I never got a driver's license back in the Philippines. It is simply because transportation there is easy (except Christmas and Sinulog). I never thought of driving a car ever. However, transportation in Halifax can be difficult especially in the Winter season. Buses have schedules. The bus comes every 15-20 minutes. It takes longer to get a bus during the weekends and Holidays. It's not easy to wait for the bus when the temperature outside is a negative value.
Anyway, so I decided to get a driver's license. The first thing I did is get the book the Nova Scotia Driver's handbook. You can also download it in a pdf file. For more information, you can check this link: https://novascotia.ca/sns/rmv/safe/handbook.asp
I read the book but I also took free online driving tests. I just googled NS driving test and you can see several links you can try. I learned a lot more about online driving practice tests.
In April 2017, I had to take an exam to get my beginner's license. There is a vision test which is easy and written tests. It just took me a few minutes to finish the test and I passed it. Then I got my beginner's license. I can't drive without the supervision of someone who has a valid regular driver's license. There are conditions when you have a beginner's license. You can read more about it at the Service Nova Scotia's website.
After getting my beginner's license, the next step is to enroll in a driving school. My friends recommended a Filipina who owns a driving school. I took at least a 25-hour class lecture first and then 10 hours driving with an instructor. I had to wait at least 9 months before I can schedule a road test.
The class lecture was pretty easy. You just need to listen and learn the rules. The difficult part is the actual driving. If it is your first time driving, you forget everything you learn (haha). It's good that you know the rules but practice will really help you. I had to practice for hours to get used to the feeling of driving a car. I also need to familiarize the roads and signs. I booked extra hours on top of the 10 hours driving. It wasn't very easy. However, I have to face my fears if I want to drive.
After 9+ months, I was pretty confident in my driving skills so I scheduled for a road test in March 2018. Before the actual test, I practiced for an hour. This made me feel ready to take the actual test. I was still a little nervous but I was calm. I made sure I drank coffee before the exam to stay focus. After about 20 minutes of driving with the examiner, I passed! I was like a few points away from failing though but I noted every mistake I made. I got my driver's license now with an N. This indicates that I am a newly licensed driver. I can drive on my own but I have restrictions. I can't drive from midnight to 5 am. So, I'm kind of like Cinderella since I have to be home by midnight.
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