Getting a Chinese Drivers License

Warning: super-long post. But it's not nearly as long as the process--I promise. 

So, as many of you know, when we got back to our city one of the first things on the list of things to do was get our drivers license. The main reason we need them is carpool for the boys school, but Matt will also use it a lot with his work.

Remember how everytime you go to the DMV in America it takes "so long" and "is such a pain"? I was right there with you......until I got my drivers license here. I'm about to give you some perspective people.

1. The first step is getting your eyes checked. We have to do that in America too. At the DMV. You look in a box next to the lady issuing your license and tell her if you see the red light.

Here we spent the day here:

at the cancer hospital. For our eye exam.

After we had the paper we thought we needed in hand, we left. 4 hours later.

2. The next step is getting your US drivers license translated. By an official translator, who puts the official red stamp on it.

3. Next you register with the local police so that you can get your official residence papers. With the red stamp.

4. Next step is make a copy of every official document you have ever had. Not really but it felt that way. Copy of US license, passport, translation of passport, certification of translator, residence papers, eye exam, etc.

5. Then you have to have at least 6 passport pictures to attatch to forementioned documents. With the red stamp on them.

While you are doing these tasks, you must also be studying for the drivers test. Now, because we have a US license, we don't have to take a road test, but we do have to take the written test. It is in English---sort of. There is an app on our iphone that is immensely helpful in this process, as you basically have to memorize the questions. All 1356 of them. The test is 100 questions from a bank of 1356.

Here are some sample questions:

Q: When a head on collision is unavoidable, the driver should free the steering wheel, raise the legs and lie sideward on the right seat at the moment of the head on collison. this can ensure his body is not stuck by the steering wheel.

true or false

This is true people. Take note.

Q: When encountering pedestrians wearing cotton-padded caps or overcoats in winter, the driver should honk and be ready to brake.

true or false

Answer: true.

But what if they are wearing a wool hat?? I feel so unprepared if I encounter that.

Q: When a vehicle rolls continuously to a deep ditch, the driver should swiftly hide his body to the lower space in front of his seat, hold ________ to stabalize his body so that his body will not roll and get hurt. 

a. the pedal

b. the steering column

c. the steering wheel

d. the gear level

Answer: b

The questions are a variety of subjects, including hand signals, paramedic duties, traffic laws that NO ONE follows, street signs, and a LOT of what to do when you encounter a pedestrian. And starngely enough the answer is always evade. You should never speed up and honk at them. Surprising, I know.

Also, you have to know the fines for breaking all the traffic laws. Can't the police just learn that and tell me when I get the ticket?? And it is almost aways 200-2000 kuai. ($32-$320) Quite a span......

So when you think you might be able to get the required 90% on the test, you take your handful of papers and catch a cab out to the Traffic Control Department of the Public Security Organ. ( i promise that is the translation.)

And you see this sign. Totally clear as to where you should go right?

You go in one building get a number and wait for it to be called. When they call you, you show them your paper work and they say it looks great. Or in our case, Matt can't even take his test because his visa doesn't have a long enough duration, and we have to go get another eye exam because our first paper didn't have this picture:

seriously--they take a picture of you like this. To prove you have hands? I still have NO idea what purpose this picture serves, but apparently it is super important. All guesses are welcome.

So we went to another hospital, got our medical forms, and went back to the first building and got another number. And waited for it to be called. Then we show my papers, get the all clear and get a number to take to another buliding where we take the test. We head over to the other building and arrive at 12:33. The lady is carrying her nap mat and pillow in to the room, smiles at us and locks the door behind her. We then sit and wait until 1:30 when rest time is over. (the entire country pretty much shuts down for a rest during this time)

At 1:30, I am called in, take the test and score a 94%! I was pretty proud :)

I then take another number back to the first building and show it to someone who takes my picture and gives me another number. We wait for that number to be flashed on a screen and then they hand me this:

I can offically drive in the chaos that is the streets of our city!!!

Oh, except that the car we are borrowing is a stick shift, and I never learned to drive one.

So, off to the chaos we went for me to learn to drive a stick!!

So, the next time you have to go down to the DMV, give them a hug from me for being so efficent :) And maybe bring some cookies......