Let me start off by telling you how INSANE driving here is….it’s INSANE!! The laws of the road are pretty much the same as they are in the States, but they aren’t really enforced here. So, drivers tend to do whatever they please and that makes things hectic. To drive here, I literally hold my breathe most of the way.
So, yesterday was my first solo drive to work. For the past nine months, my husband has been gracious enough to drive me to and from work. But recently, our schedules changed and it is no longer practical (was it ever?) for him to drive me anymore. So yesterday was the big, scary day that I have been dreading since I moved here last December.
In the states, I used to find driving somewhat relaxing. Here…well…. it’s anything but relaxing. You have to maintain complete focus to be sure not to hit other crazy drivers who decide to live by their own rules, dogs randomly crossing the street, people (again, randomly crossing the street or walking along the road), parked cars (yes, you read that right. Here there is a great deal of parking on the street, but no extra space to accommodate it), busses that will run you down like they rule the roads, large holes in the road, oh and let me not forget the indescribable insanity that occurs in the roundabouts (it’s pretty much a free-for-all.
And if there weren’t enough, I’m now driving a large SUV. When I lived back in the States, I drove a small 4-door sedan. On the tiny streets here (because everything in the US seems to be much larger), I feel like I’m driving a frigg’in tank. And don’t get me started on the parking. I got trapped in a parking lot today too!! Yes, and it was all because I didn’t know how to turn the truck around and reverse into the parking spot. It took me a whole 30 minutes to figure out how to get myself out once I was blocked in by other cars. I mean, seriously, who gets stuck in a parking lot. But seriously, y’all….it’s a teeny, tiny parking lot jam packed full of cars (I know, but still!).
After I got myself “unstuck”, I ran into a lot of traffic on the drive home (because I left later than I should have). On the drive home, as usual, there were several accidents, which only added to the usual traffic. Insurance laws here a bit different in the case of an accident. If you find yourself in some sort of vehicle collision, you are to leave your car exactly where it is. Yes!! Exactly where it is!! This allows traffic to build up to insane amounts all so the insurance company be sure who to find fault with. It might be a realistic plan, IF…the insurance company people didn’t take forever to arrive to the scene. No matter how long I’m here, I will never understand this logic.
Ah, what a humbling experience all of this has been. I’m sure one day I will find all of this incredibly funny, but right now, it’s just stressful!! I feel like I’m learning to drive all over again.
Ah well, I think it’s time for a glass of wine….I’ve earned it!
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