Japanese Driver's License

Do you remember when you applied for your first driver’s license? Do you remember the day when you took your first driving test? I took the Japanese driving test last week. Up to this point in time I was driving under the authority of my international driver’s license but it will expire in a few days. However, by law, I am now required to have a Japanese driver’s license.

It is very difficult to pass the driving test in Japan. About 6 out of 10 people fail the test the first time around. A lot of time is required to get a license. One day was spent taking the written test. Another day was spent taking an optional driving test. Today I spent 5 hours at the Hirabari driving center waiting in lines and completing forms before taking the actual driving test.

I think the test is hard to pass because the Japanese are sticklers for detail. Most of the general, common sense rules are the same as in the U.S. but there are a few things that are different in Japan. There is a proper way and order of getting into and out of the car. When chaning lanes you have to look first in your rear view mirror and then the side mirror and then look forward and then change lanes. Nevertheless, you need to get every detail correct, or you will fail. Also, you are required to memorize the driving course route to boot.

My test appointment was scheduled for 11:40 PM. At 11:50 AM the 10 students in my test group were allowed to walk the driving course. The driving test started at 12:45 PM. Our names were called and we all lined up in numerical order, waiting to drive the car. We each completed the route one by one. After each person was finished driving, the test manager briefed each one of us on what we did wrong. I was getting worried while I was waiting because I learned that many of the test takers did not pass the test the first time around. One guy from Nigeria had failed the test seven times – no kidding ! Another guy from Sri Lanka was taking the test for the third time – yikes. Another guy from California told me that I could almost be guaranteed that I would not pass the first time around. This made me relax a bit.

Bye the way, an interesting note for all you Bruin fans, this guy from California looked a bit familiar. He was about 6 feet 9 inches tall and wearing a UCLA jacket. I asked him his name and he said JR… Then it dawned on me that he was JR Henderson (now known as J. R. Sakuragi, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._Sakuragi) who played on the UCLA NCAA championship team in 1995. Wow, what a nice surprise to meet another fellow bruin at the Hirabari driving center in Nagoya, Japan of all places. I chatted with J.R. about the good old days of UCLA Basketball.

I made a few mistakes on the driving course and was almost certain that I would not pass the test. My test group was required to go back to a waiting room at 3:15 to hear the test results. I felt like I was in the grammer school once again.

I got back to the waiting room at 3:16 PM just as my name was being called. I was then ushered into the next waiting room along with JR and six of the other foreigners. I was preparing myself for bad the news. However, the guy from Brazil told me congratulations. I was surprised because he informed me that I had passed the test. I was ushered into the room where photos are taken for the driver’s license. Everyone in the room was smiling and celebrating because they had passed the test. I gave a high five to JR and told him that we needed to do a true blue UCLA 8-clap and he laughed.

Anyway, I was relieved that the ordeal was over. A lot of time, effort, and money are involved in getting a driver’s license in Japan. Now I am legal. Bye the way, Bettina did not have to take the driving test. Bettina's license was issued on the spot because there is an agreement between the German and Japanese Governments to not require a written or driving test.

-Tony "Munuyosu"

Japanese Driver's License

Do you remember when you applied for your first driver’s license? Do you remember the day when you took your first driving test? I took the Japanese driving test today. Up to this point in time I was driving under the authority of my international driver’s license. However, by law, I am now required to have a Japanese driver’s license. This is not to mention the fact that my international driver’s license is going to expire in a few weeks.
It is very difficult to pass the driving test in Japan. About 6 out of 10 people fail the test the first time around. A lot of time is required to get a license. One day was spent taking the written test. Another day was spent taking an optional driving test. Today I spent 5 hours at the Hirabari driving center waiting in lines and completing forms before taking the actual driving test.

I think the test is hard to pass because the Japanese are sticklers for detail. Most of the general, common sense rules are the same as in the U.S. but there are a few things that were different. There is a proper way and order of getting into and out of the car. Nevertheless, you to get every detail correct, or you will fail. Also, you are required to memorize the driving course route to boot.

My test appointment was scheduled for 11:40 PM. At 11:50 AM the 10 students in my test group were allowed to walk the driving course. The driving test started at 12:45 PM. Our names were called and we all lined up in numerical order, waiting to drive the car. We each completed the route one by one. After each person was finished driving, the test manager briefed each one of us on what we did wrong. I was getting worried while I was waiting because I learned that many of the test takers did not pass the test the first time around. One guy from Nigeria had failed the test seven times – no kidding ! Another guy from Sri Lanka was taking the test for the third time – yikes. Another guy from California told me that I could almost be guaranteed that I would not pass the first time around. This made me relax a bit. This guy from California looked a bit familiar. He was about 6 feet 9 inches tall and wearing a UCLA jacket. I asked him his name and he said JR… Then it dawned on me that he was JR Henderson (now known as J. R. Sakuragi, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._Sakuragi) who played on the UCLA NCAA championship team in 1995. Wow, what a nice surprise to meet another fellow bruin at the Hirabari driving center in Nagoya, Japan. I chatted with J.R. about the good old days of UCLA Basketball.

I made a few mistakes on the driving course and was almost certain that I would not pass the test. My test group was required to go back to a waiting room at 3:15 to hear the test results.

I got back to the waiting room at 3:16 PM just as my name was being called. I was then ushered into the next waiting room along with JR and six of the other foreigners. I was preparing myself for bad the news. However, the guy from Brazil told me congratulations. I was surprised. I was ushered into the room where photos are taken for the driver’s license. Everyone in the room was smiling and celebrating because they had passed the test. I gave a high five to JR and told him that we needed to do a true blue UCLA 8-clap and he laughed.

