So.... how are the driving lessons going?

[groovlstk 0]

I see one has to be careful what they post on the Russian forum. I hear swords being drawn.

My intent was to make a joke with an element of truth to it. Don't think it's naive to look at public transportation where it's available, walking to the restaurant and giving old Nelly Belle a rest in the garage, or getting good exercise and transportation at the same time on a nice mountain bike.

I realize for most your suggestion isn't an option, but my wife and I live in the NYC area and we both rely on our feet and the subway for transportation, 24/7. I have a car but use it only on weekends to visit friends, etc., and every couple of months my wife decides she's going to take the driver's exam but loses interest after a day of studying. If her experience in driving a snowmobile last Winter was any indication, the local driving population ought to be very grateful

[slim 1,533]

Sure, if you live in NYC or another area that has a public trans setup similar to what they have in Russia it only makes sense. If your area is bike friendly, that makes sense too. And of course, the North Pole is not the place for either. It's all about what's "common" in your area and for most of us on here, the "common" forms of trans that our S/Os used in Russia isn't "common" here so it's not an option.

I see one has to be careful what they post on the Russian forum. I hear swords being drawn.

My intent was to make a joke with an element of truth to it. Don't think it's naive to look at public transportation where it's available, walking to the restaurant and giving old Nelly Belle a rest in the garage, or getting good exercise and transportation at the same time on a nice mountain bike.

My comment was offered to those living in the "lower 48" and I exempt the 1% who live in the Arctic Circle from buses, trains, trolleys, subways and walking. Just keep loving that jeep as Alaska is one of the places they make sense to drive.

My wife will drive in the America and join the combustion engine club, but we'll share a car for awhile. She has already requested I buy her a bike so there will be no "funny looks." Sorry to disappoint. Bike riding is big in my area so she'll be in good company.

My wife's first job here in the States was within walking distance from our house and she never drove there. Worked great..... for a while. We shared a car (I drove her around for a while) until she finally got one and now walking, the bus, a bike, etc., is all just a distant memory. Except when we go to Russia, of course.

[Turboguy 6]

I don't think anyone is drawing any swords. For many of us her taking a bus is not a viable solution. For those who live in a larger city with good bus service it is a good option. For Groov to teach his wife to drive with the idea she would drive everywhere she needs to go would also be foolish. Here we have about 3 or 4 busses a day. You have to walk a long long way to catch one and they don't go very many places.

On the driving front, I think we are getting closer to the day for the big test. The idea of her driving alone still would scare me to death. Too bad this isn't Russia. I could slip the driving test guy a $ 20.00 to fail her. He would probably be shocked since every other driver in Russia would be slipping him money to pass them. I have heard some stories that in Russia you can just buy (bribe) your drivers liscence without ever spending a minute actually learning to drive. One more reason the roads there are hazardous.

[visao 1]

I taught my wife to drive. We started in a huge parking lot and went REAL SLOW. Don't try and push her, and don't let her out of the parking lots until she can really drive! That is my advice.

Go at night when no one is around in one of the larger employers in the area, or shopping mall. Security may harass you, but whatever, just go home and come back the next night when a more relaxed security guard is around.

It took about a month in the parking lots before we moved to the streets. Don't do any yelling, just be calm and relaxed as you can be. She was ready for the test in about 2 months. She aced the written but had to take the practical 4 times. Each time she did not pass it was 'the end of the world' for her, but anyway... on the fourth try she got nearly 100 percent. Each time she failed she had a female instructor, she had a male instructor the time she passed. Don't know what that means, draw your own conclusions...

Thanks for your advice

Same here I did not pass the road test the 1st time with the female, but passed 2nd time with a male instructor. He was so nice The female was a mean -----!

[slim 1,533]

I have heard some stories that in Russia you can just buy (bribe) your drivers liscence without ever spending a minute actually learning to drive. One more reason the roads there are hazardous.

The "driver's training course" my wife took in Russia prior to coming here was like $250 or something and did a couple of lessons in a car with an instructor and then issued all the trainees an international DL. (With no Russian DL necessary.) I'm not really sure what they taught her, but she said she passed the examination in a stick-shift because she didn't spin out on the ice when pulling away from the car behind her.

