Feelslikefar
Senior Member
- Location
- Nashville, TN
One of the hardest things I've ever attempted and managed to accomplish, was learning to drive a manual transmission car in the UK.
By no means am I putting down the system, it's just how hard it can be to change a lifetime of training.
After the four years we spent there, I've come to think they probably got how to travel by car, right.
Not only does these things go against everything a US driver has been taught, like steering wheel on the right side, shifting with your
left hand, 1st gear is all the way to the left and then you are driving on the LEFT side of the road...
When I arrived at my base in 1987, was told I had 14 days to start the process to obtain an International Driver's License.
This was so I'd be allowed to drive military vehicles and later my POV, off-base.
Took a class on road laws and the most important item, Road Signs.
The problem began the moment you took an American built truck on to UK roads and where the real trouble began.
1st thing: you are now seated in the wrong position to see on-coming vehicles if you are behind another a car or Lorry.
You almost always had to have someone in the passenger seat as your 'Spotter' of what's happening ahead of you.
Since my wife and family didn't travel with me, due to waiting for our newly born son to be able to travel, I was worried about how
my wife would take to all the changes I was asking of her.
Right before they were scheduled to arrive, I was told that I would be deploying for 3 to 6 months very soon.
I broke the news to her and reassured her that she would be taken care of by those who stayed behind.
She just said, 'No problem, we'll work it out!'
What happened was she had about 1 month to get to know the different money used off-base, settle into a strange house in a very
small village with just a few Americans, learn to drive on the left and keep her 'sanity' with two boys, one just a baby and
I left for my deployment.
Turned out she was a much better driver than me on UK roads and became the principal driver if we explored the country on family outings.
She adapted quickly to almost every change.
She would put the baby in the Pram, gather her basket and head off to the small High Street in the village,
always finding goodies at the bakery and other shops.
Just goes to show that I'm 'wired' differently than she is (but we make a good team together).
I worry and sometimes let small things distract me, while she just makes things happen...
By no means am I putting down the system, it's just how hard it can be to change a lifetime of training.
After the four years we spent there, I've come to think they probably got how to travel by car, right.
Not only does these things go against everything a US driver has been taught, like steering wheel on the right side, shifting with your
left hand, 1st gear is all the way to the left and then you are driving on the LEFT side of the road...
When I arrived at my base in 1987, was told I had 14 days to start the process to obtain an International Driver's License.
This was so I'd be allowed to drive military vehicles and later my POV, off-base.
Took a class on road laws and the most important item, Road Signs.
The problem began the moment you took an American built truck on to UK roads and where the real trouble began.
1st thing: you are now seated in the wrong position to see on-coming vehicles if you are behind another a car or Lorry.
You almost always had to have someone in the passenger seat as your 'Spotter' of what's happening ahead of you.
Since my wife and family didn't travel with me, due to waiting for our newly born son to be able to travel, I was worried about how
my wife would take to all the changes I was asking of her.
Right before they were scheduled to arrive, I was told that I would be deploying for 3 to 6 months very soon.
I broke the news to her and reassured her that she would be taken care of by those who stayed behind.
She just said, 'No problem, we'll work it out!'
What happened was she had about 1 month to get to know the different money used off-base, settle into a strange house in a very
small village with just a few Americans, learn to drive on the left and keep her 'sanity' with two boys, one just a baby and
I left for my deployment.
Turned out she was a much better driver than me on UK roads and became the principal driver if we explored the country on family outings.
She adapted quickly to almost every change.
She would put the baby in the Pram, gather her basket and head off to the small High Street in the village,
always finding goodies at the bakery and other shops.
Just goes to show that I'm 'wired' differently than she is (but we make a good team together).
I worry and sometimes let small things distract me, while she just makes things happen...
