So, at this stage in our language learning we are
progressing from speaking at sentence level into paragraph level. This is not as easy as it may sound…it
sure takes A LOT more words to be at this level of speaking ability. Currently the way we are improving on
this is to learn about different processes…and this week we learned the process
of “getting” a new drivers license.
Basically the way we will use this experience as a language
learning tool is that we will take the pictures we took during this process and
sit down with a local friend and have them describe the process to us in their
words. We will record how they
describe the process and listen to it over and over again. Eventually we will then re-explain the
same process to our local friend and they will evaluate our ability to explain
the process. The best part about
this all is that we are learning to actually speak like they do and this it
will help us communicate the Truth more clearly!
So….here is the story.
When we first moved to AP we simply went into the police station, signed
a few forms (that were already filled out for us), smiled for the camera, did a
fingerprint and were handed our license.
Well, we thought getting another license would be a similar experience,
but it was not.
We arrived at the police station and joined the “line” of
people waiting to get their license.
The reason I put “line” in quotations is because it is not really in any
way a line but rather two separate areas with people all over who somehow just
know who is next and when their turn is…they must be way more observant than I
am. We filled out the forms with
the help of our local friend…ok I should be honest and say he filled out mine
and Craig filled out his own.
After waiting in the “line” which meant sitting on a random bench in a
thankfully somewhat AC room with a fidgety 4 year old and a crabby baby...it
was finally our turn. I finally
got Roman to sleep just in time to find out that this was the part where they
were going to take my picture. So,
now what?!? I carefully unsnapped
the back of the baby carrier and lowered Roman low enough that he was out of
the picture and smiled. As soon as
the picture was complete I snapped him back in…and he woke up L We signed the papers, did the
fingerprints and were all ready to receive our license. JUST KIDDING!
Instead we
followed our friend to another area of the station. As we walked into the room I got a very uneasy feeling in my
stomach…because there were desks and computers. WHAT?!? We were
going to have to take a test?
Another signature and another fingerprint logged us onto our testing
computer. We sat down, put on the
head phones and pressed “mulai” (start).
Yes, the now awake baby is still strapped to me at this point and this
room does not have AC…aprox 90 and humid.
I sit listening to this language through the headphones which is still
somewhat foreign to me (especially since we have been out of it for 7 months). I watch scenarios on the screen and have to select true or false. There are 30 questions to be answered
in 15 minutes. The first 2 take
awhile to figure out what exactly is going on…So, the police officer comes up
behind me. As I listen to the
questions I must be taking too long…because I hear behind me
“salah”…”salah”. What? Oh…she is giving me the answers! And this continued for the last 15
questions or so. Poor Craig didn’t
have the “help” that I did. But
thankfully we both passed.
FEWSH! That was over…JUST
KIDDING!
That was for the car test but we are also wanting our
motorcycle license…now we have to do the motorcycle test. WHAT? Another one…same routine all over again. So, I sit down to take the next test. Roman was not OK with another
test. I got one question into the
test…which I answered wrong (accidentally). I knew the right answer but the now freaking out baby just
stressed me out and I hit the wrong button. I stood up and said I’m sorry I can’t do this right now I’ll
have to do it when my husband is done with his. She said I had to do it then or I would fail. What can I do? My baby is now screaming in the testing
room…which other people are also testing…or looking over Craig’s shoulder as he
takes his test. So, the helpful
police woman sits down in my seat and finishes my test for me…yes 29 out of 30 questions. Would you believe it…I got a 93%...the
only one I missed was the one I answered.
HA HA! Craig also passed again. Signed a few more forms…then back to
the original room…thankfully we didn’t have to wait in the “line” again. Paid about $40 for Craig’s 2 licenses
and my 2 licenses…yes we have to have to separate cards.
The whole time I reminding myself…This is not wrong, just
different (very very different)!
