Journey to Driving Licence

            In Sharjah, to own a car is much easier than to have a driving licence. To apply for a driving licence at Sharjah Driving Institute (SDI), one must have company’s permission letter written in Arabic. So, I wrote an e-mail to my Reporting Manager to forward my request for permission to the concerned officer for approval of the same. However, I did not have any intention to impress him with regard to my written communication. As a result of poor communication, I was supposed to take lessons on Business English from Emirates Professional Training Institute to improve my communication skills. I met my Reporting Manager and explained to him the entire thing. And then, he forwarded the edited mail to the concerned officer. After 3 follow-ups, HR issued that letter and applied in SDI.

            One and a half year passed. I then went to follow up at SDI. The gentleman sitting on reception stared on me and asked, “Why are you enquiring after such a long time?” It was confirmed by this institute to receive a call when to start my Theory Class. He smiled and replied, “Have rest, we will call you.” I went three times for the same to the SDI later on. After 3 months, I got a call from SDI and attended the Theory Class. It was really quite impressive.

            After six months, I started the practical class. It was my 1^st class; my instructor asked me, “How old are you?”  I replied “32 years.” He said, “You look like 50. It was quite shocking that I looked more than my age. Everyone used to say to me- before that I look younger than my age. My instructor was Egyptian and quite well-behaved. But the classes were painful inside road at SDI. Roads are designed to bend at every one min. In those days, at my job front, commissioning of all new machines was going on. So, it was required to put all attention on that and driving class too required the same. Both were quite challenging for me. Fortunately, I had got very skilled instructor, but when he becomes angry, it is quite difficult to make him cool. I thought many times to change him but whenever I thought so, the same day he taught me some such interesting facts about the driving that I was amazed. I felt no one can teach me like this. I kept my class continued with him. During my class, I found him to be the best.

            After three months, both driving and job were going to be troublesome.  Being an Indian, it was tough to explain to my family that I was struggling for a driving license. Anyway, I was moving forward. I entered in yard test, Pre test and Road Test. I failed several times in these tests. Every failure disappointed me and reduced my confidence. It seemed I would never get through such rigorous tests. During this period, a few managers had joined the factory. They all had different comments about the existing system and different opinions on the term used for operation. So, it was difficult to make them agree for smooth operation of all machines. That’s why life was boring too.

            Finally, after 5 month of struggle, I got the licence. Now, job also seems easy. All is well. Thank God.