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Paige: You are listening to “Coffee with Gringos.” I’m Paige Sutherland.
Ian: And I’m Ian Kennedy.
Paige: So welcome back. So today we are going to talk about driving. We're going to talk about the culture in the US—how you get your driver's license and how it compares back here in Chile. So, remember, if you get lost, go online, check out that audio guide and transcript. So, Ian, you grew up in Missouri. Was it common when you turn sixteen, everyone went to get their license?
Ian: Yeah, definitely. It's actually what you probably look forward to the most when growing up. When you start a little bit older, you can, like, when you're fifteen, you can get what's called a driver's permit. So, you can practice driving a car, you can drive a car if you have someone with a license with you. So that's kind of the first taste of what it's like in Missouri, in particular. And then, yeah, when you turn sixteen it’s very common—maybe even on your exact birthday—to go and take the driving testing and immediately get your driver's license. So yeah, it was very common and probably the biggest, like, point of anticipation growing up, actually.
Paige: I agree. I think it's a milestone. I'm 29 and I still remember the day I got my license. And I, like, drove to my friend’s house and they were like, “did you just drive that car here?” And I was like, “Yes.” And it was like this, like, amazing moment when you could drive.
Ian: Exactly. It is a big milestone. It's a big moment of pride, I think.
Paige: And it's something, like you said, I completely agree—it's something you really look forward to. Like, I counted the days until my birthday that I could get my permit and then made sure that I get my license on the exact day that I was allowed to. It was like a big deal for everyone.
Ian: Yeah, exactly.
Paige: I have to ask…what was your first car?
Ian: My first car, I had a 1998 Honda Civic— a used Honda Civic. It was a really great car. I remember spending a lot of summers too, saving up to be able to buy it. So that's another thing to spend a lot of time thinking about. “Okay…my first car, my first car.” So, I spent a lot of time working for that to be able to get it. And when I finally got it, I was so proud. It got great gas mileage, was really safe, I was able to drive my friends around. So yeah, I felt super cool and super lucky.
Paige: And when you started driving, did you have any bumps, any accidents, when you first got on the road?
Ian: So, when I first started, I had no problems, no nothing at all. And then embarrassingly enough, the only two accidents I had with that car were me backing up into my aunt's car in my driveway twice. So, I was able, yeah, twice, two different times. So, I was able to avoid it out on the roads, but I couldn't get out my own driveway without having a little fender bender, a little bump.
Paige: But in retrospect, it's great that you hit family, because if you don't hit family, you have to go through insurance and you have to pay all these different fees. So, if it's just your aunt, you can just kind of deal with that internally.
Ian: Sure, it was a little bit more chill that way. And they made fun of me. But besides that, it wasn't too bad.
Paige: Fair. Yeah no, my first car was a gold Grand Am. It was a used car that we got. And I remember, because I'm a girl, I was upset that it was gold, because I wanted a pretty color. I was like “really… gold?” Like that's just, it feels like an old person's car. So, I was upset. But I mean, I can't be that upset because my parents helped me pay for it, right? So, can't be too ungrateful. And I think it was three weeks after I got the car, I totaled it.
Ian: Oh, no…
Paige: It was a cheap car. So, like, totaling It was, like, you just bend the frame. So, it wasn't like, completely ruined. But yeah, I was driving home from the gym, just, like, not paying attention. and just like rear-ended someone. And because of that we had to get a new car. We got the same car, but it was blue. So, and besides the accident, it ended up working out well, because it was a very cool car.
Ian: There you go. Nice.
Paige: But it's funny because I have cousins now that are getting to that age. And they're talking about their first car. And nowadays, kids are like, “I want this like this Jeep…and this, like, you know, convertible.” And I'm like, don't get an expensive car because everyone I know has crashed their first car or at least banged it up and you want a crappy car that you say you get an accident. It's not going to break the bank.
Ian: Sure, you want a good starter car, so you can practice those things. Yeah, I promise you, my kids will not have expensive cars.
Paige: My boyfriend's sister just turned sixteen and she's getting her dad's brand-new Wrangler Jeep.
Ian: Wow.
Paige: Yeah. And I was like, that is your first car? Like, I can't even afford that car as an adult.
Ian: Yeah, right. Thirteen years later, something like that, you can't even manage to afford it. So, wow. Yeah, times have changed.
Paige: Absolutely. And the difference too compared to here is in the US, everyone, like in our generation, everyone learns on automatic. I mean, my parents know how to drive standard. But none of my friends know how to drive standard. Is that somewhere with you?
Ian: Embarrassingly, I do not know how to drive stick shift. My dad used to have a stick shift car. And when I was younger, he tried to teach me but I just couldn't catch on. And I'm really regretting it now. I really wish I could drive stick because that's more common here in Chile. And so, for that reason, I wish I knew. I'd say It kind of depends. I'd say most of my friends drive automatic—most people I know drive automatic in the States. But yeah, some people know how to drive stick, but I don't think it's the most common. What about in Massachusetts? What's it like?
