A big relief.

Well ladies and gentlemen, I did it. Last Wednesday I managed to pass a driving test after having my license for almost 8 years. Whoohoo.

When I put it that way, it doesn't seem like much of a feat. But holy moly I felt pretty darn accomplished when I walked out of the DMV (which isn't called that in Norway btw, it's called Statens Vegvesen) knowing that that chapter of making an international move was out of my way.

It's normal to be nervous before any kind of test. But personally I've never really struggled too much with nerves, at least not when it comes to tests. A lot of times after a big presentation or exam I would notice the physical effects of stress but wasn't necessarily aware of them beforehand. But for some reason, this driving test freaked me out a bit. Waiting at home the morning of was excruciating! I seriously do not remember the last time I have experienced anxiety like that; it was strange and totally uncharacteristic for me.

But as soon as I got out the door and got moving, the nerves took a load off. I walked the 40 minutes to the driving school and drove calmly for about an hour with a really helpful instructor. Before the lesson, I was really worried about roundabouts and all the tricky right-of-way rules downtown, not to mention the icy conditions that I have basically zero experience with and the fact that I hadn't really driven much more than around the block a couple times gearing between 1st and 2nd in the past year which makes me both unfamiliar with Norwegian roads and rusty in general! Hmm, maybe it's not so strange that I was nervous eh? But the instructor helped me so much. He really put me at ease and answered all my questions. I wouldn't have had a chance to pass the test afterwards without that driving lesson (which was mandatory btw--you can't rent a car for the test without one)!

When it came to the actual test, it wasn't all that different that my experience in the U.S. Right away though, the sensor pulled out this stack of laminated flash cards that I had to choose from. Apparently answering a random safety question is a part of the Norwegian test. Why did no one tell me this?! She asked me something complicated about the dangers of misusing tåkebaklys (rear fog lamps, wtf?!) and somehow I managed to squeak out an acceptable answer. Thought I was done for for a minute, I must admit.

But after that and following a bit too closely back a tractor and accelerating a little too slowly right out of Statens Vegvesen, it went smoothly. So yeah. That and 3,654kr are over and done with. The car I rented (you have to rent a car to take the test with here) was an automatic so my license that I got in the mail yesterday with a hideous picture (seriously BAD, total mugshot) is only good for driving automatic motor vehicles. Legally I will not have the right to drive a stick until I take the same test again with what is known as a "regular" car here. ;)

But hey, at least I didn't have to parallel park!