Sep 9

Ok ! This time I got my test !

I was excited like a young student for its graduation :D We were late to the DMV (closing at 4.30pm and arrived at 4.23pm) but the officer let me pass the test.

I did 10 false ! Just the maximum autorized to get it and counting my errors during the test.
Oh well. That’s “funny” to have to do that 12 years after my driving exam in France.

Now, I need to get my french driving license translated by an official translator (yes yes paperwork …), come back to the DMV again and I should get my New Jersey License !

What was interesting by studying the driving guide is the fact that two major concerns were largely developped : about kids and alcohol ! For kids, it was all the attention about their place in the car (I imagine that a lot of accidents involved kids in the past). About alcohol, the concern was very emphased to say to you clearly : don’t drink and drive. It seems so obvious but it’s true that there is so much problem of alcohol and driving in this country that the laws reflect clearly the problem.

The biggest problem comes from the young drivers at college and drinking beer like a pig and then driving … You can see easily what is next ! It’s interesting to see that the fatalities in accident in USA an roughly constant since 1982 (~42000) but the percentage related to alcohol is dropping from 60 to 39 (source: http://www.alcoholalert.com/drunk-driving-statistics.html).

The source of those numbers can easily be seen on the road with the behavior of the drivers (specially in NJ, in Vermont they are pretty easy ^^). Reckless driving is clearly a major concern as well a great source of accident.

Well, I have to be carefull on the road to not increase rapidly my insurance bill (yes for them I’m considered as a young driver for 3 years!!!!) and be in one piece ;)

Aug 30

argggggg ! bad day today …..

I was at the DMV to get my driving license (cause my french doesn’t apply here …). First, at Springfield, they just don’t know what to answer to me (if even they want to work !). And now at Elisabeth, I failed the basic test …

I feel humiliated to have to pass those kind of test at my age and failed like that …

Oh well ! I have to study the book and learn it word by word almost …

Well just a bad day …

Feb 14
At last !
icon1 nrdufour | icon2 Uncategorized | icon4 02 14th, 2006| icon3No Comments »

At last !

We just got back from the immigration building, my wife and I, where we had an interview with an USA immigration officer to discuss about my green card after our wedding !

We were very neveous and the lawyer did show up one hour late ! But the interview was better than I expected :

She asked each of us about informations about the other : what is his birthday ? Do you know where she work ? and so on. Questions checked by the file she had (the officer). In fact, it seems that after seeing our wedding pictures (she kept all of them !) and our health insurance policy where our names are in it, she just check us on usual questions.

Like said the lawyer : our case was the easiest one he got ;) .

But anyway, it was lots of stress (you never know what the gov can do against you …) and lots of wait time and papers to fill up.

So if your are in the same situation than us (marrying a us citizen) dont waste your time and take immediatly a lawyer : it’s a great help specially to fill up the right forms and in the right time (he was late this morning, but after all our case is done so …)

Anyway, that means I have now the same right than any american citizen (except to vote or be elected i think). It’s a great relief and we can go on now :)

Thanks to all of you who help us (friends, work relationships and so on) for your support !