Paige: Same. I think people who drive stick at our age are people who want to be different, because, like, it's very rare that someone has a standard car. Everyone drives automatic, that's the normal. Yeah, I know how to drive stick solely because my sister was one of those people who wanted a “stick car” and then I ended up buying the car from her. So, I had to learn. So, I didn't learn until I was in college. But I'm glad I did, because I ended up liking it better than automatic. I think driving it, it can be really fun at times. Obviously, it's annoying at times when you're in traffic in the city. But when you're just out on the road, and you're shifting back from three to four to fifth gear, it's pretty fun to, like, be, like downshifting and upshifting. But I'm glad too, like you said, I moved here and every time we rent a car, it’s stick. You can get an automatic, but it's, like, double or triple the price. And for me—teacher salary, I like to stay with the cheapest. So, we always drive standard and my boyfriend doesn't know how to drive standard, because it's normal in the US and I always end up driving.
Ian: Yeah, same here. Whenever I'm out with my girlfriend, she drives stick and I can't. So, it's a really convenient excuse to not drive. But I really need to learn so that I can I can drive and help out.
Paige: It's tough too, like, I mean, I'm trying to teach my boyfriend and it's, it's something that doesn't come easy. I mean, it's a new pedal, you have to shift. And then also you're in a new country, you don't really know how to drive in the city. And Santiago, is not an easy city to drive in. There's a lot of one ways, there's streets where you can drive in at this hour, but you can’t at this hour, the drivers here are a little aggressive… There’s a lot of factors to go in and learning here where I could see it being very difficult. Like, I'm glad I learned in my rural town where I could just feel very relaxed.
Ian: Yeah, it would be definitely different learning how to drive somewhere in a big city like here.
Paige: And I have to ask…in Massachusetts, we have a pretty strict driving test—you have to go to, like, an auto school. So, you take, maybe, I think it's about a month and a half, you go once or twice a week, and you learn and then you take a test and the test is really easy. It's if you, like, studied for half an hour, you will pass. But the driving test in Massachusetts is pretty hard. You have to take it with this state trooper, so you have to go have a cop. And you drive around, and you have to do the three-point turn, the parallel parking—all of the, you know, kind of cookie cutter things in the driving test. But driving with a police officer is pretty stressful.
Ian: Yeah, I can imagine.
Paige: In Missouri, is it like that or no?
Ian: No, not quite like that. So, I feel like it's easier than that. For example, when I went for my driver's license, you just have to go and do kind of the cookie cutter testing points that you mentioned. But just with an adult, like someone who is an instructor. And it's a pretty quick test. And the written test is something that yeah, if you study for half hour, an hour, you can pass and you can get your license really easily. So, I feel like it's something they give out pretty easily if you can kind of check those boxes and get through. But here in Chile, from what I've heard, the process is pretty difficult to get a driver's license here. Have you heard of some of the requirements needed here?
Paige: Yeah, well, I was first surprised by the lack of people who have driver's license. I think in the US, it'd be very rare to find someone that does not know how to drive, like almost impossible, I can't even think of a single person. Everyone gets their driver’s license; everyone knows how to drive. I mean, I think a big part of that too, is in the US, public transit isn't as popular. I think if you live in a big city like New York, Boston, you know, like these big cities, you are using public transit, but also everyone owns a car. It's like, “oh, yeah, I take the metro to work but, you know, I drive to the mountains on the weekends in my car or visit my family in my car. A lot of people have cars, it's a very car country. Where here, a lot of people don't have cars. I mean, it's very rare to find someone, I feel like, that lives in Santiago that owns a car unless they're, like, high income.
Ian: You just assume everyone in the States probably has a car. And that's not really the case here.
Paige: And like you said, going back to the test, I was talking to a friend, they were telling me the story, I guess, how the driving test was too easy, many years ago—that there were people getting a lot of accidents. So, they're like, we have to make it a lot harder. And I think now they made it too hard. So, I have a friend whose girlfriend is, you know, in her high 20s that's now trying to get the test and is having to, like, really study. And I'm like, “what?” Like, the driving test in the US? I mean, the physical test is hard, like the driving, the practical. But, like, the written test, I mean, yeah, they're super easy. And you've heard from a student that it's, like, other factors, besides the normal.
Ian: Yeah, even besides just that, I've heard that there's even a reflex or dexterity test that you have to perform in order to get your license here. You have to have certain handles that move within a certain pathway and you can't touch the edges. It's a way to test for your reflexes and how you can move your arms. And I was really surprised to hear this because I haven't heard of anything like this existing—in the US at least.
Paige: I never heard that. I was actually really surprised when I heard from people that the written test was so hard, because I've done quite a lot of road trips. And like I said, I'm the only one that can drive. So, I've driven a lot. And I feel like people don't really abide by the rules a lot. So, when I was like, “oh, that test is really hard. You have to really know the rules and everything.” And I was, like, well, once they pass, they don't apply them. Because like, I'll go to places and there will be, like, a stop sign or red light and just cars drive through. Pretty sure red means stop in all countries.
