Thursday, August 23, 2012

driving lessons

Two rules:

1. Ooze. No sudden movements, no straight lines.

2. Expect the unexpected. Every living object in range will probably do something that defies the laws of self-preservation.

I am learning to drive. In Asia in rainy season on the left side of the road in a manual truck with a tailgate that doesn't shut. I should have played more video games as a college student.

Here's what I've learned so far. Motorbikes will pass me on both sides. Signal lights usually indicate, not the direction the other driver intends to go, but where he is telling me NOT to go. Head light flashes mean, not that I should go ahead, but that the other driver is going to barrel through and I need to get out of the way. When a traffic light turns green, I should not go, but WAIT - until the congregation of bicycles and motorcycles and rickshaws (that just butted in front of me) have started into the intersection...then I may slowly start to go. If I run into a cow between 6am and 6pm, it is the owner's fault (for not corralling his animal). If I run into a cow between 6pm and 6am, it's my fault (for not seeing the cow). The general mindset on the road is this: everything that happens behind you is karma; everything that happens in front of you is free will. Translation: motorbikes dart crazily in front of me all the time and it is my responsibility not to hit them.

It's a steep learning curve. With a lot of lightning prayers.

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