Rite of Passage

It was a morning of a bright summer day in '97. I practiced for many months to get my gauge of the road. Using stick shift or automatic transmission, I knew I could handle it. I woke up that day excited for my drivers license test as a teenager. I could not wait to embrace my road independence. Imagine how far I can go with a car?

When I arrived at the Mandaluyong LTO, the process was easy. Take the written test and then the driver's test. It was easy because the written test was the same exact one as the "review material," and the road test was done in a parking lot. Drive one round. Done. No stop signs, school buses or pedestrians. The guy giving the test did not even ask me to do parallel parking or go outside the open road. I got my "non-pro" driver's license that day. I was 15 (almost 16) and on top of the world.

Now, at 28, I am subjected to the hassle of the DMV. Or maybe, I chose to be subjected. I don't need a US driver's license, I don't even own a car! And driving here in NY? Are you kidding? But for some reason, I felt "incomplete" as an adult without it. It's like living with an incomplete checklist.

I know it's weird, but what about my Manila license? It's different... it still has my maiden name! Plus if I get caught using it after living here for a few years, that spells trouble.

So, I took all that's required diligently. I passed the vision test and the written test. I took that grueling 5-hour pre-licensing course. $110 later, I am ready to take my road test! Since they don't do road tests in Manhattan, I have to travel with a licensed driver to the outer boroughs to do the test.

Destination: Red Hook, Brooklyn. I was so confident I was going to pass the test on the first round. D brought a ZipCar and rented it for 5 hours. I've driven for over 12 years now, piece of cake right? Wrong! In fact, after 5 minutes of taking the test, the guy gave me an F. I failed to yield. WTF. -50 points. You can pass if you have -30 points at most. What a downer. But I did not lose hope.

A month later, and after pestering a friend who owns a car (yes, she owns a car!), we were on our way to New Rochelle... about 40 miles north of Manhattan. I woke up at 5AM, left the apartment by 6AM and arrived in Astoria, Queens before 7AM to meet my friend. We drove and arrived in New Rochelle at 8AM - an hour early than my scheduled road test.

I couldn't believe I'm putting up with these inconveniences to get a stupid license.

We practiced around the neighborhood. I did my three-point turns perfectly, even my parallel parking. I was aware of all the street signs and checked all one-way streets. I thought I was all set. My friend even read the "Motorists Prayer" to me, which probably helped in some small way.

To make the long story short, I aced the test and passed with flying colors. I finally got my rite of passage in NYC: a New York driver's license. 'Ahhh. Liberty is mine.