Well, we are still in Quito right now and very tired from our LONG day, yet very grateful for the favor God has shown on us today. After spending most of yesterday getting what we thought was all of the documents we needed to get our drivers licenses, we left for the transit authority at 6:50 AM. We got in a line that was already about 50 people long and waited for the gate to open at 8. We were a little tired because we had been up until 1AM studying for the written exam. Most of the questions made sense and were just about the same at the laws in the states, but having the test in Spanish was a bit of a challenge, at least for one of us- you can guess which one. When the gates opened we were pleasantly surprised that the guard only let the line in and not the crowd that had gathered around the gate. The funny part was that once you got through the gate, everyone started running for the line they needed to get to. We joined in and as a family ran for our line. First was the exam and I am glad to say that we both passed. One with a 100% and the other with a 95%- you can guess which one is which. Then we found out that we needed one more document and we needed it notarized- this process is not as easy as it is in the states. The day before getting our documents notarized took us 5 hours and we needed to be back at the transit office before 2 when they closed for the day.
So, at about 9:30 we headed out on our quest. I'll spare you the details of that ordeal, but we did make it back to the transit authority by 1:15, took our eye test and were ready for the last step - pictures and the actual license- when we found out that they were closing at 1:30 not 2:00.... yes, I know so close.
Because of the 3-4 hour power outages in Ecuador, they had to close the office early. We will go back tomorrow morning at 8:00 to get in line and wait for the gate to open at 9:00 and will hopefully leave with a license or hopefully 2.- please pray for us and our patience and that especially when things are frustrating we will show His love to those around us.
Hey guys ...I don't know you (yet) but I'm with HCJB Global as well, based out of COS. We were in Ecuador for 14 years and this story about getting your license just cracked me up. Some of our best (OK at the time maybe I wouldn't have called them "best") stories of Ecua center around driving license renewals or matricula renewals.
ReplyDeleteThe first time we went to get a license we were told we didn't have to take a written test, but when we got there we were handed the test. There were about 12 of us green missys sitting there completely perplexed about how to even begin to answer - then the police jefe stood up and announced that we were going to take the test together, and began to read off the answers! We all looked at each other, then began scribbling away. The jefe then collected all the tests and left for about 1/2 hour. When he came back he congratulated all of us for passing our tests.
But the best part ...all the men got 100% and all the women missed one!
Glad you guys are settling in well there in Shell. One day I'm sure we'll meet you.