It Can't Be All Smooth Sailing

Next week I will have been living in Germany for six months, at which point my driver's license is no longer valid.  Since I plan to live here for more than a year, and at some point I'd like to rent a car, I need to get a German license.  I am one of the lucky ones whose state has a reciprocity agreement with Germany, so I can get a German license without taking any classes, or even a driving exam. All I need is:

• my Texas driver's license  + a photocopy
• an official translation of my license
• copy of my passport
• copy of my registration from the local city hall (yes, you have to register when you move here!)
• application, completed and signed
• 35 Euros

...or so I thought, until I went to the driver's license office Tuesday. Co-workers of mine from other states with reciprocity agreements left the office without a hitch, and then I went in. "Hmmm, Texas. Sie brauchen einen Sehtest".   I need an eye exam, because I am from Texas.  I didn't see that coming (ha), but okay. I wasn't that disappointed or surprised, really. When you live in another country, you come to expect these things.  What I didn't expect was that somewhere between that office and my classroom (in a span of about 20 minutes) I would lose my driver's license.  I've NEVER lost my license; the only time I had to replace one was when it was stolen.  How is it that I managed to lose it at this critical moment?

I felt physically ill.  By the next day, though, I was resigned to the fact that I wouldn't have a license--any license--until July, when I would go home again.  Then I would have to start the whole process all over again, except it would be longer (more paperwork!) and more expensive, because it would be after the first six months.

Today my license appeared. Someone had found it and turned it in. I never actually doubted someone would turn it in--I have found people here to be very honest.  My concern was, to whom would they turn it in? If it were to the reception desk of a different office, how would I know? How would they let me know? They can't just drop it in the mail; it's from Texas.  A super-nice lady from the HR department at my school called another office in the same building as the driver's license office, and there it was!

It turned out to be my lucky day.  I passed my eye exam, picked up my old driver's license, and turned in all the paperwork for my new Führerschein.  It should arrive in about two weeks, at which time I have to give up my old one.  Until then, I'll be keeping my license in a safe place. :-)