Learner's day out

My to-do list on a day-off like this is longer than usual, and I'm glad I've got a tick next to each one of them. For some reason time here seems to go faster, and with the already shorter day hours of the season, getting things done can be quite a feat.

I suppose having Lashan around helped out a lot. Now on holidays, he had his own to-do list as well, including picking up a friend from the airport in the afternoon. This friend had let him her car while away for a trip, so cruising around to accomplish some of them was faster and easier.

To begin with, he had to drop me off at VicRoads. In September last year, I sat for the learner's computer test but, despite having passed the exam, was not issued a Learner's Permit. Strangely enough, a friend with a similar overseas licence and who took the same test with me got hers, just because she had a permanent residency visa.

"So, what about the foreign students?" I asked.

After a pause, "Look, just come back when you have the letter from your country."

That letter, to be requested from the Transportation Office that issued my licence, must mention the date of issuance, as this was not indicated on the licence. Although having argued that the year of issuance is reflected on the licence number and that my friend had a similar card, their stares just went through me. So, I took an about-face, lest my nares would start spiting arrows of fire over the counter.

Well, I went back a week after that, hoping my luck would be different with another person behind that counter. As it turned out, I ended up hearing the same thing, as that piece of information about me had already been immortalised on their computer records -- or so I thought. One good thing that's come out of that visit though was learning that I could have opted not to sit for the test I took and went straight to the only required tests for full licence conversion, because I've been driving long enough.

So, today I walked in with a mighty confidence that I'd finally get it. After months of waiting, my dad had sent me that letter, obtaining which had been a whole different drama in itself. (Three copies of my request letters with certified photocopies of my licence had mysteriously not reached my dad -- or worse, plucked out of the mailing envelope!) Anyway, a new drama unfolded as I submitted the letter.

"Oh, September. Quite a long time ago.... Your name is not showing up in our computer." With subdued sarcasm, I said that it might be because they have perpetuated the incorrect spelling of my surname. "Not really. There's no listing under 'Mu-'. " So what now?

"The fine print below says the result of the test is valid for 12 months," I firmly pointed out.

The lady asked me to leave other relevant IDs and documents on her counter. Although having been asked to take a seat as she went about her business, I patiently -- and impatiently -- stood on my flat feet, keeping my stares behind the counter to, hehehe, impose a bit of pressure. Soon, she handed me the same application form I filled out to get the exam. I filled it out in a jiff, even being quite unsure about that date of issuance again because the document didn't include the day and month. I wrote only what I knew, but to my surprise the lady herself 'doctored' the blanks. My, my, my.

A few minutes later, I was posing for a toothless smile behind their camera. While waiting during the processing, I had Lashan laughing his head off at yet another senseless bureacratic tale. Finally my name was called out. We stared at the Lam on the ID photo. She seemed happy to be there. Not bad.