Anyway, I was relieved that the ordeal was over. A lot of time, effort, and money is involved in getting a driver’s license in Japan. Now I am legal.

Maxi goes to Germany II

Maximilian and Mama are back in the Motherland. I am sure Maximilian is now confused and not sure what language to speak. Maximilian is speaking a lot of jibberish these days. It sounds part English, German, and Japanese. And the Spanish lessons will be coming soon...

Maximilian with Mama at the Brandenberg Gate in Berlin.

Maximilian with Grandpa and Jutta in their Berlin Flat.

Maximilian at Checkpoint Charlie on the lookout for Soviet troops.

Maximilian and Mama at home in the Chiemsee.

Professor Maximilian reaching for his eye glasses so that he can inspect the painting.

Maximilian taking a stroll along the river in Salzburg, Austria (near Lake Chiemsee). Where is Motzart Street? (Grandma Bruni is in the background).



Maximilian training for the Luge event in 2030 Winter Olympics. (Jah - das ist toll)

Maximilian reading with Grandma Bruni.

Maximilian walking in California

We would like to share this wonderful milestone with you. Maximilian is one year old and is now officially walking on his own. Happy Holidays !

Maxi's first Halloween 2009

While Halloween is not really celebrated in Japan, we managed to "trick or treat" three days in a row.



First we went door knocking in Masako's large apartment complex (overlooking Nagoya castle) together with 20 Japanese Moms and kids. Masako was so kind to decorate her home and equip 9 more homes with nice treats to have her and her friends' kids experience "trick or treat".



The next day we were invited to Yufang and Gaston's haunted house in Yagoto. Just finding the house in a dark alley and the nightly walk from our house and back made it spooky.....



We finally spent Halloween night in Noda's haunted garden in the middle of rice fields just outside Nagoya.



Maxi's first Halloween outfit was Japan's popular cartoon hero Dragon Ball!

Please see:

http://picasaweb.google.com/atmunoz/Halloween2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCKyL97rx9M2u8gE#

Maxi and The Maldives

Maximilian was a little bored with living in the City and so he asked his mom and dad to take him to a remote island just off the coast of India. Maxi really enjoyed spending two weeks in the Maldives. There were a few rainy days but overall the weather was great. During the rainy days we enjoyed our time in our spacious Spa Villa locate over the water.

Mommy was able to take a refresher scuba diving course. She was also able to complete here first deep water dive (30 meters) down to a ship wreck.

Maximilian really enjoyed playing in the water and making new friends.

-Tony, Bettina, and Maximilian

Please see the following link to our photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/atmunoz/MaxiAndTheMaldives?authkey=Gv1sRgCNGJvL2qzOOpHg#

Maxi goes to Germany

In July, Bettina and Maximilian traveled to Germany to visit their family. This was the first time Maximilian was able to meet all of his closest family in Germany. Maximilian really enjoyed spending time in Bettina's former hometown Rimsting near Prien am Chiemsee. During this trip Maximilian grew four more teeth and began exercising his fine motor skills. He is now able to pass objects from one hand to another. He can also grab food from his parents plates and quickly stuff it into his mouth (although half of it does not land in his mouth and he just likes to snack and make a big mess instead of making it a full meal).

Also, since Maximilian turned 8 months he is doing a fine job in crawling around the house. He started out crawling backwards but soon learned that crawling backwards was not quite the best way to travel.

Oma Bruni showing Maximilian to Lake Chiemsee with the typical white and blue Bavarian sky and the Bavarian Alps in the background. Near Fischer am See in Prien.

Maxi taking an afternoon nap in his Quinny SUV on Rimsting's main Chiemsee lake pier.

Here is Maxi's the GAP (German-American Prince) little island ferry boat which transports passengers from Gstadt to the little Fraueninsel on which Mom and Dad got married

Here is a view of the Castle on the Herreninsel with the King Ludwig steam wheeler in the foreground.

Maxi enjoys the lounge chair in Prien's Prienavera water park wearing his first bathing suit (GAP's "Here comes trouble").

This house which is just around the corner of Bettina's home was the birth place of the mother of the current Pope Benedict who signed Bettina's confirmation papers. Pope Benedict spent his childhood here and became a priest in the local church.

Maxi is heading to the Maisalm, a mountain hut at the local Kampenwand.



Maxi taking a rest stop during his strenious mountain hike and having a beer with the rest of his Bavarian brothers. Oma Bruni is advising Maximilian to drink in moderation only.

Maxi is utterly exhausted after the long hike in his new SUV and seeking to drink some fresh milk during his first mountain cow encounter. Notice that Maxi is wearing his first hiking cap. Papa thinks it looks quite, uhm.., interesting.



Here is the view of lake Chiemsee from top of the little mountain near Seiseralm.

Maxi loves being carried around by his grandpa.

Maxi meets Opa Christian and Jutta.


Maxi playing with Mama back home

Aunt Ute and cousin Sabrina trying to feed Maxi some German baby food.

Maxi with Uncle Anselm (Bettina's brother).

Maxi playing with Oma Bruni, auntie Ute and cousins Sabrina and Leon in Oma's house.

Maximilian playing the piano after the dinner party. He is playing a tune he learned from one of his great relative Ludwig B.

Maximilian with his cool cousin Leon.

Maximilian with Klaus and Mimi (Bettina's brother's parents in-law)

Maxi had a hard time saying good-bye to his cousins but he will be back soon he promised.