Hello Internet.
Sorry to leave you hanging about my test. Let me tell you about it.
Chris and drove for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours to get to Lincoln to take the test. It was lovely countryside for the last 30 minutes of the drive. I was so, so nervous that I thought I might die... I had a stress headache, but couldn't bring myself to study at all on the way to the testing centre. We got to Lincoln and let me just remind you (or inform you), that where we live (March) it is flat as a pancake... no hills AT ALL. Most of the cars in the UK are manual which, I handle just fine in flat-land - but Lincoln - the cathedral is on a hill and it seemed as if the whole city was on a hill (that spells TROUBLE). So Chris and I proceeded to get well and truly lost. Going down loads of one way streets, trying my hardest not to stall the car in traffic, and trying very hard not to shout at each other. Mostly we just laughed and laughed. It is a good thing we are both people who are chronically early so when we got lost we had at least an hour to spare. Eventually Chris turned the map around (not his fault, dodgy map - oh and on google maps one of the directions was - "make a left and then make a U-turn" uh duh? and CONFUSING) and we found the right street but not the right building. So Chris called and we got directions... the problem was the building was over the river and we had to drive over the steepest bridge I have EVER seen. I thought the test would be stressful but it was nothing compared to the bridge I had to cross (for those of you who don't know - my phobia? BRIDGES). So I managed, barely, to get over the bridge and then I went in.
By this point I was feeling quite confident in the test and figured there was nothing more to do so I just relaxed (as much as possible, knowing my fate in England depended on this test). I waited for about 6 other people to come in the waiting room and then they took us in one by one to register us. After that they brought us all back in and gave us the rules and said there would be 24 questions and 45 minutes. We had 4 practice questions, I got all 4 right, which increased my confidence and then we started on the test. 5 minutes later (yes a mere 5)... I was done. So I took 5 more minutes to check my answers, but I knew the more I re-read them the more I would second guess myself so, I was the first person to finish and they took me back in the waiting room - at this point I felt alright I knew most of the questions (EASY) and guessed on just a few - before hand Chris figured out how many I could miss and still get 75%. I knew I wasn't sure on only two so I thought there was no way I couldn't pass it!
As I was waiting, the others starting filing in talking of how this was their 4th and 5th times and then I started to get nervous... and my stress headache came back with a vengeance. So I wait, and wait... because some people were going to take the whole 45 minutes, then they needed to print out the certificates and I had to wait the longest. Finally the test man (I don't know what else to call him), came in and said results are ready - ladies first. So up I stand and walk to the testing room. I get in there and walk towards the test man and he hand me a piece of paper, I don't know what it means until he says, "Congratulations! You've passed!"
I have NEVER in my life felt pressure and stress physically LIFT off of my body, but I did then. It was marvelous! I got to the car, where Chris was waiting, I told him I passed and he said, "See, I knew you would!"
Then I sat there and wanted to just sleep. I felt as if I had just had a massive massage. I didn't know how stressed I really was. But looking back it was effecting every area of my life - especially my marriage, and I was SO happy the test was over and I could go back to normal!
Chris and I decided not to look around Lincoln - I just wanted to get home. We took a beautiful drive home (different from the way there) and drove through the lovely English countryside - stopping at an old church. Just riding with the windows down and the music, exploring little towns and just enjoying each others company. We stopped at Pizza Hut on the way home, which was a HUGE disappointment (Chris complained and we got £5.00 off our bill) and then we got home. And I slept and slept and slept.
So now, I can relax about the test. There is the small matter of coming up with £395.00 in a month, but for now I can relax.
I know it is a lot of stress and lots of people have suggested I don't get the visa and just go back to Utah without Chris, but I could never do that. Now, our goal is to be back by January, so we can spend Christmas here with Chris' family. We'll see how long that lasts, but at least, for now, I know that I am one step closer to being able to REALLY live here - for as long as I need to!
Sorry to leave you hanging about my test. Let me tell you about it.
Chris and drove for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours to get to Lincoln to take the test. It was lovely countryside for the last 30 minutes of the drive. I was so, so nervous that I thought I might die... I had a stress headache, but couldn't bring myself to study at all on the way to the testing centre. We got to Lincoln and let me just remind you (or inform you), that where we live (March) it is flat as a pancake... no hills AT ALL. Most of the cars in the UK are manual which, I handle just fine in flat-land - but Lincoln - the cathedral is on a hill and it seemed as if the whole city was on a hill (that spells TROUBLE). So Chris and I proceeded to get well and truly lost. Going down loads of one way streets, trying my hardest not to stall the car in traffic, and trying very hard not to shout at each other. Mostly we just laughed and laughed. It is a good thing we are both people who are chronically early so when we got lost we had at least an hour to spare. Eventually Chris turned the map around (not his fault, dodgy map - oh and on google maps one of the directions was - "make a left and then make a U-turn" uh duh? and CONFUSING) and we found the right street but not the right building. So Chris called and we got directions... the problem was the building was over the river and we had to drive over the steepest bridge I have EVER seen. I thought the test would be stressful but it was nothing compared to the bridge I had to cross (for those of you who don't know - my phobia? BRIDGES). So I managed, barely, to get over the bridge and then I went in.
By this point I was feeling quite confident in the test and figured there was nothing more to do so I just relaxed (as much as possible, knowing my fate in England depended on this test). I waited for about 6 other people to come in the waiting room and then they took us in one by one to register us. After that they brought us all back in and gave us the rules and said there would be 24 questions and 45 minutes. We had 4 practice questions, I got all 4 right, which increased my confidence and then we started on the test. 5 minutes later (yes a mere 5)... I was done. So I took 5 more minutes to check my answers, but I knew the more I re-read them the more I would second guess myself so, I was the first person to finish and they took me back in the waiting room - at this point I felt alright I knew most of the questions (EASY) and guessed on just a few - before hand Chris figured out how many I could miss and still get 75%. I knew I wasn't sure on only two so I thought there was no way I couldn't pass it!
As I was waiting, the others starting filing in talking of how this was their 4th and 5th times and then I started to get nervous... and my stress headache came back with a vengeance. So I wait, and wait... because some people were going to take the whole 45 minutes, then they needed to print out the certificates and I had to wait the longest. Finally the test man (I don't know what else to call him), came in and said results are ready - ladies first. So up I stand and walk to the testing room. I get in there and walk towards the test man and he hand me a piece of paper, I don't know what it means until he says, "Congratulations! You've passed!"
I have NEVER in my life felt pressure and stress physically LIFT off of my body, but I did then. It was marvelous! I got to the car, where Chris was waiting, I told him I passed and he said, "See, I knew you would!"
Then I sat there and wanted to just sleep. I felt as if I had just had a massive massage. I didn't know how stressed I really was. But looking back it was effecting every area of my life - especially my marriage, and I was SO happy the test was over and I could go back to normal!
Chris and I decided not to look around Lincoln - I just wanted to get home. We took a beautiful drive home (different from the way there) and drove through the lovely English countryside - stopping at an old church. Just riding with the windows down and the music, exploring little towns and just enjoying each others company. We stopped at Pizza Hut on the way home, which was a HUGE disappointment (Chris complained and we got £5.00 off our bill) and then we got home. And I slept and slept and slept.
So now, I can relax about the test. There is the small matter of coming up with £395.00 in a month, but for now I can relax.
I know it is a lot of stress and lots of people have suggested I don't get the visa and just go back to Utah without Chris, but I could never do that. Now, our goal is to be back by January, so we can spend Christmas here with Chris' family. We'll see how long that lasts, but at least, for now, I know that I am one step closer to being able to REALLY live here - for as long as I need to!
