If at all one experience which haunted and tormented me a lot for considerable amount of time is definitely my driving license in Germany. Honestly, the society which gave me lots of fun, joy, exposure showed me the worst side of it as well. I was always amazed with German education system, their infrastructure, health insurance system and the way society functions in different areas but certainly one of the things where lots of discrepancies going on is definitely the driving license in Germany. I was always documenting my great experiences in this wonderful country during my stay here but thought this hard experience which I faced should be narrated and documented as well.
I always heard from my friends and colleagues, driving license is expensive in Germany and it takes more time, money and stress to get it but realized when I was on the receiving end. Having tasted German culture and German beer, it would have been an unsatiated dream if I don’t experience German autobahns. With all those dreams and aspirations, registered myself in a driving school. It all started with a theory exam where one has to learn around 1500 questions by just mere memorizing. Thank god this exam can be taken in English. Was wondering how many of them will have driving license in India if one has to learn 1500 questions and go to the exam. Most of the questions were not meaningful and understandable because of the straight translation from German text. For.e.g. what will you do when a game animal passes by. God only knows who that great game animal is. The sentence which one can never forget after you finish the theory exams “What you reckon with”. So cleared my theory exams with out much fuss.
Now comes the real test. Practical lessons. The actual rule says the mandatory lessons to be taken are 12 classes (4 in autobahn, 4 outside the city, 4 during the night) but the thumb rule which most of the driving school adopts is on an average 30 classes before you take the exams. Each class is not even for one hour and its 45 minutes where the teacher gives instructions to drive. Not even once, the teacher gave confidence about the driving and always skeptical about the mistakes and handling of the vehicle. The sad part is you pay a huge amount for just 45 minutes and at the end of the day you have to come out of despair after the driving.
Having experienced this torture, got ready for the drama. Practical Exam day. Thought it should be quite easy to clear the practical exam after driving for 30 classes. It all started with some German technical questions about the car. I was strangled with those questions because I took the theory exam in English and I was never exposed to those technical words which examiner asked me and neither my teacher never told me that the examiner will ask certain technical questions in German. I was requesting him for the English word for “Nebelscheinwerfer” but he was so adamant that he will only talk German. I was panic right from the word go. After few minutes of panic and stress, he gave me a clue nebel = fog. Had to show him the fog lamp and start the car. I was then asked to park the car which I did and after the parking was over, handbreak was applied, I left the clutch and the motor stopped. That’s the end of the story. I was allowed to drive only five minutes and maked as failed. I was even told by many people, the motor can be off for one or two times. I felt so miserable and depressed after the first exam and after shelling out hell lot of money.
There should be a minimum of two weeks for the next exam and unfortunately my India trip came during this period. Had a great chance to drive in India during my holidays with my car there and practiced a lot. Also drove in T.Nagar the busiest roads in India with my parents. But definitely driving in India can never be compared driving in Germany. Fixed the dates for second attempt and the most frustrating part is one has to take 3 to 5 practical lessons before the next exam. Once again has to undergo this agony with my favorite teacher. I was so concerned that I should end this tormented phase soon.
Now comes my second attempt. Thank god this time, the examiner didn’t pose any technical German questions and I was allowed to drive straightaway. Everything went fine for 30 minutes and I was asked to drive in autobahn. I was confident that this time I made it. But the examiner came with the shocking news that I failed once again. His reason was that the distance between the vehicle in front and my car was too short in autobahn. Damn, I was so frustrated and pizzed to the core and can never argue with him. The relationship with the teacher got worsened and I had to shell out my emotions. It was a time when I totally hit my low ebb of my life. I knew the whole set up of this driving license is to extract money but never realized it would be so painful.
I went to an extent that I have to give this driving license and never drive car in my life. Thanks to Anita and my good friends who constantly motivated me stating it doesn’t make sense to give up after spending hell lot of money. Thought of even changing the driving school and the teacher, but again starting from the scratch would cost me hell lot of money. So decided to persist with the existing moron and continue on. Once again took some lessons to gain some confidence for the next attempt. Getting an appointment with the teacher for driving is yet another herculean task.
