Maria
"My father began to drive when a schoolboy. I don`t remember when I got into the car for the first time but I guess it was right after my birth. By that time my family had bought a Zhiguli, which now is considered antique. That miracle of the domestic automobile industry (though first Zhigulis were like Fiats as a matter of fact) was orange, and we gave it an endearing nickname of Zor`ka. Every time stopping near our house my father would exclaim with joy: "Stop, Zor`ka! " I was 9 years old, my sister was 4, and we liked it so much.
Once we were flying home from the south. The plane started landing, and the passengers, with bated breath, were waiting for the undercarriage to touch the ground. When a huge IL-86 finally plopped upon the landing strip and began braking, my sister and me simultaneously yelled with joy the words we knew so good ? "Stop, Zor`ka!" The passengers burst out laughing. The landing went off without a hitch. My fist driving experience was a success…"
-Get in! - he said.
-In here? - I hesitated. I could hardly act more stupidly.
-Well, yeah. You came to learn how to drive, right?
So I got into the car and it began…
…It was more like a Japanese gymnastics than driving…It was strange but my excitement faded away every minute and I didn`t want to run away anymore. After making a couple of circles around the motordrome I understood that driving had come into my life to stay. That thought didn`t scare me, though. It turned out that driving a car is not only a useful and indispensable skill, but pleasant as well!..Two hours flew by. "An excellent lesson!" - was my thought. Having worked in various educational institutions, I saw a lot of lessons conducted by various teachers and instructors. The lesson, during which I as a pupil didn`t take a look at my watch hoping for it to end soon, was undoubtedly considered a success.
…I did my best but I had difficulties, too. Every time I came home I would try to get used to the thought that one day I would get into the car and drive wherever the road took me. Inevitability - this is how it`s called! At first you want something really bad, then you decide to take the first step, then you begin to doubt and want to give up but you can`t. And then you realize that everything you are doing is taking you closer to your goal - slowly but steadily. Your dreams and thoughts come true. Gradually you are becoming more confident and self-satisfied…
…For some reason people forget that once they learned how to drive, too. Not everyone had the luck to train at the Shturman Center but good fortune smiled upon some of them!