Driving School Diaries, Part IV
In which I continue to drive around a track…
1,200 minutes down; 300 to go.
I’ve been attending driving school for four weeks, but I’m yet to drive on the road.
During each 100-minute class, I typically complete the test track 11 or 12 times. This means that, effectively, I’ve passed the exam 140 times already.
It doesn’t get any less tedious.
Although… today I saw a dragonfly. That was exciting.
I also noticed a single thread of spider silk stretching across the open passenger-side window. I don’t know which spiders are safe and which are dangerous in Taiwan. But I never saw the spider, only its thread. It was the most exciting thing to happen to me since I saw a dragonfly.
We can’t use our phones while driving. So, to stay awake, I’ve been surreptitiously using my Apple Watch as a remote control, playing music through the phone in my pocket. It’s quiet enough that no one else hears—despite the windows being open to improve engine performance.
Apple Music Replay tells me I’m an adult-alternative/alt-rock kind-of guy, but those deep alternative notes don’t travel so well over the engine noise.
Pop music works best.
Today, I tried Saints & Sinners by All Saints, nearly falling asleep during the second half of the album. Same with Lover by Taylor Swift. 1989 was okay—although I’d usually prefer the Ryan Adams version.
As class came to an end, my instructor said if I arrive early next time, I don’t need to wait for his signal. I can just jump in the micro-truck and go. Get in a few extra circuits for free.
I won’t be early.