1st July 2002 Mon10pm - Been raining the whole day
Yesterday was when the World Cup 2002’s (Korea & Japan) final was held. It was predictable that Brazil will definitely bring home the cup. Even excluding the possibility of any conspiracies in the game, I still think that Brazil team should deserve it. Though I watch a few matches, my impression of the team is outstanding. Even my mum praised them for their ‘attack’ strategy. Enough about them. Factors that make this year’s competition a memorable one: First time for China to enter World Cup though they are not as good as the Korea’s who make it to top four. It is also the first time when an Asian country to qualify for semi final. Many people believe the rumour the Korea pay a large sum to FIFA to reach that high. Well, me? None of my business.
Today, I wake up around 9am. Accompanied my parents to Potong Pasir hawker to have a noodle soup as well as pork porridge. I wish I have stayed in bed longer as the gay weather seems so cosy. But then I start to revise my driving theory to prepare for my FIRST practical driving lesson at Singapore Safety Driving Centre. All these weeks, my parents have been feeding me the knowledge that those instructors are very fierce and it doesn’t help when my cousin’s are like what they describe. All along with only theory, I though handling a car wouldn’t be a problem but I am totally wrong.
Reach the centre around 2pm when my lesson only starts at 2.40pm. From the screen, my allocated car no. is 68. So I wait there shivering (the air-con is so cold), and start to worry whether I can find the car and if my instructor is a “chi koh pak”. Luckily there are some people like me waiting too. So I follow suit. Time’s up. Begin to search for the car. Waited restlessly inside the car. Finally they arrived. Saw the fat one who get into the backseat first. He’s a trainee. Then my instructor in the driver seat. A Chinese man around the age of 40++. I couldn’t help staring at his face. Pimple scars with big pores. I make a mental note to take care of my skin carefully. Off my anxiety goes. He quite a friendly chap. He keeps telling me to relax. Things that he teaches me:
1. Adjust the seat. With right hand on the steering wheel, pull the seat in. Depress the clutch pedal to see whether my left leg is slightly bent. It can’t be straight otherwise I will difficulty holding down the clutch pedal for long. The degree of seat should be a little more then 90 degree and see whether it is in correct position, put right hand on the 12 o’clock of the steering wheel. My hand should be slightly bent, not straight.
2. Adjust the mirrors. Position the rear view mirror so that it can show the whole of the rear windscreen. Next, for the side mirrors, it’s electrically handled. One third of it should show the part of the car. The horizon should be slightly higher then the centre axis.
3. Secure seat belt.
4. Going off. Depress clutch pedal (& hold throughout) &/ brake pedal fully and turn the key in clockwise manner until you hear the idling engine sound and release the key immediately. Shift to Gear 1. Depress brake pedal and release the handbrake. Depress accelerator pedal a tiny bit and hold it there. Slowly release the clutch to a point whereby the car starts to move and hold it there. Until a moment, release the clutch pedal fully.
5. Stopping. Release accelerator pedal. Depress brake pedal on and off slightly. Otherwise the car will jerk. When come to a stop, depress clutch pedal (if not the engine will stall) and brake pedal fully. Shift gear to neutral and apply handbrake. When come to a stopping line, wait until the line disappears beyond the bonnet, apply brake.
6. Cornering. Look to centre white line as reference. When turning left/right, use hand-to-hand steering so to prevent tying up both hands. Lock steering mean turning it to the maximum. Try to make sure that the bonnet follows the curve of the white line. So the two white side lines are parallel, return the steering wheel
7. Windscreen wiper. Found on the left behind the steering wheel. Flip it down (or up, I forget!) and the wipers work itself once. Rotate the end to whatever speed of wiper desired.
8. Light switch. Flip it up, it’s left signal. Flip it down, it’s right signal.
Phew. Hope I get it all down.
I thought the first lesson would be getting to know more about the car. Never did I imagine that I’ll driving round the circuit. Well as typical as any female starter, engine stalls many times!!!! It’s either I forget stepping the clutch or I don’t even know if I depressing it because my sandal’s sole too thick. Even got one time, the car surge to high speed cause I depresses the accelerator too hard unknowingly. I even go straight past zebra-crossing while a lady passenger is crossing. My humorous instructor ask whether the passenger give way to me. Gee.. I know what to expect when come to “On road training” Another close shave is when I am unable to driving leftward on a straight path. A motorcycle trainee, a cute guy, is waiting for me to clear before turning to his right. I admire his reserve when my car is about to swerve to his side. He smiles at me as though telling me I’m a “kayu” driver. Hai….the first lesson is already full of mistakes. Problems lie in coordinating the footwork and also the uncertain degree of turning at corners. Fortunately, my instructor is very calm and patience with me. One time I brake too hard resulting 3 of us being jerked roughly. He say that without the seat belt, he probably knocks his head into windscreen. And then we repeat braking several times until I brake smoothly.
Toward the end of the lesson, I keep thinking whether I should ask him to be my fixed instructor but then on the other hand, I like to try few more instructors to see their teaching skills and then decide. But he says there is a possibility to have him as my instructor. My next lesson would be on Wed. I’m going to have more confidence then. Let see what will happen. Stay tune.
