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Is it better to have your fiancee learn to drive in her home country or start from the beginning in her new home?  I seem to rember some discussions this topic previously.  From what I took away from those discussions was that it might be advantageous for her to learn before they come because they can learn in their own language.  The downside is that getting a drivers licence is more demanding in the FSU than in the US.

I have suggested to Natasha, my fiancee, that she should learn to drive in Ukraine to avoid the language problem.  She is a little reluctant to do so, believing that she will have to start from scratch over her.  I assure her that, while there are somethings she will need to learn over hear, the basic skills for driving will transfer to America.

What I would like to know, is what do other people think? Does anyone have any suggestions of what I can say to help Natasha become more comfortable with the idea of learning to drive in Ukraine. (Yes, I am biased towards that option.)

... in response to Driving lessons - taken here or there, posted by Richard on Oct 19, 2001

It depends if you just want her to pass the test cheaply, or actually be a good safe driver.

If the first, take lessons in Ukraine. She will have to bribe the examiner anyway.

If the second, take lessons in the US.

Regards
Katya

... in response to Re: Driving lessons - taken here or ther..., posted by Katya on Oct 19, 2001

I do want her to be a safe driver. I thought it might be easier for Natasha to learn in a language that she is fluent in rather than in English, which she will still be learning.

Getting her licence cheaply never entered my mind: there is nothing about this process that is cheap.  However, I do feel that this is money well spent.

... in response to Re: Re: Driving lessons - taken here or ..., posted by Richard on Oct 19, 2001

Violetta took and passes her international driver's licence in Kyiv. Cost for one lesson a week was $120. She wanted hers quicker (because she thought that she would get her interview this month) so I paid $200 for lessons three times a week and she passed in three weeks. No bribes needed.

Now she will get better insurance rates when she gets here, has more confidence that she can adapt to her new life (needed more than ever), and I gained a few thousand miles more wear out of my clutch :0

... in response to Re: Re: Driving lessons - taken here or ..., posted by Richard on Oct 19, 2001

Richard,

It cost us in the neighborhood of $100 for all of Olya's lessons and the driver's license exams and such in Kremenchug. While I do not dispute Katya's suggestion that bribes to the examining officer are common, Olya did not experience it. In fact, she messed up at the start of the road test, and he calmly suggested that she 'gather' herself for a moment and then continue - which she did - and she passed - with no bribes of any sort.

Olya and I both agree that the money we spent for her driving lessons in Ukraine were a bargain.

FWIW

- Dan

... in response to Money Well Spent . . ., posted by Dan on Oct 19, 2001

My husband took his driving lessons in Ukraine too.  He didn't get his license until he got here, which was a mistake.  He paid about the same as Dan & Olya, and got much more road time than he would have gotten here.  There he got about 30 hours in the car with the teacher.  Were we live, one hour goes for about $50.  But I think it was good for him to learn in his own language, on streets he was familiar with, so that he didn't have to deal with so much when he got here.  There were enough other things to give stress once he arrived, that it was great to have that one nearly finished.  He is a very good and cautious driver, so I think they taught him well.

... in response to Money Well Spent . . ., posted by Dan on Oct 19, 2001

Thanks.  This is the kind of story that I was hoping to hear.  

I'm hoping that learning in her native language will make it easier for Natasha to learn to drive.  I don't really care if she gets the Ukrainian licence, it's the experience driving that I'm concerned about.  I expect that she will take lessons in the US either way so that she becomes familiar with how we drive here.

... in response to Re: Money Well Spent . . ., posted by Richard on Oct 19, 2001

STOOOOOOOP!!!!!!!

sLOW DOWN !!!!!!!

LOOK OOUT!!! YAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure, she'd rather her corrections from somebody she doesn't really know verses you.

RAGS, tell them about V. wanting to go faster with the instructor...that was really cute, what she had to say..

That was good reading :)

... in response to Driving lessons - taken here or there, posted by Richard on Oct 19, 2001

There is absolutely no point for her to study driving in Ukraine if she will be moving to US soon. Driving schools in USA are so much better - in terms of instructing and driving lessons. I don't know about Ukraine, but in Russia they almost teach you all the parts of automobile and make you fail on purpose if you don't tip off the police officer in charge of the exam. Plus, driving is so much more civil here, will save her lots of nerves and money :)

but, just IMHO

Russian Wife

... in response to Driving lessons - taken here or there, posted by Richard on Oct 19, 2001

Hi Richard,

First - congrats on your recent developments. I am happy for you.

