On the Loss of My License
Well, as of tomorrow, Japan is taking away my freedom. And by freedom, I mean my privilege to drive. I won't get a chance to take the driving test until August 13th, so I will be without a license for at least three weeks. Longer if I fail.
The reason why I am so upset about this is, as I realized in an epiphany last night, an American culture thing. In the States, there are three main things that define you as a functional adult member of society: a home, a job, and a driver's license. The home and job thing are a given in pretty much every first-world country, but the driver's license thing is a little more rare. In the States, we don't just use driver's licenses to drive; they are used as a person's main form of identification. If you want to tell someone who you are in an official capacity, you show them your driver's license. Of course there are ID cards in lieu of a DL, but they are still issued by the DMV and, admit it you Americans, if someone gives you an ID instead of a driver's license, your opinion of the person is knocked down a peg. Although far easier than getting a driver's license in, say, Japan, getting one in the States is no walk in the park either, but it is one of the most basic privileges the States has to offer. If you commit any sort of offense, one of the first things to go is the driver's license. And that's why I feel like... like I'm being punished.
I haven't been unable to drive since I was 15 years old. I guess I took it for granted all these years how convenient cars are. This morning I rolled out of bed twenty minutes before I was supposed to be at work and still got there on time. Yesterday I went to the store and bought an entire week's worth of groceries. Every two weeks, I splurge a little and take my laundry to the laundry mat to dry it. I won't be able to do any of those things without being able to drive my car.
I'm trying to be positive about this. I'll be biking to work every day, which is good for me. I always complain that I never have enough time to exercise and now it will be built into my day. Yes, it is hot as hell (at least it's not cold,) and yes, I will have to leave my apartment forty-five minutes earlier than I'm used to (which means that I have to go to bed earlier by extension) but hopefully all the little inconveniences won't stack up to the benefits. Just the thought of losing a little weight is a great motivator. If only Japan didn't have so many damn hills...
I'm also looking at this as a challenge. I'll have to learn to live without and budget my time wisely. I know, I know... the thought of a predictable Ann is terrifying to me, too. But the reality is that I won't be able to decide that I want a ficus plant ten minutes before the home store is going to close anymore. This no-license thing is going to put a serious dent in my impulse buying, which in theory is a good thing, but it takes away my spice of life. Sometimes being impulsive is the only way I get anything done.
However, right now, I am optimistic. I can still go anywhere I want, it'll just take a little longer.
Let's see how I feel tomorrow.
The reason why I am so upset about this is, as I realized in an epiphany last night, an American culture thing. In the States, there are three main things that define you as a functional adult member of society: a home, a job, and a driver's license. The home and job thing are a given in pretty much every first-world country, but the driver's license thing is a little more rare. In the States, we don't just use driver's licenses to drive; they are used as a person's main form of identification. If you want to tell someone who you are in an official capacity, you show them your driver's license. Of course there are ID cards in lieu of a DL, but they are still issued by the DMV and, admit it you Americans, if someone gives you an ID instead of a driver's license, your opinion of the person is knocked down a peg. Although far easier than getting a driver's license in, say, Japan, getting one in the States is no walk in the park either, but it is one of the most basic privileges the States has to offer. If you commit any sort of offense, one of the first things to go is the driver's license. And that's why I feel like... like I'm being punished.
I haven't been unable to drive since I was 15 years old. I guess I took it for granted all these years how convenient cars are. This morning I rolled out of bed twenty minutes before I was supposed to be at work and still got there on time. Yesterday I went to the store and bought an entire week's worth of groceries. Every two weeks, I splurge a little and take my laundry to the laundry mat to dry it. I won't be able to do any of those things without being able to drive my car.
I'm trying to be positive about this. I'll be biking to work every day, which is good for me. I always complain that I never have enough time to exercise and now it will be built into my day. Yes, it is hot as hell (at least it's not cold,) and yes, I will have to leave my apartment forty-five minutes earlier than I'm used to (which means that I have to go to bed earlier by extension) but hopefully all the little inconveniences won't stack up to the benefits. Just the thought of losing a little weight is a great motivator. If only Japan didn't have so many damn hills...
I'm also looking at this as a challenge. I'll have to learn to live without and budget my time wisely. I know, I know... the thought of a predictable Ann is terrifying to me, too. But the reality is that I won't be able to decide that I want a ficus plant ten minutes before the home store is going to close anymore. This no-license thing is going to put a serious dent in my impulse buying, which in theory is a good thing, but it takes away my spice of life. Sometimes being impulsive is the only way I get anything done.
However, right now, I am optimistic. I can still go anywhere I want, it'll just take a little longer.
Let's see how I feel tomorrow.