So.... how are the driving lessons going?

[Kotenochek 0]

so i been readin my driving book in english and my english is not bad..but the problem is i had trouble remembering things..I guess its because i always studied in russian,school,university...so i just picked up russian version of book in DMV.Its so much easier!!!!!!Just get your women russian book.it makes life much easier!

Driving lessons we take at the church parking at nights:))I am doing not that bad,sometimes we driving at night on small streets,but when another car gets near me i freak out:)))i guess i need more practise.working on it!!Hard...Thanks to my sweet husband for being so nice to drive me everywhere i want:)

[franklie 0]

Anyone have any ideas or tips/suggestions on helping her learn to drive?

She's just not getting it. We've been driving at least a dozen times and she's not making steady progress. One day she'll improve, the next, she's right back to square one and just forgot everything she did the last time.

She's telling me it's something along the lines of not ever driving anything so it's very difficult for her to learn to drive a car. I thought maybe taking her to the go-karts or even a driving video game would help but it seems like stuff like that is even too difficult.

Would a Power Wheels Barbie Jeep be going to far?

I had an ex-girlfriend that knew not how to drive. I took her to parking lots for basic practise. After doing ok there we went for test drive on streets. Not so good. She signed up for professional driver training and she did much better. Later I gave to her tips and suggestions on improving driving skills, like paying attention to signs on highways to know what exit to take.

[slim 1,523]

Thanks for all the tips, everyone.

I'm thinking that "spousal block" is in full effect right now. I just keep hoping that one day it'll snap into place and she'll be able to magically drive. Hard work isn't exactly paying off. But, I know if we keep practicing, one day she will just get it. The only question is, can I survive that long. She may kill me first!

And yes, Bobalouie, I was a Zoomie, but I was enlisted, so I never developed a decent handicap. There were some opportunites, but cheap beer and good company always ended up messing up my game. That, and it's extremely hard to concentrate when an F-16 hits afterburners right over your head in mid-backswing.

Edited April 1, 2008 by slim

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

Anyone have any ideas or tips/suggestions on helping her learn to drive?

She's just not getting it. We've been driving at least a dozen times and she's not making steady progress. One day she'll improve, the next, she's right back to square one and just forgot everything she did the last time.

She's telling me it's something along the lines of not ever driving anything so it's very difficult for her to learn to drive a car. I thought maybe taking her to the go-karts or even a driving video game would help but it seems like stuff like that is even too difficult.

Would a Power Wheels Barbie Jeep be going to far?

I could send you my wife as an instructor, she drives really quite well now, no language barrier, and no spousal apprehension. the other day we were going somewhere and I almost fell asleep in the car and then she woke me up to ask where she was.

A little advice when driving with your wife if she asks "Where are we?" dont reply " In the car arent you paying attention?"

Thanks for all the tips, everyone.

I'm thinking that "spousal block" is in full effect right now. I just keep hoping that one day it'll snap into place and she'll be able to magically drive. Hard work isn't exactly paying off. But, I know if we keep practicing, one day she will just get it. The only question is, can I survive that long. She may kill me first!

And yes, Bobalouie, I was a Zoomie, but I was enlisted, so I never developed a decent handicap. There were some opportunites, but cheap beer and good company always ended up messing up my game. That, and it's extremely hard to concentrate when an F-16 hits afterburners right over your head in mid-backswing.

Shoot I should have read you last post first before replying. Now I got the idea, Slim you and your wife come to GR for a weekend, we can go golfing and the wives can go driving. Two birds, one stone. Sometimes you have to think outside the box

[slim 1,523]

Excellent ideas, Thomas!

I'm wondering though, if you're going to send your wife as an instructor, are you thinking inside the box?

[John and Anna 0]

10 lessions - took a break and tried to teach he myself (what a mistake)

Back at it..

Remeber - most did not even ride a bike....

or have a fater with a car.

And

Women have to take a Gynecological exam....

[eekee 182]

What does that have to do with driving?

10 lessions - took a break and tried to teach he myself (what a mistake)

Back at it..

Remeber - most did not even ride a bike....

or have a fater with a car.

And

Women have to take a Gynecological exam....

[Satellite 1]

What does that have to do with driving?

10 lesions - took a break and tried to teach he myself (what a mistake)

Women have to take a Gynecological exam....

Only possible correlations I see are:

(1) the guy doesn't want to drive his wife to the OB/GYN or

(2) Like driving, the wife refuses to have the exam; both of which are critical in the US.

[Okiebollweevil 0]

I don't understand how people (girls) from another country, a country where over 75% of the vehicles are stick shift, can come here and complain that driving a stick is "too hard" and a new car, equipped with automatic transmission, must be purchased simply for ease of driving and passing the test.

What a bunch of balogna.

But, who's really the sucker? I've got a new car, equipped with automatic transmission, sitting out in the driveway. We needed another car payment like we needed an "upgraded" USCIS.

Not buying gas would be awesome. I think my Jeep eats almost as much as I do.

That confuses me too. Technically, it's illegal to get a license in Russia without knowing how to drive stick shift.

And my wife has a license issued in Russia. She says she passed the test there with a manual transmission. But yet here, it's "impossible to drive this masheena" with a stick shift.