In our case, Olya and I decided that it would be best for her to take her initial driving instruction there in Ukraine - simply due to familiarity. It is, indeed, a more intense education than what we typically follow here in the US, and it is a very good foundation for her driving in America later. I suppose the primary factor in our decision is that Olya did not speak much English, and we knew it would be some time before she could feel comfortable with taking the driving exam in English (and I am pretty sure Colorado does NOT offer it in Russian, unfortunately).

Once here, she has been studying the material - both the Washington state Russian manual - and the English Colorado manual, in preparation for the written exam. As an aside, it has helped her English a great deal as she has had a constant stream of new words to learn.

As for practical experience, I am torn on that point. We have not yet taken instruction from a driving school, but I am leaning that way. While I don't mind teaching her myself, it definitiely adds  some unnecessary tensions that I would just as soon not deal with.

I hope this helps.

- Dan

... in response to How About BOTH ??, posted by Dan on Oct 19, 2001

Even though I didn't state it explicitly, I was figuring on sending Natasha to drivers school here either way.   I know that she will need help with the transition and I would not be the best teacher for her.

... in response to How About BOTH ??, posted by Dan on Oct 19, 2001

nt

... in response to They have to be better drivers than here..., posted by Tuttle on Oct 19, 2001

..I wish they would stay in Atlanta but unfortunately they love to roadtrip north..:/

... in response to How About BOTH ??, posted by Dan on Oct 19, 2001

Dan,
"While I don't mind teaching her myself, it definitiely adds some unnecessary tensions that I would just as soon not deal with."  I did LOL when I read that!  Teaching your wife how to drive in America will drive YOU to drink.  If I had it to do over, I would have signed Lena up for driving school.  She had a Russian DL that she was allowed to drive on in MI for a year.  Even so, driving in Russia or Ukraine is so much different than here.  You have to understand that even if the family has a car (which most don't) the driving time is so limited that the experience level is almost nonexistant.  The more driving experience your fiancee can get before she comes here, the easier it will be for the both of you.  Just for the record, Lena is an excellant driver now and CA offers the written test in Russian.
KenC

... in response to you are so kind, posted by KenC on Oct 19, 2001

..I'm glad I did. Lena (mine, that is) is pretty shy by nature and making her perform in front of strangers would have been cruel. She had never been behind the wheel before - parents tend to take for granted that your kid knows where the turn signals are, and which pedal is go and which is stop. We didn't have that luxury..:)

My Lena is a good driver - a little *too* carful sometimes, but I won't complain about it. Once she started, I taught her the WHOLE thing - changing a tire, checking the oil, even showed her how to do a bootleg with the parking brake.:P

There were a few times that I saw my life flashing before my eyes, no doubt. Funny thing was she didn't even notice..:)

... in response to Driving lessons - taken here or there, posted by Richard on Oct 19, 2001


It is much easier in some states if you come in with a foreign driver's license, rather than start from scratch.  In Maryland, we have the "Rookie Driver" program, which involves a lot more steps before you get an unrestricted license.

As far as the differences between the two places, my Natasha did just fine on the driving test here without any additional lessons.  However, she had been driving for a couple of years before she came over here.

The law test is the part that can be confusing.  However, In Maryland they allow you to take the test in your native language, and Washington state has a Russian language driving manual online:

http://www.wa.gov/dol/drivers/russian.htm

However, in my mind, the most important consideration is insurance.  It is worth calling your agent and asking about in any event.  Some people have reported big increases; we didn't take a big hit...

Good luck,

Steve M.

... in response to Re: Driving lessons - taken here or ther..., posted by SteveM on Oct 19, 2001

What company do you have for auto insurance?

Also, what do Russian fiancees' normally do for health insurance during the 90 day visa period.  Is there a cheap insurance company for that?  

... in response to automobile insurance, posted by Jake on Oct 19, 2001

Any tips on health insurance for RW fiancee in US during 90 day visa period?  

Jake asked earlier, but no comments yet from you old hands.  Needing the same info I second his question.