Ian: Pretty sure that's not allowed here.
Paige: So hopefully next time we come back, maybe Ian will have learned how to drive standard. Maybe?
Ian: Don't hold your breath. But I'll work on it.
Paige: Well, everyone, thanks again for listening as always. And remember, if you get lost, check out that audio guide and transcripts online. Thanks again for listening.
Ian: We'll see you next time.
Key Vocabulary, Phrases and Slang:
1. look forward to (phrasal verb): to be excited about something.
a. I look forward to spending more time with my family during the holidays.
2. milestone (noun): an important moment or achievement.
a. Graduating from college was a milestone for his life.
3. gas mileage (noun): The amount of gas used over a certain distance for a vehicle.
a. His truck gets terrible gas mileage, so he spends a lot of money on gas.
4. bump (noun): very minor auto accident.
a. I had a small bump with my mom’s car when I first started driving.
5. to back up (idiomatic verb): to move a vehicle backwards.
a. I need to back up my car so that he can drive past me.
6. fender bender (noun): a minor crash between two cars. Refers to the bending of the back side of a car, called a “fender.”
a. My son got into a fender bender today…
7. retrospect (noun): looking back at a past event or situation.
a. In retrospect, I should have asked her for more help.
8. chill (slang adjective): relaxed, not serious.
a. I really like this bar. It’s really chill!
9. ungrateful (adjective): not giving thanks, unappreciative.
a. She is always so ungrateful even though he does so much for her.
10. to total (verb): to have so much damage to a car that it isn’t worth the costs to fix it. Refers to “total loss.”
a. My dad totaled his car in a rainstorm last night. Thankfully, he’s ok!
11. rear-end (verb): to crash into the back side, called the “rear”, of another car.
a. Did you just see that car rear-end that truck?
12. convertible (noun): car with a roof that can convert its roof between closed and open.
a. My dad just bought a convertible so he can feel young again.
13. bang up (phrasal verb): to cause damage to something.
a. I can’t believe my dog banged up the computer!
14. crappy (adjective, slang): bad quality, not good
a. Man, this is such a crappy movie.
15. break the bank (idiom): when something costs more than someone can afford.
a. Paying for graduate school is really gonna break the bank for me.
16. to afford (verb): to be able to buy something.
a. I can only afford a used car, so don’t try to sell me a new one.
17. standard (adjective): standard transmission used for shifting the gears of a vehicle. Also known as “manual” or “stick shift.”
a. Most people outside of the US drive standard transmission.
18. to catch on (phrasal verb): to understand or realize something.
a. She is really catching on to driving since we have been practicing.
19. to regret (verb): to feel disappointed.
a. I regret the things I said to you when I was hungry and angry (“hangry”)!
20. solely (adverb): only.
a. We are solely responsible for anything that happens to the Lamborghini.
21. annoying (adjective): causing irritation or bothering.
a. It’s so annoying having my sister ask me for rides now that I can drive.
22. aggressive (adjective): likely to attack or act very strongly or forcefully.
a. He was really aggressive when he played football.
23. rural (adjective): non-urban, outside of a city.
a. There are many rural towns in every state in the United States.
24. state trooper (noun): a policeman or policewoman that monitors and controls state highway roads.
a. Kansas state troopers are known for being strict on the citizens.
25. cop (slang, noun): informal name for a policeman or policewoman.
a. There are cops everywhere…what happened??
26. cookie cutter (adjective): typical, unoriginal, boring.
a. All the clothes here are so cookie cutter. Let’s try the next store.
27. instructor (noun): someone who instructs or teaches something in particular.
a. My weight lifting instructor has really helped me with my form in the gym.
28. check the boxes (phrasal verb): doing the bare minimum to accomplish something.
a. He can’t just expect to check the boxes through life if you want to be successful.
29. to get through (phrasal verb): to endure, to survive.
a. I just need to get through this month without getting sick and I’ll be fine.
30. reflex (noun): the ability to move and respond quickly with one’s body parts.
a. He is so good at baseball because he has great reflexes.
31. dexterity (noun): the ability to perform tasks with one’s hands.
a. That surgeon has the best dexterity in the entire hospital.
32. pathway (noun): route or trail.
a. Do you see that pathway going up to the mountain?
33. to abide by (phrasal verb): to accept or follow ta rule or decision.
a. No one abides by the rules here. It’s a mess!
34. Don’t hold your breath (phrase): to tell someone not to expect something because it probably won’t happen.
a. I know I told you last week I wanted to learn Chinese, but don’t hold your breath!
¿Alguna vez has sentido curiosidad por saber cómo es estudiar y vivir en Holanda? En este episodio 181 de tu podcast favorito, Coffee with gringos, seguimos a un Chileno que estudió música y vivió en Holanda, también compartirá sus pensamientos sobre las diferencias culturales entre Chile y Holanda. No te pierdas esta inspiradora historia de un Chileno que vivio y estudió en el extranjero! 😲
Read the full transcript here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-181-chileno-viviendo-y-estudiando-en-holanda-paises-bajos