Driver's License Shenanigans
For the last month or so I've been building up to converting my Canadian driver's license into a Kiwi one. With the amount of stress I've exerted over it, you'd think it was some hugely difficult challenge. Really, it's just a 35 question theory test and all the questions are available for study online. So I spent Tuesday studying (and searching out the answers, because sneakily they don't provide an answer key, but make you hunt through the relevant section of the Road Code), and by the end of it I was prepared. These are the kinds of memory tests I excel at, so suddenly I wasn't worried. I rode down to the test centre yesterday all ready to pass with flying colours... Except, despite having reminded myself, I'd forgotten my passport. Oops. Take two - today: I had all the forms and IDs I needed and I was still ready to reel off answers in my sleep. Yes, I was thinking gleefully, once I'm done here I can finally do the next stage of my ambulance volunteering!
Testing lady (I think her name was Bronwyn): Er, is there an original date of license registration on this license (my Canadian one)?
Me: Um...huh?
Bronwyn: Well, you see, if I go by the issue date on this license, that's only last year (when it was last renewed), which means you'd have to take a practical test as well.
Me: *blank stare* You mean there's no way to tell how long I've been driving?
Bronwyn: Not by this, sorry.
Me: What if I contact the Canadians and get them to forward my original dates?
Bronwyn: Yep, sure, that'll be fine. Here's my number. In the meantime, here's your theory test, might as well do it now.
Me: *smiles gratefully and goes off to ace test*
So now I have to contact a branch of the Canadian goverment again and cross my fingers that their privacy act doesn't forbid them from emailing me my original registration date. Canadians do like their complications.
But in short, yay, I passed my theory test!
Testing lady (I think her name was Bronwyn): Er, is there an original date of license registration on this license (my Canadian one)?
Me: Um...huh?
Bronwyn: Well, you see, if I go by the issue date on this license, that's only last year (when it was last renewed), which means you'd have to take a practical test as well.
Me: *blank stare* You mean there's no way to tell how long I've been driving?
Bronwyn: Not by this, sorry.
Me: What if I contact the Canadians and get them to forward my original dates?
Bronwyn: Yep, sure, that'll be fine. Here's my number. In the meantime, here's your theory test, might as well do it now.
Me: *smiles gratefully and goes off to ace test*
So now I have to contact a branch of the Canadian goverment again and cross my fingers that their privacy act doesn't forbid them from emailing me my original registration date. Canadians do like their complications.
But in short, yay, I passed my theory test!