here's a good one

[JunFan]

Hey guys,
I thought some of you may get a kick out of this "after she's here story"...

Before I go into this,  My wife has been taking the Dallas Bus System to/from ESL classes at the community colleges, without any problems. But, some of you will find that these girls start to go stir crazy if they can't get out a little bit. It helps them lessen their 100% dependency on you for everything. So, I wanted to get her into some wheels.

Well, about two weeks ago we went looking at a car for my wife. Even though I paid for to take driving lessons before she left Colombia, she couldn't drive worth a sh$t.  But anyway, the plan was for her to start with her learner's permit, which she got. And then to get her a car so I could help teach her.  It soon became painfully evident she needed professional instruction. I tried to let her practice in my Yukon, but it was too much for her I think. Once she ended up plowing through my neighbor's yard and almost ramming their house.  Anyway, we went out to the Honda dealership to look at some cars. I really wasn't planning on buying a car that day, but it just kinda turned out that way. Got her a nice new little Civic, and got a great deal on that thing.

So, we had the car and the learner's permit. We practiced around the block in my neighborhood and she was still bad, but getting a little more comfortable. But she still had a long way to go before I would feel ok driving with her on a busy street.  Last Saturday night, while I was watching football, she told me 'her' car was in the driveway and we needed to put it up in the garage. I said I would do it but she kinda insisted, saying she could do it.

I have a two car garage with two seperate garage doors, separated by a brick/wood pillar. The car was directly in front of the right garage door, about 4 feet outside it.  All she has to do is just pull it forward about 10 feet, right? She hits the gas, takes a hard left, and rams the new Civic (32miles) into and through the pillar, taking out the other garage door....Both car and house report significant damage.

I can now report that we have engaged Sears Driving School, starting in two weeks.  I actually am not really upset about it anymore...I mean, it was my fault for letting her behind the wheel while I was not in there...It's a funny story though that I'm sure one day, maybe not today though, we will both laugh about. Of course, it's not all that funny when it happens to you.

Later,
mike

www.sparhard.com/colombia.htm

[Throw]

... in response to here's a good one, posted by JunFan on Oct 29, 2001

I am going through the vary same experience as we speak.  Everynight it is a new lesson on how NOT to lose my cool and grab the wheel.  I hope I don't get an expensive lesson like you got.  As far as the car, I am set on buying her a used Kia Sophia which are very popular in Cali especially with the Taxi's. They go for about $2500 used.  I figure a good learning car.  And if there is some accident damage should be minimal. I will also purchase a separate insurance policy to keep her off my main policy. I don't want someone suing me for her lack of experience.  I am learning as I am going...Jim!

[Wayne]

... in response to here's a good one, posted by JunFan on Oct 29, 2001

This stuff is really scary.

I hired a professional instructor to teach my Russian wife to drive in his car.  After 10 driving lessons behind the wheel, touring all over San Diego including freeways and downtown, her instructor says she's ready to take the test.  It took her 4 tries to pass the written, and I was trying to keep a good thought about the behind the wheel test.  So we go out to go around the block a few times so she can get used to my 4 runner before her test.  We go around a corner and she hits the gas instead of the brake and doesn't streighten out.  It's Mr. Toad's wild ride through 3 front yards, airborne off a small hill, mowing down an iron fence and hitting a big palm tree at 30+ mph.  If someone was in one of those yards, they would have been killed.  I broke a couple of ribs and she totals my new 4 runner.

So she is scared to drive now of course so we get her a mountain bike to ride around.  We are riding in the park on the sidewalk and she mows down an elderly Japanese lady going for a walk. It's that brake thing again...  Then my wife says something like...."that lady should watch where she's walking, with a big attitude"  She could not understand the concept that pedestrians have the right away.  I finally bought her a used late model Toyota Corolla and she does ok now.  By the grace of God she hasn't killed anybody, or herself.  After my experience, I believe that automatic transmissions make learning to drive easier, but much more dangerous.  If she was driving a manual around that corner, we would have never gained that much speed and I would not have been healing for 6 weeks.

So I believe in lots of professional lessons and a big heavy used car to start with.  You make the decisions on this one, because there is just too much at stake.  It's just plain dangerous if it's not handled properly.  It wasn't the mistakes that pissed me off so much about this women, it was her arrogant attitude towards them that lead to my divorce.  In 4 years, we had instance after instance like the disaster I described above.  Take the bull by the horns and make the decisions.

Take care,
Rod

[Pete E]

... in response to here's a good one, posted by JunFan on Oct 29, 2001

Mike,
I guess I got of lucky teaching my wife to drive.Her major error was to just change lanes without looking,which could have resulted in more damage than you experienced except for a number of other drivers being alert and missing her.I told her I guess it was just Cali style driving,the driver in front does whatever they want and the driver behind is expected to miss you.
Rocio took 3 tries to pass her written exam and 4 tries to pass the behind the wheel test.It was about an 8 month process to get the licence.I got her a few professional lessons but they told her she was ready to take the exam,which was far from true.Now she drives pretty good.
I bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee for her before she got here because I wanted it for a second car.One of my friends said"maybe she would like a little car".I said "she's getting a Jeep".Actually that turned out fine as she doesn't like little cars.Now she wants a BMW X5 SUV,but she is going to have to wait awhile for that.My car was in the shop for a couple of weeks this summer and I drove hers.Even though she didn't have any place she really needed to go she felt really grounded."I need my car."She told me "you buy other car."Sure,I am going to buy a new car because mine needs a head gasket and I will have to wait 2 weeks for the guys I trust to fix it.
I guess she adjusted to American life pretty quickly.Being able to drive really makes her feel independent.

Pete

[markxport]

... in response to here's a good one, posted by JunFan on Oct 29, 2001

lol...thanks for the story.  Glad to see you can laugh about it.  Laughing will get you a lot farther than yelling...hopefully she'll laugh about it one day..

Thanks,

Mark

[jim c]

... in response to here's a good one, posted by JunFan on Oct 29, 2001

It was funny mike.  I laughed out loud. Good for you laughter is the cement that holds relationships together. Suerte JIM C