Ten Minute Drive Turns Into Ninety

An international driver's license cost about $10 back then, so driving in foreign countries was a cinch. You just got behind the wheel, started the car, and went, just like in the United States. 

Not exactly.  There are all those weird round blue and red signs with lines crossed through them.  Some have pictures to make it easy for us.  And then there are the foreign languages.  Quick!  What did that sign mean?  Is it OK to go straight ahead, or is this a one-way street?  Oh, here comes a traffic circle! (I had never been in one of those, although now roundabouts are common in the U.S.)

The first time I drove our car alone in Ansbach, Germany, I intended to go to the Army Kaserne (barracks) downtown.  I was sure I knew the way because my husband had often driven us there.  I had taken the written test required of all USAREUR drivers, but this was my first test run without my husband.  I dragged my 13-year-old daughter along just to have someone beside me that I could understand, and off we went.  I drove our new Toyota Camry the "backway" from Katterbach and saw the sign for Kaserne at the first stoplight, so I went straight ahead.  We ended up at one of the 3 other Kasernes, but not the one I wanted. I continued down the hill to find it.  After turning around, I headed back but ended up in the same place.  How could that be? Everything was so odd-looking and unfamiliar. Where is the road he drove us on, and where is the damned barracks??

By now, Katie was mumbling about going home. 

Nope. Once again, we headed down the hill, and this time, we turned left at the stoplight.  A short way up the road, there was a sign for Kaserne, and we turned links, oops, left, and followed the road.  Suddenly, I realized I had made a significant mistake. 

I was downtown all right.  Literally downtown, amid the lunch hour, driving amongst Germans, all with a purpose to fulfill on their lunch break.

BMWs, Mercedes, and Audis surrounded us, all careening aggressively over the cobblestone streets.  My car plates let everyone know that I was an American (well, also, I wasn't in a German auto); I tried to be nonchalant but was terrified I would turn up a one-way street or drive where only foot traffic was allowed. 

I couldn't read any foreign signs, so I told Katie, "Well, that driver is going straight ahead, so I guess I'll follow her!"  Great idea!  That led us further up the hill into neighborhoods with very narrow roads, and I would have to remember how to get back to where I had been!  We managed to turn around and head back to the middle of downtown.

By this time, I had a splitting headache.  Being stubborn and persistent, I decided I would not return home until I found the Hindenburg Kaserne I was hunting.  At the stoplight, we turned left, and hallelujah, we saw another Kaserne sign! 

Following the road, we finally made it to the one I had envisioned when we began this adventure.  I pulled in, parked the car, and just sat, rubbing my forehead. Then it hit me!  I knew my way around now!  I had made a big mistake and ended up downtown at the worst possible time, but I survived. 

Persistence won the day. I accomplished a significant hurdle, and my next test will be a drive on the Autobahn.

After that, my daughter was very reluctant to get into the car with me. It took us an hour and a half to find a place only 10 minutes from our apartment.