By now everyone knows that Nina and I have received our Visas (a tourist visa and a work visa). Not sure why we have two types of Visas when all of the other missionaries only receive one Visa. Anyway, the Visa allowed us to get our Filipino driver's licenses. We completed all of the requirements and received the licenses on December 23rd...a wonderful Christmas present since we had not driven for 10 weeks. Because of the nature of our calling (Housing Coordinators) we travel more than anyone in the mission except for maybe the President and AP's.
I am trying to do some math here. Let's see how it turns out.
-We have been in the country just over 7 months
-I have been stopped for traffic violations 9 times over those 7 months (not once by a cop in a car but by a foot cop stepping into traffic to flag me to the curb.
-until this week I was able to say that I had been stopped all of those times and never received a ticket
-the last two stops the cops decided to write a ticket (probably because I have a Filipino license now). Before it was just another stupid American that does not know how to drive.
-and those stops are over a 7 month period in which 2.5 months I did not drive.
So let me see...9 traffic violations over 4.5 months (7 months minus 2.5 months=4.5 months). So, if the math is correct, I have been stopped for traffic violations twice per month. The nice thing about it is I probably will not even pay for the violations since they don't have a record keeping system and they won't even check your violations until you renew your license. And, since my license will not expire until 3 years (2028) after I go home...there seems little point.
Both violations were for an illegal left turn in an area where there was a sign that has really small print on it indicating no left turn between the hours of...Now that I feel better about not being a fugitive from the law and a criminal...I will work on looking more carefully at the ridiculously small signs.
Oh yeah, the Lord's work is going fine and we are having fun!
Bye.
Roy
PS. oh no!...10 traffic stops. I forgot about the one last Thursday night crossing (3) lanes of traffic to make a turn that the Nav system messed up. Sheesh!
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