Roadworthy

I was just reading a blog post about a stressed out matriculant who will be writing trials in under a month and thought back to my trials period and realized my stress levels were nothing then compared to how I felt when I took my drivers test a week and a half ago. Whilst America was enjoying their Independence Day, I spent most of my morning feeling nauseous and hysterical, clutching onto every shred of faith and Divine Intervention I could get before doing my drivers test.

Now, let me explain why the stress levels over 9000. In South Africa, we have this wonderful method of getting your license through the payment of bribes. The bribe generally 'sees to it' that your inspector will overlook any minor or slight mistakes you make when doing your test - basically they'll overlook anything that isn't apparently an automatic fail. 

According to my instructor, if you do not pay the bribe, you are guaranteed to fail. And for two weeks prior to my test, I was continuously subjected to this mantra, purely because I refused to pay the bribe. Firstly, it's unethical and, call me old-fashioned or (sarcastically) 'holy', but I do not believe that there is an Barkat or Blessing in anything that's done unIslamically. And paying a bribe is pretty unholy to me. Secondly, I couldn't afford to pay the bribe - paying for my driving lessons myself was wearing out my bank account. So the mantra was the main reason behind my ridiculously high stress levels that morning. 

So I go into the test, with the feeling that I was about to vomit and I make the wonderful rookie mistake of mixing up the indicators and the wipers for my pre-trip inspection. And my groundwork. And on the road.

Luckily that was the only mistake I made and, by some Miracle of God, I passed my drivers test. My reaction to my pass: Shock to Disbelief to Numbness to Relief to BURSTING INTO TEARS IN FRONT OF THE INSPECTOR to Disbelief (at this point, I had my temporary license in my hand). [Fast Foward to the next afternoon] OMG MOM I CAN DRIVE ON THE ROAD LEGALLY.

Of course my mother still wont let me use her car, but that's okay. My faith that integrity does get you  somewhere has been restored and to all those instructors who pester your learners into paying the bribe: take that. It is possible to get your drivers license in an honest fashion in South Africa.

Oh, and to the matrics who are preparing for trials - good luck! I know it currently seems like the end of the world if you don't get all A's, but you'll be laughing at yourself next year when you write your first university exams, I promise.