I’m not a good driver. I’m nervous, inexperienced, and I have no sense of direction. That’s why I avoid driving whenever possible. Every time we move to a new country I move by foot, bike, or taxi until I can no longer avoid taking the wheel.
Driving in a foreign country is daunting, especially when it’s busy or the road system isn’t in a good condition. Unfortunately, that’s the case in most countries. I couldn’t believe some of the things I’ve seen on foreign roads.
It includes: rows of metal spikes (put there by the Nigerian government to slow traffic), moving cars with doors swinging open (old cars are the norm in Armenia), and 2-lane roads turned into 4-lane roads (totally normal in Uruguay).
Still, there always comes a time when driving myself is unavoidable. When public transport systems are chaotic or non-existent, for example. Also, I feel guilty for making my husband drive all the time (although he says he’d rather drive himself than let me do it—go figure).
MY FIRST DRIVE IN ARMENIA
I’ve lived in Armenia for well over a year and only just last week I gave it a try. The reason: to encourage my American neighbor to start driving. It’s not that I’m ashamed of not driving. Just like Gloria Steinem, I prefer to interact with people when I’m out of the house instead of sitting in a car all by myself. Also, I like to exercise and I think there are more than enough cars on the road already.
But I didn't want my fear of driving to stop my neighbor from driving. So I put my game face on and we drove, convoy-style, to the mall together.
I knew the road I was going to take well: it goes from my home to the nearest mall. The drive could hardly be easier: it requires only three right turns. Even the drive back requires only right turns, except that it involves a tricky little rotunda. Needless to say, I survived.
THE ROAD AHEAD
My next drive is going to be to the embassy. In theory, the drive isn’t much harder than the drive to the mall. It only involves two right turns, and one left turn.
The left turn is a big problem though.
I can't take the left turn without shifting three lanes within a 100-foot stretch. In that stretch, my side-road merges with a three-lane road right in front of traffic lights. You’d think other drivers are slowing down anyway for the traffic lights, and don’t mind letting the merging traffic in, right?
Wrong.
In Armenia, giving way to other cars is like blasphemy. Once they see you coming, Armenian drivers either speed up or aggressively honk at you.
I fail to understand how a population that is so incredibly nice otherwise can be so ungallant when driving. One driver explains it as follows: most Armenians couldn’t afford a car until recently and have no proper training. Lacking experience and training, most don’t know how to respond to difficult traffic situations.
And difficult situations are plentiful on Yerevan’s roads. They include crappy asphalt, lack of signs, hidden exits, and sudden U-turns. And although the cars have improved somewhat in recent years, many of them are still from last century. The classic example is a car called “jigouli” (see picture).
I’m so terrified of the road to the embassy that I’ve mapped several alternative routes already. But one of these days I’m just going to do it. I’m going to conquer the three-lane merge. If you don’t hear from me soon… I probably just haven’t done it yet.
代发外链 提权重点击找我;
google留痕 google留痕;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Slots Fortune…
站群/ 站群;
万事达U卡办理 万事达U卡办理;
VISA银联U卡办理 VISA银联U卡办理;
U卡办理 U卡办理;
万事达U卡办理 万事达U卡办理;
VISA银联U卡办理 VISA银联U卡办理;
U卡办理 U卡办理;
온라인 슬롯 온라인 슬롯;
온라인카지노 온라인카지노;
바카라사이트 바카라사이트;
EPS Machine EPS Machine;
EPS Machine EPS Machine;
EPS Machine EPS Machine;
google seo…
03topgame 03topgame;
gamesimes gamesimes;
Fortune Tiger…
Fortune Tiger…
Fortune Tiger…
EPS Machine…
EPS Machine…
seo seo;
betwin betwin;
777 777;
slots slots;
Fortune Tiger…
seo优化 SEO优化;
bet bet;
무료카지노 무료카지노;
무료카지노 무료카지노;
google 优化 seo技术+jingcheng-seo.com+秒收录;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Slots Fortune…
站群/ 站群
gamesimes gamesimes;
03topgame 03topgame
EPS Machine EPS Cutting…
EPS Machine EPS and…
EPP Machine EPP Shape…
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
EPS Machine EPS and…
betwin betwin;
777 777;
slots slots;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
무료카지노 무료카지노;
무료카지노 무료카지노;
google 优化 seo技术+jingcheng-seo.com+秒收录;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Slots Fortune…
站群/ 站群
gamesimes gamesimes;
03topgame 03topgame
EPS Machine EPS Cutting…
EPS Machine EPS and…
EPP Machine EPP Shape…
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
EPS Machine EPS and…
betwin betwin;
777 777;
slots slots;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
무료카지노 무료카지노;
무료카지노 무료카지노;
google 优化 seo技术+jingcheng-seo.com+秒收录;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
Fortune Tiger Slots Fortune…
站群/ 站群
gamesimes gamesimes;
03topgame 03topgame
EPS Machine EPS Cutting…
EPS Machine EPS and…
EPP Machine EPP Shape…
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;
EPS Machine EPS and…
betwin betwin;
777 777;
slots slots;
Fortune Tiger Fortune Tiger;