Yesterday was when the World Cup 2002’s (Korea & Japan) final was held. It was predictable that Brazil will definitely bring home the cup. Even excluding the possibility of any conspiracies in the game, I still think that Brazil team should deserve it. Though I watch a few matches, my impression of the team is outstanding. Even my mum praised them for their ‘attack’ strategy. Enough about them. Factors that make this year’s competition a memorable one: First time for China to enter World Cup though they are not as good as the Korea’s who make it to top four. It is also the first time when an Asian country to qualify for semi final. Many people believe the rumour the Korea pay a large sum to FIFA to reach that high. Well, me? None of my business.
Today, I wake up around 9am. Accompanied my parents to Potong Pasir hawker to have a noodle soup as well as pork porridge. I wish I have stayed in bed longer as the gay weather seems so cosy. But then I start to revise my driving theory to prepare for my FIRST practical driving lesson at Singapore Safety Driving Centre. All these weeks, my parents have been feeding me the knowledge that those instructors are very fierce and it doesn’t help when my cousin’s are like what they describe. All along with only theory, I though handling a car wouldn’t be a problem but I am totally wrong.
Reach the centre around 2pm when my lesson only starts at 2.40pm. From the screen, my allocated car no. is 68. So I wait there shivering (the air-con is so cold), and start to worry whether I can find the car and if my instructor is a “chi koh pak”. Luckily there are some people like me waiting too. So I follow suit. Time’s up. Begin to search for the car. Waited restlessly inside the car. Finally they arrived. Saw the fat one who get into the backseat first. He’s a trainee. Then my instructor in the driver seat. A Chinese man around the age of 40++. I couldn’t help staring at his face. Pimple scars with big pores. I make a mental note to take care of my skin carefully. Off my anxiety goes. He quite a friendly chap. He keeps telling me to relax. Things that he teaches me:
1. Adjust the seat. With right hand on the steering wheel, pull the seat in. Depress the clutch pedal to see whether my left leg is slightly bent. It can’t be straight otherwise I will difficulty holding down the clutch pedal for long. The degree of seat should be a little more then 90 degree and see whether it is in correct position, put right hand on the 12 o’clock of the steering wheel. My hand should be slightly bent, not straight.
2. Adjust the mirrors. Position the rear view mirror so that it can show the whole of the rear windscreen. Next, for the side mirrors, it’s electrically handled. One third of it should show the part of the car. The horizon should be slightly higher then the centre axis.
3. Secure seat belt.
4. Going off. Depress clutch pedal (& hold throughout) &/ brake pedal fully and turn the key in clockwise manner until you hear the idling engine sound and release the key immediately. Shift to Gear 1. Depress brake pedal and release the handbrake. Depress accelerator pedal a tiny bit and hold it there. Slowly release the clutch to a point whereby the car starts to move and hold it there. Until a moment, release the clutch pedal fully.
5. Stopping. Release accelerator pedal. Depress brake pedal on and off slightly. Otherwise the car will jerk. When come to a stop, depress clutch pedal (if not the engine will stall) and brake pedal fully. Shift gear to neutral and apply handbrake. When come to a stopping line, wait until the line disappears beyond the bonnet, apply brake.
6. Cornering. Look to centre white line as reference. When turning left/right, use hand-to-hand steering so to prevent tying up both hands. Lock steering mean turning it to the maximum. Try to make sure that the bonnet follows the curve of the white line. So the two white side lines are parallel, return the steering wheel
7. Windscreen wiper. Found on the left behind the steering wheel. Flip it down (or up, I forget!) and the wipers work itself once. Rotate the end to whatever speed of wiper desired.
8. Light switch. Flip it up, it’s left signal. Flip it down, it’s right signal.
Phew. Hope I get it all down.
I thought the first lesson would be getting to know more about the car. Never did I imagine that I’ll driving round the circuit. Well as typical as any female starter, engine stalls many times!!!! It’s either I forget stepping the clutch or I don’t even know if I depressing it because my sandal’s sole too thick. Even got one time, the car surge to high speed cause I depresses the accelerator too hard unknowingly. I even go straight past zebra-crossing while a lady passenger is crossing. My humorous instructor ask whether the passenger give way to me. Gee.. I know what to expect when come to “On road training” Another close shave is when I am unable to driving leftward on a straight path. A motorcycle trainee, a cute guy, is waiting for me to clear before turning to his right. I admire his reserve when my car is about to swerve to his side. He smiles at me as though telling me I’m a “kayu” driver. Hai….the first lesson is already full of mistakes. Problems lie in coordinating the footwork and also the uncertain degree of turning at corners. Fortunately, my instructor is very calm and patience with me. One time I brake too hard resulting 3 of us being jerked roughly. He say that without the seat belt, he probably knocks his head into windscreen. And then we repeat braking several times until I brake smoothly.
Toward the end of the lesson, I keep thinking whether I should ask him to be my fixed instructor but then on the other hand, I like to try few more instructors to see their teaching skills and then decide. But he says there is a possibility to have him as my instructor. My next lesson would be on Wed. I’m going to have more confidence then. Let see what will happen. Stay tune.
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