Graduation and the Japanese Driver's License Test

Been slacking a bit but whatever!

The 3rd years (9th graders) graduated a little over 2 weeks ago and it was pretty awesome.  There was a graduation ceremony that felt just as formal as a high school ceremony back in the states.  I told some of the teachers that graduating from middle school wasn't such a big deal in the states because you couldn't do much with just graduating from middle school.  In fact, high school is mandatory in the states so it makes it even less of a big deal.

Students walked up and received diplomas and this went on for about maybe 20 minutes or so?  Can't remember.  Afterwards the 1st and 2nd years (8th and 7th graders) sang a song for their upperclassmen.  It was sad to see them go even though I hadn't been with them that long but for the most part I was glad to see them go (don't tell them that though!)

After the ceremony in the gym, students (I'm assuming since I didn't actually go up there with them) went back into their homerooms and said their final goodbyes and signed their year books before coming downstairs to a hallway filled with the younger students who congratulated them and said goodbyes and thank yous.  The teachers got in on the act too and people were handing out flowers and other gifts.  One of the 3rd years is going to sign up for a program in the states and he has a chance to go to Oregon if he gets in!  When he came down I gave him my email and told him to contact me if he got into the program.  Hope he does!


Before going home, a girl saw me, turned, and with a big smile yelled "Dustin!  I... forget... you!"  I was about to go over and German suplex her, but her friend helped her out and she corrected it into "Dustin, I remember you!"  It was sweet.  We made out after.  Ok no we didn't.  But she wanted to.  Ok maybe not.

So!  I had heard that the proctors for the Japanese Driver's test were racist.  I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and give it my all.  The practical test for the license isn't very practical.  It doesn't test your driving ability as much as it should and they pick on the smallest things.  There is a part in the test called the crank and it's basically 3 90 degree turns.
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My drawing sucks but that's the general idea of it.  You can back up 3 times if you think you'll hit the curb or a wall.  I had to back up zero times because I am awesome.  There is also a part that's basically the shape of an S and you have to navigate through that also.  These 2 parts show that you can navigate Japan's narrow roads, although the crank might not really exist in real life as it is on the test.

I nailed the test.  I know I did.  I did everything right.  But that moron decides to ask me, right after we finish "Do you drive like that in America?"  He gave me a LIST of stuff I didn't do (half of it I know I did) and at the end told me I didn't know how to hold a steering wheel even though I had been 10 2ing it the whole time.  Racist bastard!  I'm taking the test next Tuesday again and if I pass I'm not thanking him!

卒業【そつぎょう】 (sotsu/gyou) (n,vs,adj-no) (1) graduation