This past week has been crazy. I have finally started to do what I wanted to do for quite a long time--learn how to drive. Last Saturday, I enrolled myself in a driving school in Bicutan called Polaris. I took a tricycle and had difficulty looking for it, not knowing what the place looked like. It was near SM Bicutan so I started looking from there. I found the place nearby and to my surprise, the office was smaller than my tiny room. The lady was nice. I wanted to start but I had to get a student permit first in the LTO which they brought me to last Monday. I enrolled myself in the 7 hour program so my actual lessons started last Tuesday until Wednesday this coming week.

I thought getting a student permit was gonna be quick. I arrived there at around 10:30. There were quite a number of people there as well who were either getting a permit/license or for renewal. I accomplished the application form quickly and they gave me a number so I would wait for them to call me. I waited for a long time and people started to flock but the office was very slow in calling out numbers. To my dismay, it was already noon and just when I was the one who was going to be called, they announced a lunchbreak! Good thing there were food stores beside the LTO so I ate my lunch there. I quickly went back to the waiting shed where a lot of people were coming back as well. Finally, my number was called. I found out I made a mistake in the form as I didn't include my third name out of habit so that delayed me for a while but at least they waited for me instead of calling another number. After paying the fees and waiting in the heat, I finally headed home and me and my mom went to Makati. I watched You Again at Greenbelt.

The following day, I arrived just in time for the lesson. I was expecting that there was a lecture first but the driver, who looks intimidating, just gave me the car keys right away and ordered to follow him to the car. I initially headed to the passenger seat thinking the lecture was gonna be in the car but he gave me a weird look and took it as a sign to go to the driver's seat. He asked me to check the car first, the seats, side mirrors, etc. Good thing I read a few things about driving the night before because he asked me instantly about the pedals and shiftstick without really explaining them deeply. It took me a while before I got the right thing to do and we actually drove around the area after learning the basics. It was fun but nervewrecking. My legs even started shaking wildly which was kinda embarrassing. The car would often die in the middle of driving because I unconsciously press/release the clutch quickly/heavily. I actually know everything in my head but when executing them, I start to panic, like I usually do. After the first day ended, I felt relieved we were still alive!

The following day, it rained so hard and my time schedule was set late in the day. I almost thought of rescheduling but when the rain calmed down, I hurried and arrived a little late. We drove in the same area again in Betterliving but I didn't imagine I would improve so fast, even the driver could not believe it. The hour went smoothly as I was getting into the groove and felt more relaxed while driving.

The third day was almost the same, if not even better. We drove in service road and somewhere in Sucat. The rain seemed to follow me as heavy rain poured in the middle of the lesson and started to calm down as the day went on.

The fourth day, it was what I was scared off. I flopped and started making mistakes I had in the first day. The car would stop sometimes like it did because of the clutch. The driver was clearly disappointed and asked me what was wrong and I didn't know what to answer. It's not like I could tell him that it's natural for me to suddenly flop in the middle of improving.

The lessons resume on Monday morning and hopefully, I could bounce back big time.

In other news, Harry Potter will start regular showing next week and in anticipation, I decided to re-read book 7 again. Hopefully, I could watch it next week even though I know a lot of people are going to watch so I'm sure I can't watch it on the first day:(

Also, my younger brother unfortunately caught sore eyes so some people are staying in my room to sleep so I can't go to my own room for quite some time now. What a bummer.