If you've ever lived in a foreign country or if you currently find yourself in one, then you know that sometimes it is AFTER THE FACT before you realize what has just happened. Permitame a explicar--Let me explain.
I am in Lima this week--the Capital of Peru--on "business." The business has consisted of getting my Residence Card, having a language evaluation, and getting my Driver's License. The process for getting my Residence Card and Language Evaluation went surprisingly smooth; however, the Driver's License has been an entirely different story.
Let me start at the beginning (a very appropriate place to start by the way). When I was still in the United States I was instructed to obtain an International Driver's License so that I could get my License in Peru without taking a Driving Test. So, my mother and I went to the huge metropolis of Jackson, MS to the AAA office where I payed $10 dollars and walked out with a International Driver's Permit. Too Easy, Right? Well, so it seemed until TODAY--today, many miles away in a very foriegn office. But I'm not to that part yet.
So, yesterday after getting my Residence Card, Ada, the most fabulous Peruvian lady EVER, took me to the "Doctor's" office where I took a eye test and an aptitude test (this is a very important detail). Well, the eye test was interesting--i covered each eye repeated the letters and then the nice Dr. asks, "how strong is your perscription". I answered his question by handing him my glasses, whereupon he took them, looked through them, and said in English, "very bad, no?" haha! Which I answered, "Si, mis ojos son muy malos". Then I walked into the aptitude test--however, I did not realize that I was taking an aptitude test. My American self thought I was taking the written driving test... so when i was asked the question (in Spanish) Jorge Somebody is a very excellent... a)painter b)biologist c)artist d)author...I was thinking what in the world does this have to do with DRIVING?! Oh well, I answered the questions as best I could, but I don't think the test administrator liked me much. I think it had to do with the fact that she knew I spoke more Spanish than I was letting on (Ada told me to play the dumb American). However, I apparently passed this test, but I was still confused as I walked out the door with half of the "getting-my-license" process finished.
Yesterday afternoon, after running all over Lima to find a notary office that was open--which we never found because it was Siesta time, we went to the Driver's License office so that I could take the written test. I was allowed to take this test in English and I was assured that we could bring the notarized copy of my International License the next day. As I was being seated to take my test a lady brought a cookie to the test administrator, I turned to her with a big smile and said, "Y para mi?" (And for me?) We all had a good laugh and I began taking my test. Then, five minutes later I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was the cookie lady--she had brought me the entire bag so that I could choose my own cookie!! Awww! I thanked her and continued my test. Aftering finishing my test I returned to the desk where the test administrator asked me if I wanted to buy some Peruvian chocolate candy. She said her friend was selling it as a fund-raiser(or something to that affect). (I assumed it was like when people sell those chocolate covered almond bars in the States for charity). It only cost 2 soles(less than $1) so I thought, "why not, it may even help my test score." After I bought the candy the lady graded my test and lo and behold--I passed!! So, we left with our promise that we would return with the notarized copy the next morning.
Which brings us to today. After my language evaluation Ada and I took the notarized copy to the License office--I waited in the taxi. She was also talking to her friend about rushing the process because I need my license before I leave Lima on Friday (the process is usually 2 days which I don't have). However, after like 10 minutes Ada comes out and says there is a problem with my name on the International Driver's License. I went in to check it out and of all things my Surname (which is Last Name) was listed as Lane! My actual Last Name was not written anywhere on the document except in my signature---I knew that AAA office experience in Jackson was too easy!
So, what do we do now? Well, as I said Ada is the best Peruvian ever and not only that but she has lots of connections. Therefore, her friend in the License office called her friend in another office and well let's just say that little mistake was pushed under the rug. All we needed to do was go see the friend of the friend at another office 30 minutes away. Ada graciously offered to drive me there after lunch. So, after lunch we loaded up in her car and went to the other office...which resembeled a, i don't know, MILITARY CAMP! It was a very cold and intimidating place, but we were eventually directed to the friend's office and everything was checked out. So, the word was that after waiting in a few more lines we could walk away with my license in hand! Yeah, you're thinking it--TOO EASY!
We get to the last line and are told that a signature is missing; therefore, the documents aren't valid! Which signature you ask... The Psycologist. And who exactly is the Psycologist--the one who gave me the "aptitude" test--OOOOOOHHHH, so that's why those questions had nothing to do with driving! (This is the part where everything becomes
VERY CLEAR AFTER the fact.)The not-so-nice lady who gave me the aptitude test had a name now, Isabel--the only name from the "Doctor's" office without a signature. So friends, what lesson have we learned? "
Clearly" you need to buy candy from everybody in the Driver's License process!
Just so you know...tomorrow morning I should be able to obtain the signature and get my license before I leave Lima! Or so I'm told!
P.S. I ADDED 2 VIDEOS TO THE PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRY. SEE BELOW!P.P.S. CLICK OVER THERE --> UNDER LINKS: "MORE OF MY PICTURES" TO SEE, YOU GUESSED IT, MORE OF MY PICTURES
