駕照 Driving License (V)

向駕訓班詢問考試時間的結果，真是令人感到晴天霹靂！早上八點到指定地點等待…集合地點離我家不遠，不過早上尖峰時間的交通擁塞，原本不消十五分鐘的車程，可能得開到四十分鐘，這種狀況之下當然是越早出門越好。這意味的是我最晚可以睡到七點，然後在二十分鐘內梳妝打扮完畢，才可能在八點準時到達。對於習慣夜貓子生活，一般在電腦前爬到半夜兩點才去睡覺，不到中午不起床的我，可真是件苦差事。
When I asked for the appointment of exam, I was shocked! I was told to be at the appointed place by 8AM… it’s not far from home, but with the morning traffic the 15-minute trip will probably become a 40-minute one. I had to leave home as early as I could. It means I could sleep until 7AM and finish preparing myself in 20 minutes. I always have been a night person, and I still am. I normally stay in front of the computer until late, go to sleep around 2AM and sleep the whole morning over. It’s very difficult for me to get up early.

這種事也沒得反駁，教練一句「早點去早點考」，我認命了！
Nothing to argue over such thing. They said, “the earlier you get there the earlier you’ll have the exam.” So that’s it.

考試當日，不到早上八點，我和米奇人已經在約定地點等待。只是左看右看，來了七八輛其他駕訓班的車子，就是不見我的教練。八點半，我眼睜睜地看著考官上了其他駕訓班的車，而我的教練連個影子都還沒有。
Michele and I arrived before 8AM. We looked around and only saw cars from other driving school. Where’s mine? We waited until 8:30, saw the examiner went up to one of the cars and left while I was still waiting for my coach.

一直到快九點的時候，我的教練才珊珊來遲…他對於遲到的理由是「因為通常會有人遲到」，害我心中咒罵連連，很想要一把掐下去算了。（最痛恨人家剝奪我得睡眠時間…）
He didn’t arrive until 9AM… His excuse was “people normally arrive late”. I kept swearing silently and was so angry that I was about to break his neck! I hate people who deprive me of sleep.

趕不上第一批考試，就只能痴痴地等到第一批人全考完，考官才會再回到集合地點，以每個人十五至二十分鐘算起來，至少也要等到十點半！枯等時也只能有一搭沒一搭地聊天，真是浪費人寶貴的時間。
I wasn’t able to join the first “wave” and could only wait for the second round. The examiner would only come back when everyone of the first round was done. Normally, one would be allowed 15 to 20 minutes of exam, which means I’d have to wait until 10:30 at least! We chatted randomly… it’s such a waste of time!

不出意料之外，考官在約莫十點四十分回到集合地點。帶著學員應考的兩位教練迎上前去，短暫寒喧一番，我們就上了車。教練把鑰匙給了我，「妳先考！」
The examiner returned around 10:40, as I have expected. There’re two coaches from my driving school. They went up to greet the examiner and chatted a bit with her. In a while we were all about to get onto the car. The coach gave me the key, “You’re the first!”

說不緊張是假的，不過確實也比預期中來得鎮定。車子一開出去，是條筆直的道路，速限每小時九十公里，油門也就得踩得猛一點，只是我想都沒想，一開出去就直接進了左側車道，兩秒鐘以後回過神來，意識到自己做了一件很糟糕的事，方向燈一打趕快切到右線車道（運氣好的是，平時交通頗為繁忙的路上，竟然一台車子都沒有），眼角一瞄，看到教練猛力打手勢向右的右手…
Though I was nervous, I was much calmer than I thought. There’s a straight long street right after I got out with 90/km speed limit. I just had to run. I didn’t think too much and went directly into the left lane. In two seconds I realized I did something bad, turned on the front indicator and went into the right lane. (I was lucky that there’s no car around. It’s normally a busy street.) I had a glimpse of my right side and saw the coach trying to tell me “keep the right” with his right hand…

接下來一切順利，約莫十五分鐘以後，按照考官指示把車子停了下來，我的義大利駕照就這麼到手了！過一會兒輪到其他學員考試的時候，教練口帶責備地說，「妳怎麼會這麼開法！如果是嚴格一點的考官，大概就要妳重考了。妳的運氣真好。」
Things went smoothly afterward. In 15 minutes I was told to park the car and signed my name. I got my license! When the examiner went to the other car for the next exam, I was told by the coach that “how dare you drive that way! If she’s a bit stricter on you, you’d probably have to re-do it again. You’re so lucky!”

回到家，米奇開始到處打電話告知眾親友我拿到駕照的消息。義大利人對於這種事的恭賀也真是好玩，他們說「路上多了一個海盜」，還有人說我得請杯飲料或開香檳，不過因為最近截稿期，這些有的沒有的慶祝，大概都是三月中以後的事情了！
Michele started to phone around telling people the news after we went back home. The Italian expression/congratulations for such thing is quite funny. They say, “there’s a new road hog on the street” (c’e’ una nuova pirata della strata). Some asked me for a drink or champagne, but all these celebrations are postponed until mid-March when I can finally take a break.