They sure do throw you in deep water here.
I was under the impression that I was going to be driven around the city before I took the test, to familiarize myself with the neighborhoods and traffic. So I was a little surprised when upon meeting my instructor, he handed me the keys to a very large SUV and said, “Drive.”
I was initially pleased with myself that driving a stick shift came back as naturally as riding a bike, give or take a few jolting starts. However within a minute, I was crossing a major intersection that looked like a mosh pit: cars, motos, donkey carts, kids, goats, you name it! I kept on stopping abruptly for every soul while my instructor was shouting urgently and frantically motioning with his hands “Go, Go, GO!” (This scene repeated itself about 8 more times during the test). But every time I stepped on the gas, something and someone appeared in front of me! With my shoulders hunched over, my left leg pushing on the clutch so hard that I think I have an abnormally sized calf, and my high pitched squeals echoing afar, I finally made my way through, followed by his laughter.
While driving, motos were constantly weaving between lanes, between cars, so you literally have to ride on someone’s tail in order to move ahead. If you ever allow more than a foot between you and the car in front, you immediately lose your place in that lane, as hundreds of motos come storming in like rapids causing you to wait indefinitely before you can move again (to the hoot of a dozen horns).
I believe there were three times my instructor shouted “Attention!” at the top of his lungs; twice after I nearly caused 2 accidents to happen and once when I might have scraped the shirt of a motorist, as I was turning.
As we were returning to the office on the bridge that crosses the Niger River, traffic came to a standstill and people jumped out of their cars to investigate a spectacle that just happened. I ask, C’est Quoi?” What is it?, and without further ado my instructor jumps out of the car to check it out, leaving me to fend off the slow traffic on a bridge by myself where I managed to sneak in a short video snippet (as seen below).
From what I understand, someone fell/jumped in the river.
Despite all this, when we made it back to the office my instructor smiled and exclaimed, “Vraiment, tres bien Kash!” Really, very good job Kash!
I’m am however considering buying a helmet to wear in the car. Is that weird?
8 responses to “Pole Position Bamako…aka The Driving Test”
Tata
August 5th, 2008 at 00:48
Tak masz racje, jak sie raz nauczysz to zawsze pamietsz.
Czy ty bedziesz miala swoj samochod?
ohmommy
August 5th, 2008 at 01:54
Okay, that is SO NOT weird.
I am totally sending you C’s strawberry shortcake helmet. It would match your stilettos.
Crystal D
August 5th, 2008 at 01:55
Oh my goodness Kash this would really stress me out. I hope all of the things you need to do are located very close to whereever you are going to be living. Although from the sounds of it you have to take the same kind of risk just to get a Diet Coke from the gas station. I hope that big SUV has lots of airbags!! And yes, maybe a helmet would not be the worst idea.
Jill
August 5th, 2008 at 05:12
Wow – I love hearing that you’re driving through the craziness of it all. And a stick shift no less? I’m impressed!
One of these days I’m going to give driving here a try… like in a few months. And only on a Sunday when the roads are virtually clear.
Tammy
August 5th, 2008 at 12:37
Walking is highly underrated!
I’m just catching myself up on your recent posts and I’m loving all the photos. Everything looks so exotic!
Katherine
August 5th, 2008 at 14:05
I love that u sneakily filmed- well done.
Helmet- shmelmet
renatamic
August 5th, 2008 at 16:31
after all that – your instructor saying “well done, Kasia” was the icing on the cake. mmmmm…cake. focus, nata, focus.
my vote is for you to walk around town in a big bubble – might be your safest bet!
Kate
August 5th, 2008 at 18:46
Yikes! I would just shut my eyes and have a meltdown in traffic. I vote for the helmet.
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Whitewater Driving « Manolos on a Mission August 21st, 2008 at 06:42
[…] Posted on August 21, 2008 by iamkash I passed my crazy driving test in Bamako a few weeks back, and now have personal access to a vehicle in the town I am living in. I […]