Licensed to Drive :)

Yes people... Got my Driver's Licence yesterday. Now, I can officially drive in US of A.

Went to Hertz on Thursday and got myself a sporty Mazda 6 for 1 day, as I was planning to give the test on Friday morning. Since I did not have a US CC, I had to ask SG to rent the car in his name whie I became the Add-on driver using my Indian licence. FYI, You need to be 25 and hold both a valid DL and CC to rent a car by yourself in IL.

Anyway, asked my colleagues with licenses to take turns on Thursday night to sit next to me while I drove down to the test track and practiced with them. Thanks to SG, BR, S for taking the pains to sit next to me...

SG again accompanied me to the DL office on Friday morning, as I had to have someone with a DL sit next to me while I was on LL. Reached @ 0715 hrs there. Was the 1st one to arrive. Had to wait till 0800 hrs for the office to open. Went early so that I could give the test early in the morning itself and go to office without much delay.

The test went smooth. Drove without any hiccups or complaints from the examiner. Asked her for her suggestions in the end, she said, "You were a bit slow, can increase the speed". Well, so now it's official, I can drive fast ;)

Had planned to return the car on Friday itself, but had a long weekend in front of me, had a DL in my hand, and a cool car with me, so went and extended the lease till Monday.

Had a project party for the quarter Friday night from 1900 hrs. The place was a bit far, but I took up the challenge and successfully cleared my first attempts at night driving in US, highway driving in US, snow-driving in US.... Great isn't it?

Plan to go to Chicago tonight and celebrate the New Year. Then plan to go on a long drive tomorrow for a day and come back on Monday.

Thanks to the all for their suggestions, wishes. Nice to know that so many of you do read my blog.

Things happen, life goes on...

Driving Class

Just returned from my first driving lesson...

Started @ 1300 hrs approximately... The trainer came to pick me and two of my colleagues (ANS & SK) for the classes. A nice Pakistani chap. I was the first on the line. Started by explaining the controls and adjustments. Gave basic guidance and instructions. Asked me to test the brake and accelerator first.

Once I got used to that, made me push off... Drove on to the main roads directly, maybe cos I had some prior driving experience (7 years of it although on the opposite side of the road ;) ).
Went to a residential area where he made me take turns and fine tuned my braking and turning.

Then made me drive to a parking lot where he made me practice parking. The return trip was on a main road where the maximum speed was 40 mph ;)

At the end of the hour and half, he said that I did not need any further classes and can go ahead for the test. I asked for another class so that I could try some night time driving and highway driving too...

Hope to go the licence office and give the test sometime next week itself.

Independence is near, yet so far...

Seasons greetings

Wish a merry x'mas, a prosperous and happy new year to all the readers of my blogs...

It's holiday season here. Our clients are mostly on break. Large number of corporates are closed for 2 consecutive Mondays... have 4-day weeks coming in the next fortnight...

Starting my driving lessons today. The trainer is coming @ 1230 hrs to begin the course. Would be asking him to teach the intricacies within 2 classes. Would be appearing for my driving test sometime next week...

My nephew AB is getting married this xmas in Agra... Flew to India from here with his fiancee the last weekend. Wish him a happy married life.

Bought myself aNikon D50 SLR camera this week. My first big online purchase. Hope that it gets delivered within 7-10 days in mint condition... Trying to hatch the photographer out of me, been in incubation for too long. Hope to get some fascinating snaps for all to see...

As a gift to Indian republic for New Year's the Indian cricket team won the test match series against Sri Lanka... Yipee !! Way to go, team...

That's it people, I've touched base with myself for now... more later.

The Lone Rider

American roads, here I come...

Went to the Driving Facility today @ 6 in the morning...(to be the first in line ... literally). Stood there for 2 hours in the freezing cold to the point that lost sense of my toes by the end of the 2 hours... Wasn't wearing any head cover too, so froze up my ears too ;)

Yea things were pretty bad... but the end was worth the hardship... Got my learner's licence or driver's permit today... Now I can officially drive on the US roads and rent any damn automobile I want... or maybe even buy one for myself soon...

The process itself is pretty organized and it took just 20 minutes for me to get my permit. The office opened at 8 sharp. My documents were scrutinized beforehand... On entering, I got a ticket number which was called by one of the counter-personnel within 2 minutes. Gave my vision test there and document re-verification was done... Next step is to deposit the fee at the cashier's desk.

Once that is done, you need to take the question paper, sit on one of the designated desks and answer 35 objective type questions (20 situational + 15 sign-based). You are allowed a minimum score of 28 to clear the test. I scored a 100%.

The last step is for them to print your permit and you'r out...

A car gives you a lot of independence to survive, sustain, enjoy and commute at your own whim and fancy... Hope to now get the licence within a fortnight as an xmas or new year gift to myself...

And life goes on...

The Ice Age Begins

Today it snowed heavily for the first time this season. Current temperature: -4 deg. C / 21 deg F. Minimum expected: -21 deg C / -7 deg F.

The weather-man predicted heavy snowfall upto 3-4 inches starting in the evening. People started leaving early from office. Wise people. We stayed till 1630 hrs in office. By this time it had snow-flaked for an hour or so... Visibility was not more than a hundred feet and felt like 7ish in the evening.

Took a few corrections to keep the car on the road and an hour and half to cover the under 5 mile journey to our locality today from office. The drive was slow, treacherous at places but all in all an experience. I guess these experiences are going to get common as the winter progresses. It's estimated to snow approx. 15 inches of snow in a day and the temperatures supposed to drop further... Welcome Santa to the land of the snowman in the windy city...

This might explain why the concept of 'working from home', an 'air-tight' home and all day heating are so common here. Our reporting manager MLS here also confirmed the fact that we need not hurry to office till we complete the assigned tasks on time...

North Indians here would now feel 'hot', during the cold wave that hits northern India during the same time when they've faced the extreme climate here...

Happy snow-balling.... More later