Surprisingly enough though, once she got here we had to start all over. (In an automatic because she couldn't drive a stick..... huh? Training, what training?)

[Neonred 3,950]

Wife took the learners permit test yesterday. There were 2 written tests. She passed one but failed the other on questions about how many points..., how many feet..., etc. Guess I'm off the hook for another week or two and the new car will be safe.

[slim 1,533]

Wife took the learners permit test yesterday. There were 2 written tests. She passed one but failed the other on questions about how many points..., how many feet..., etc. Guess I'm off the hook for another week or two and the new car will be safe.

Same with my wife. The points and feet and other "technicalities" were the only quetions she got wrong. I can be partly to blame for that because while studying we focused so much on the driving, signs, etc., I forgot to really push the other aspects; things like suspensions and DUI, etc.

Remember to help your S/O study for the whole test, not just the parts she'll need to drive.

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

Slim the offer still stands if you and your wife want to come up here for a visit, she can learn to drive from my wife and we can go golfing or fishing. The kid loves to go for a ride in the car and your wife can practice driving while distracted.

[slim 1,533]

Slim the offer still stands if you and your wife want to come up here for a visit, she can learn to drive from my wife and we can go golfing or fishing. The kid loves to go for a ride in the car and your wife can practice driving while distracted.

Thanks for the offer, but I try to keep my wife away from kids as much as possible. Those things are contagious. You and I would enjoy a nice round of golf followed by reeling in a few lunkers and then the next day I'd wake up with a white stick and a blue + in my face.

Thanks, but no thanks. (For now.)

[Brad and Vika 129]

Thanks for the offer, but I try to keep my wife away from kids as much as possible. Those things are contagious. You and I would enjoy a nice round of golf followed by reeling in a few lunkers and then the next day I'd wake up with a white stick and a blue + in my face.

I'm not so sure that came out exactly as you intended.

Oh, I think it did Vika has no need or desire to drive now, but recognizes that driving is part of life here. I also have a sixteen year old. Hopefully I can find an insurance company with a volume discount.

[Buck and Natalia 0]

Thanks for the offer, but I try to keep my wife away from kids as much as possible. Those things are contagious. You and I would enjoy a nice round of golf followed by reeling in a few lunkers and then the next day I'd wake up with a white stick and a blue + in my face.

I'm not so sure that came out exactly as you intended.

Oh, I think it did Vika has no need or desire to drive now, but recognizes that driving is part of life here. I also have a sixteen year old. Hopefully I can find an insurance company with a volume discount.

Oooooo... a volume discount would be nice. My wife and her 17-yr-old son both knew how to drive before they came here. I try not to think too much about how the 17-yr-old picked up his driving experience. He now has his learner's permit and will be going for the real deal (full license) next month. Natalia is driving on her international license with no problems. Both of them drive well although the 17-yr-old scared me a little when he off-handedly commented, "I will show them the meaning of Russian speed!". If you learn about any volume discounts let me know.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Will do - Cheers B)

[slim 1,533]

Thanks for the offer, but I try to keep my wife away from kids as much as possible. Those things are contagious. You and I would enjoy a nice round of golf followed by reeling in a few lunkers and then the next day I'd wake up with a white stick and a blue + in my face.

I'm not so sure that came out exactly as you intended.

Oh, I think it did Vika has no need or desire to drive now, but recognizes that driving is part of life here. I also have a sixteen year old. Hopefully I can find an insurance company with a volume discount.

Yeah... reading back through there I see it was a poor choice of words, especially among you **-erotic hounds. Should've said soemthing a little less fruity like "We would've enjoyed a nice day of doing manly activities like drinking beer and hitting things, killing some fish and eating them, drinking more beer. Then the next day my wife would tell me the results of her pregnancy test were positive." (Omitting all references to any sticks in faces.)

If you guys are vets or govt. employees you might want to check out USAA for insurance. They're super cheap. http://www.usaa.com

[Ban Hammer 14,606]

If you guys are vets or govt. employees you might want to check out USAA for insurance. They're super cheap. http://www.usaa.com

[Blues Fairy 0]

Just got my new car yesterday, and drove it all the way home from out of town! Driving here in Raleigh is a piece of cake compared to Moscow.

It's a Suzuki Verona, surprisingly. And I thought I was a strictly Honda girl.