I had an automatic pick-up truck before, but it was "too big" to drive. It's almost like the "inability" to do it is directly connected to the "desire" to drive a car of her choosing. But, that may not be true either as the small automatic new car isn't exactly aiding her in driving well. It does make her feel better though... and when the wife is happy, everyone is happy!

Well my wife came equipped with a Russian driver's license and all she did was sit in the driver's seat of the car, and made a nice gift. When she came here tried driving in my work parking lot, that was OK but the pickup too big, and the suburban, forget about it. So tried the German import with an automatic transmission, she did fine, but the power steering was too stiff, and she impaled the poor car on a cement curb bumper.... Needless to say I was not good when she was behind the wheel, I hit notes that were meant for only in the opera house, (Honey how could you hit so high a note). Bought driving lessons, the instructor even picked her up. Bought his and hers, ooops hers and hers matching PT cruisers on the cheap with sticks, and after she got used to driving the stick shift no problem. I convinced myself that if she could drive a stick, then in an emergency she could drive anything. Now after 4 years in the states she drives to the stores, to school, but won't drive by herself to church, I can't figure that one out. Still have some reaction problems when she is driving, such as my hand bracing against the dash expecting immediate impact. Her retort was don't do that it distracts me! Don't put yourself through the misery of teaching a spouse to drive, unless you live on a farm and can put them in the seat of an old massey ferguson tractor and explain the intricacies of the clutch. Also would help if the plow is attached for some braking resistance, and even though the furrows won't be straight, you will get that North 40 plowed one way or the other. She loves her car, wouldn't trade it for anything, but likes to ask how much cars cost as we pass them on the road, I am afraid she is asking to know how much the insurance company can afford to pay out in the event of an accident. Other peculiarities, she loves to speed, I don't mean 5 miles over the posted limit, we are talking 15-20! Yet she slows down for curves on the interstate, go figure. Long trips I drive, although last trip to the Gulf coast she drove Houston rush hour traffic, a few foos, skatinas, and the like, but afterwards, the sweaty palms dried, and I was told sick or not you are driving through Houston and Dallas!

[slim 1,523]

Currently in the process of getting the license.... will post back later this week on the progress....

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

Excellent ideas, Thomas!

I'm wondering though, if you're going to send your wife as an instructor, are you thinking inside the box?

My wife will not get into a box Im sure I will have to carry her or send her on a airplane or something.

Just for everyone to know my wife did complete her instruction and got her Michigan drivers license. I spent the weekend in a parking lot watching her go through the parking lot portion of the test. I got sick and she wondered if I was having fun. Talk about FOOO

Well I dont have to worry about it any longer.

First the drivers license and now the dental license

[Blues Fairy 0]

I'm getting ready to apply for my DL here in Raleigh as soon as my new SS card, with changed name, arrives.

Here's something I don't understand. I see that a car insurance is required to apply for a DL; since I don't have a car yet I'll have to have my husband put me on his insurance as the 2nd driver. BUT suppose I was here alone, without my husband, say on a student visa? What would be the right sequence of actions? First get a car, insure it, then apply for DL? But how to get a car and insure it without a DL? Looks like a vicious circle.

[eekee 182]

It varies by state. In Pennsylvania, for instance, you don't insurance to get a driver's license. But if you have a license and no car, what's the point of having a license anyway? i looked at the north carolina website and you can get liability insurance if you don't have a car, though. i think this is a policy unique to north carolina.

I'm getting ready to apply for my DL here in Raleigh as soon as my new SS card, with changed name, arrives.

Here's something I don't understand. I see that a car insurance is required to apply for a DL; since I don't have a car yet I'll have to have my husband put me on his insurance as the 2nd driver. BUT suppose I was here alone, without my husband, say on a student visa? What would be the right sequence of actions? First get a car, insure it, then apply for DL? But how to get a car and insure it without a DL? Looks like a vicious circle.

Edited May 9, 2008 by eekee

[Blues Fairy 0]

But if you have a license and no car, what's the point of having a license anyway?

The point is, e.g., to be able to take Greyhound to WV, where cars are much cheaper, get a car there, and drive it back.

But the DL/insurance logistics in NC is totally mind-boggling.

[Turboguy 6]

I'm getting ready to apply for my DL here in Raleigh as soon as my new SS card, with changed name, arrives.

Here's something I don't understand. I see that a car insurance is required to apply for a DL; since I don't have a car yet I'll have to have my husband put me on his insurance as the 2nd driver. BUT suppose I was here alone, without my husband, say on a student visa? What would be the right sequence of actions? First get a car, insure it, then apply for DL? But how to get a car and insure it without a DL? Looks like a vicious circle.

It seems odd to me that you are required to have insurance to apply for a drivers liscence. People are not insured, vehicles are. In Pennsylvania the car you take your drivers test in must be insured. Are you sure you are reading the instructions properly B.F. Remember they were written by government employees who are not recognized for making anything clear.

Our driving lessons are going much better. She has not hit another house since the first one and I don't think I could take paying another 5 grand out of my own pocket so that is good. She graduated a few weeks ago from parking lots to back roads and Friday we took our first drive on a highway. I still have a little hair left. It might be a little whiter than it was but I have not pulled it all out yet.