was a teensy-weensy better. I think.
I waited for the Indian guy to finish test driving the car while James went for his second time on the road. My car number plate was 2521 and you know what was the first thought that came into my mind? My grandma could use it to buy Toto. Haha.
Other than the car’s clutch pedal, which I had to release more than 3 quarters of it in order to get the car moving, the rest of the gadgets were rather loose, as in rather easy to press down for the accelerator and break pedal and I didn’t have to tug or push too hard on the gear handle. Good for me.
As we were about to clamber into the car, Mrs. Chin asked, “我这个星期五给你考, 好吗?” And I was like, “Huh?” Am I hearing what I thought I’m hearing?
“我已经帮你报名了，没有的换lor. 你要不要都要考, 知道吗?” What? WHAT?! She just went and register the exam for me for this bloody Friday without even consulting me? And it’s less than 5 days away! Oh my God! Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck! What the hell am I supposed to do? Other than lay back and wait for the sky to crumble onto me? Oh yeah, book more lessons with Mr. Eric. Good idea. NOT. I think I’ll stick to my dad if I want to pass.
Jo's marshmallow on fire
Me and Lucy
Jyh Ling and me
Heck, where did my left eye go?
Amanda, Lucy and me by the pool
Jing Hua, Amanda, Jo, Chee Kin and Eu Chern
Hui Yi, me and Sze Ying
Kam Hin and me
Me and the gang
Nicole and me
Sarah and me
Blue blue blue!
Jing Hua, me, Lucy and Chee Kin
Yerp, that's the notorious Vodka bottle...
Jo Yee and me
The 40% off choker that I got myself
We tested the heart-shaped mould for fried eggs
My bro's idea of 'Shot through the heart'
The dough with added raisins and bits of almond
Before
After