The Gypsy: On Driving

The Gypsy: On Driving

The last time we spoke, I had mentioned that I was taking driving lessons.

It’s not that I didn’t know how to drive – I knew how to. I even took lessons from one of the most reputable driving schools in Manila. I even have a driver’s license! It’s more of the fact that I was very, very bad at driving (at the time). In my defense, I was driving a stick at the time. I didn’t have a choice. All the family cars I had access to were the manual transmission variety. What can I say, we are a family of “Macho Drivers”. However, during my very short driving stint in Manila, I figured in a near-fatal car accident that traumatized me for a long time. I didn’t dare touch car steering wheels (boat steering wheels are a different matter, tho!) for a good decade (and then some) after that.

It is no secret that I don’t drive. As one friend aptly put it, I was never really motivated to seriously learn how to drive as I’m used to having boys drive me around town. And it was true. Back in Manila, I’ve always had friends, romantic or otherwise, drive me where I need to go.

As in most areas, one needs to drive in order to get around conveniently, and because of my crippling fear to drive, I vowed to myself that I would only live in jurisdictions where there is a good public transport system – like Hong Kong. But living in Hong Kong didn’t pan out the way I expected – a good story for another post. And I knew living in the suburbs of Sweden was a problem too, as I was too dependent on my uncle’s and my then boyfriend’s availability to drive me around (oh how I sorely missed the boys I knew in my heyday!)

When I first moved to Dubai, driving wasn’t really a problem for me as I’ve always lived in the center of the city, where the metro is accessible. That was how I lived in Hong Kong, and I wasn’t one to turn my nose down on public transportation in Dubai. But honestly speaking, it was very rare that I got to go around using bus and metros. I always preferred cabs, mainly because I liked the convenience and I hated the wait. Unlike Hong Kong, where everywhere else is practically walking distance and you spend very little time actually on the transpo, Dubai transportation on the other hand, covers great distances, even a short ride to the building on the next street can take quite a bit of time as there are great distances (deserts) in between and lots of bus stops (so as to minimise walking under the sweltering desert sun).I was never really comfortable in busses and trains, so I would often take cabs instead.

About two years ago, I got a job in a location that isn’t serviced by the Dubai metro, and against my better judgment, I allowed myself to be convinced to move closer to my work place, with the arrangement that I would be sharing a car with somebody. Late last year, that person reneged on our agreement, among other agreements, and I was left practically in what I perceived to be the middle of nowhere. I was stranded basically in the middle of nowhere. Simple errands such us going to the grocery store or a coffee run became something that I needed to plan logistically. I was completely at the mercy of cabs. Not only was it a spendy endeavour, it felt claustrophobic. I literally felt like my wings were clipped.

So I decided to finally take the plunge and invest in driving lessons. That is another setback. It took me 4 months of driving school and one RTA driving test (yes, i passed in one take, thank you very much!), but I finally got my Driver’s license!

Off I ran to the car rental company to pick up a small hatchback for myself the minute i got that license into my hands! I have been driving every day of the week since, and let me tell you, it is liberating! I’ve only driven around my area, but oh my gosh, how happy I am!

I go to the coffee shop any time I want to now. I don’t have to bulk-buy my groceries anymore and pay Tetris with my tiny fridge. Oh my gosh. This is very fun!!!

I am still drumming up the courage to head to the freeway, or even to the malls (I am not the best at parking yet!) But I’m perfectly happy going around my small area!! 🙂

Now that I’m driving, my only regret is that I allowed my crippling fear (of being crippled in a car accident) to control my life for so long. But there’s no use crying over spilled milk anymore, as they say and I’m just glad I regained my wings back! Driving is so much fun!