learning to drive the ミニカー

The foreign teacher preceding me in 中之条町 was an Australian girl, and previous to my arrival we had arranged that I would purchase her little white ミニカー minika- (minicar). Although Japan is renowned for its highly developed railway and mass transit system, one does not need to travel more than a couple of hours in any land direction out of 東京 Tokyo to find that the majority of the country, although served by rail lines, are inaccessable without a car. In 中之条町 the train arrived once an hour from the city going toward the end of the 吾妻線 Agatsuma line and once an hour going back in toward the city (前橋市と高崎市 the cities of Maebashi and Takasaki) that would permit transfer to other prefectures. Within the town itself, I had work responsibilities that took me to two different middle schools (one within walking distance, one a few miles away, through a tunnel, toward the end of the road that leads through 中之条 and ends in 四万温泉 Shima onsen, a hot spring resort area that is one of 中之条町's most boasted tourist attractions that lies at the base of the mountains separating 群馬県 Gunma and 新潟県 Niigata Prefectures. I also rotated around to various elementary schools for the token "外人 exposure", although I did succeed in teaching the upper-level students (grades 4-6) a decent amount of English; their levels were notably higher upon entry into middle school.

It was thus deemed necessary for the town's 外人 to have one's own transportation, thus a bit more independence. However, as most know, the Japanese drive on the wrong side of the street! (yes, I said that just to poke at a few of my dear readers) The 三菱ミニカー Mitsubishi minicar I drove was also, of course, manual transmission. Fortunately my father had taught me to drive on a stick, so that gave me no problems. In great relief, Papa-chan confided to me the immense frustration he had to endure in teaching my predecesor to drive stick...I can just picture him hopping down the narrow stretch of lane connecting my home with the main road, wondering if they were going to end up patas arriba in the rice paddy. In learning to drive stick, my father often just had me ride in the passenger seat and made me feel when he took his foot off the gas to disengage the clutch, and I would shift accordingly. Little did I know how well this would prepare me for driving in Japan...

Let's start with the obvious differences. They go on the left. We go on the right. The first few times you are a passenger in a car making a right turn across traffic it is enough to make your heart stop, naturally with your life flashing in front of your eyes, sure there was going to be a head-on collision. The driver sits, therefore, on the right and not on the left. The gear shift and emergency brake were in the center, at my left hand. Fortunately there was no difference in positioning the gas, brake and clutch pedals. The ワイパー(waipa-) "wiper" and the ウィンカー(winka-) "winker" (turn signal) were reversed, however; every single $%/&*! time I wanted to signal a turn during my first month at the Japanese wheel, I ended up with my windshield wipers on.

I decided to wait a month, until I had to start driving to school, to start driving. There was a market, albeit expensive, within walking distance from my home. The fact that it was a sharp uphill climb all the way back home didn't help much, but I could shop without driving when need be. Anyhow, I figured, I could observe a bit of the ways of the road, the unstated rules, etc. before I would actually endanger the entire driving public of 中之条 by maneuvering the streets.

Mike, my fellow 外人 teacher from New York who was new in the neighboring town already took the plunge, and one night toward the end of August invited me over to a gathering at his アパート(apa-to) apartment. Well...I figured...there is absolutely NOBODY on the road. I have my International License. My car is appropriately insured, 車検 in place for another year and a half...no problems. That evening would be the best to try this out.

I soon realized why there are so many mini-sized cars on the road. The lanes are really narrow, and some one-way lanes are for two-way traffic. Wow. So I get out of my little rice paddy-lined lane and take a deep breath: a real street. Now, what side of the street do I want to get on? How to I get to 吾妻町Agatsuma-machi? I got out and turned. Right. But across traffic. I was sure all of 中之条町 was peering out their windows to observe the 外人 trying to drive on their streets.

Just up to the school, to feel secure in what I'm doing. Yeah.

Wait. What's that?!

Sirens!

Ohmygosh, they're after me! I see lights!

How the hell do I pull over???? My instinct is to pull over to the right...but no, wait, that is across traffic here. Left. Go left. Left. They're going to GET ME!!! They know, someone must have informed...

Oh...

It's a 救急車 (kyukyu-sha) an ambulance.

At least it wasn't the cops.

Trembling, I put the car into gear and putted up the huge slope to the school, stopped in the parking lot and put my head down on the steering wheel. Is a party really worth all this stress?

Yeah, it is.

Strength. Valor. Think Samurai values. I can do this, for goodness sakes.

I made it, and was aptly rewarded for having the most colorful arrival story of the group.

My little ミニカー took me all over the region for half of my stay. I could somehow fit three other desperate skiers and all of our ski gear inside the car to hit the slopes. I think "desperate" was the operative idea. Even with winter and 中之条町 's snowy roads, my little ミニカー stuck to the street and gave me no problems; I never had to chain up.

I think that one of the most difficult parts of learning to drive in Japan was the return to the United States' roads. Wiper/winker difficulties. Yikes. It also took a very long time for me to, when turning onto a road with no oncoming traffic to assist me, figure out which side of the street I was to be driving on. This still occurs; albeit rare, I still have what I call an "oops...Japan moment."

Just warning you!