Watch Out! Heather now on the road in Bucharest!

Many of you have been praying that I would have the courage to begin driving here in Bucharest. I had intended to begin driving this past summer when there are less cars on the road, but our car was in an accident and then in the shop until the end of November so I kept putting it off. But, this past week I have conquered my fear and have driven just a handful of places.

Here are my observations so far: 1) Driving in Bucharest has greatly improved my prayer life-I pray constantly whenever on the road. 2) I have greatly improved my skill of multi-tasking-I can make sure I am not being hit or hitting the trams, stray dogs, carts and horses, other cars, or suicidal pedestrians all while driving. 3) As long as I am aware of the concept that the rules of the road are that there are NO RULES, I keep my frustration level down. It is only when I EXPECT people to follow the signs, stop lights, lane markings, or stay on their side of the street that I become like a crazy person.

And lest you think that I have completely conquered this driving thing, I am still only able to drive places that I can figure out how to get to all turning right (even if it means driving WAY out of my way) The left turns here scare me to death-they have no left turn arrows. The left turns are what my friends call "chariot turning"-If you want to turn left everyone (including people turning both ways) piles themselves in the middle (which also happens to be the tram tracks) and when the light finally turns red, a line of 4-7 cars all turn at once but all into a one lane (sometimes two) street.

The pictures that I posted above are very TYPICAL Bucharest traffic-scenes I see everyday just in front of our buildings.

In all seriousness though, I would love some prayers of protection and calmness with this whole driving thing!!! Thank you!