Now comes my third attempt. This time I was given a sheet of paper by my teacher to learn a set of questions which examiner might ask on the third attempt. Was wondering why he didn’t do this for my first exam? How will he make money if I clear it on the first attempt. The teacher gave me confidence that this time the examiner is quite relaxed and you will surely get the license. I had to pacify myself this time I will finish this long standing story and also heard from many people here failing one or two times is quite common. The third attempt was the most anti-climax of all. I just came out of the examining centre and there was a stop sign board where I halted before the board and proceeded further. Failed once again in the third attempt. Reason I didn’t stop exactly before the line which is after the stop sign board and more importantly I didn’t stop for 3 seconds. Honestly that was one the moments when I felt why did I come to Germany. L
To give a simple example, the costs involved for just registering exam (85 Euros for Tüv which conducts the exam, 80 Euros for the driving school and 32 Euros for the test drive before the exam) which simply amounts to 200 Euros for just registering and taking the exam. It’s gone in a span of one minute for nothing. Realized this value of 200 Euros when the same 200 Euros showed me one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, Norway. How life could be so cruel sometimes.
It was certainly one of the most depressive moments I had to face. Again the same mood of giving up and not driving anymore in my life. Everyday is different and life goes on. So decided to go for the fourth attempt. This time I convinced myself I need to throw the dice and have to wait when the number turns up for me. It can be either in fifth or sixth or even tenth. My confidence was shattered to the core and I questioned my credibility and confidence all the time. It had a great impact on my professional and social life.
Now comes my fourth attempt. Certainly I was shell shocked how the examination was conducted. No worries. It was my teacher who was giving instructions where to drive in the exam and even guided me at various places and the examiner was gossiping with the teacher about their nude holidays in Mallorca. I even heard from my examiner that he has a girl friend and his girl friend has three children which was not born to him. So was the conversation when I took my fourth attempt. I was just wondering which reason I will get for failing in the fourth attempt. Finally finally I got the news that I will get my GERMAN DRIVING LICENSE. Why was my previous attempts not conducted this way. How does the teacher knows exactly what questions the examiner will ask and how do my teacher knows exactly the path which my examiner wants to go.
It was one of the perfect drama which I witnessed myself during my driving license in this part of the country. I felt embarrassed and dejected how this can happen in a society which is so structured and organized and has offered so many lovely experiences. There is a clear connection between the examiners and the teachers in giving the driving license. The driving school sets a benchmark of extracting certain amount of money from the candidates before the license is given. This is not the experience only for me and I hear similar kind of stories from many of my friends who took driving license in Germany. Anyway its hard reality to accept it but nothing can de done. I was asking myself when I failed in the exam last time barring driving license. My heart just reflected, I never failed in any of the exams which I took in school, college, and my master studies in Germany. I always made it a point irrespective of the grades I get, I need to clear the exams for the first time and no repetition of the exams should be there. Thank god this attitude paid me rich dividence in my whole career and my social life but not definitely in driving license.
No more philosophies, its time to hit the AutoBahns with no speed limits :)
Cheers,
Sathish Kumar S
Recently my American friend Andreas got married to Myrna from Mexico in Hamburg. Both Andreas and Myrna studied together with me in my Master studies. It was a perfect example of an international marriage where people from all around the globe from USA, Mexico, Columbia, Peru, Germany, Poland, Russia, and Lithuania were present. It was indeed great moments with Andreas during our MBA studies with crazy night out parties in the common room, cranky trips to Berlin, Barcelona, Switzerland and last bench commenting about German professor’s English ;) Thanks to my MBA studies which gave a great chance to rub shoulders with different countrymen and know their way of life.
The wedding ceremony took place in church then followed by an evening party in a hotel which was beautifully located in Blankenese across the shores of river elbe. The occasion was very emotional and sentimental with both the parents and siblings of Andreas and Myrna exchanging their love and affection in both English and Spanish. Thanks to Juan, our Mexican friend who did the translation for the whole evening. The evening was enlightened with Mexican dance of Salsa and it was a perfect get together to meet our MBA classmates after our graduation in three years. Thanks a lot Myrna and Andreas for the invitation. We were so privileged to be part of this wonderful occasion with your family members. I wish both Myrna and Andreas a great start to their married life and best years ahead. Love has no barriers despite coming from two different cultures thats what Myrna and Andreas have shown us. Good luck guys!
