No Driver's License=Odd Ball

     Watching Twilight and most of the American television shows and movies, I've learned that it's normal for teenagers to drive. But until I got here, I never knew that it would be abnormal to not be able to drive.

      I can't drive. I've never tried and I'm almost terrified to. When Robin said in class today about how it would have been weird for me to see my peers be able to drive when I can't because I'm usually a year or two younger than most of my class, I realized how that never crossed my mind.

      I lived in cities my whole life and so commuting was always through public transportation—buses, subways, and in Japan, bicycles! Until today, I thought the legal driving age in Japan was 21, hence why I didn't urge my parents to acquire a driver's license. But I researched today and found out that it was 18.

      The age that you can legally drive varies from country to country but in many places it is lower than 18. In some American states like Louisiana, you can get a driver's permit when you're only 15 years old. That just sounds really...odd to me.

      I've been so accustomed to relying on public transportation and working around their schedule that I find it fascinating that my friends don't do that here. When they just go casually, “visit me over spring break!” I would just go “Yeah, if my mom doesn't mind driving me there...”

      America is too big and State College is certainly not a city...I need a car and know how to drive not only because I can work around my own schedule but also because I'm starting to feel guilty asking my friends and family for a ride.