Of all the instructors (so far it's 8) I've practiced with, I realise there is a particular one that really just puts me off balance. Sadly, he seems to be one of the 2 I keep getting from the whole list of names. I don't know why, but it's like this weird, very agitated vibe coming off him that kinda rubs off on me and then I start to get agitated myself, get tense and lose concentration. When you got that feeling, it just doesn't help with you trying to make sure that you're doing the right step, getting turns at the right timing and not knock things down. Even at the stage of revision, he somehow still wants to tell you what to do and it's uncomfortable because it's not a positioning I am already comfortable with. As soon as I start, I'm all tense and after one mistake it all goes down the hole.
Just like what happened with the grumpy old man which
I haven't got again. The grumpy old man had that same frustrated vibe, spoke like a mouse when giving instructions but kept grumbling loudly that I braked "too hard", and the feng you application didn't help either. Well something got the better of me and somehow I managed to bump into the car infront 
, re-adjusting it's bumper which just needed another bump to put back. That time he turned and asked if I didn't brake enough. 
I honestly don't know the answer until now as instructors have a brake pedal on their side to stop accidents like that from happening and somehow with both of us depressing the brake, the car didn't stop in time. Mind you, this happened in the circuit, which has a top speed of like 25km/h. Well anyway as the day wore on, he still was relentless about me braking too hard and finally when we got to the end of the lesson, the bugger had the cheek to ask me fill a courtesy survey for him. Blah...
He was lucky I wasn't feeling mean and the accident somehow made me feel better. Not that accidents are fun but the fact that once you've been in one, even so minor, you learn and grow from it. So with the good "grades" I gave for that little courtesy survey, he's acting like my best friend, or maybe he's glad he didn't get me as the student. If so, the feeling's mutual.Of the 8, there are 3 who are in the mid-range that would give you a bit of the heebeejeebees... that little bit of creepiness that they might just shock you any minute with a sudden burst of energy or something. They just sit in their seat, rather quiet and don't say much except for the instructions as to where to turn and all. Then they'll stop and tell you all you've done wrong and make u think, "Did I do that? When? Where?"
. I guess this does have a + point of getting you prepared for the final test, when the TP will just sit next to you all quiet and stiff, and finally when you get back into the circuit, give you the results, making you think, "Did I do that? When? Where?" .Finally the top 3, 2 of which I don't think I'll ever have the chance to practice with ever again. One was my very first instructor who thought me the basics and made it all quite light and simple so that the whole thing didn't just scare me away from driving altogether. In fact the lesson was fun, although from any by-stander's view, it looked rather stupid going forward and reversing for 15 minutes, followed by going round in circles.
That's not the only stupid-looking thing you do in this whole learning process though.The other one would be the 2nd auto-car instructor who talked a lot but taught a lot too. I honestly can't remember half the mundane things most of the instructors tell me
but this guy seemed to tell me a lot of interesting tales that he experienced on his job. If he told everyone what he told me, then he would be giving some glimmer of hope to those that are not sure of themselves. The best thing about him was that he pointed out the proper safety techniques, and the reasons why we have to look at certain places. Knowing why I have to do it is one big bonus as it reminds you that you have to look out. Previously when I didn't know, I didn't bother looking, and half the time I was looking at the wrong place anyway. He also gave really good tips for judgement, making some things easier to do, and less of a chore. But with an auto-car, everything seems less of a chore. 
The last one I will comment about is the craziest one of all. He labelled himself the "Ah-Beng Instructor" and, yes, he totally lives up to the name. On the first lesson I had with him, he kept shouting "SPEEEEEED!" which made me laugh more than actually pick up my speed. He would start singing Hokkien songs, making fun of other instructors and their trainees, shouting at old ladies who cross the road to slow (quite deafening in the car with the windows up), and point out the weird things people wear with regards to making me look out for people about to cross at zebra-crossings. There was even a time he pretended to sleep (????), another lesson he whipped out a radio and started tuning in to one of the stations which played one of that Crazy Frog's songs. So far he's the only one who has made me laugh the whole lesson, and if someone was watching they'd be wondering why I'm laughing and smiling away when the rest of the trainees seem to be frowning or concentrating really hard. The whole point, in the end, is that I'm relaxed and at ease with the whole lesson, which makes it a lot more enjoyable.
Wonder If I'll Get A New One To Rant About Soon...
No comments:
Post a Comment