Drivers, Driver's License, and Taxi Rides, Oh My!

I have alluded to the fact that Andy got his Chinese driver's license, but didn't really explain the process. . .  As a foreigner with a driver's license in your home country, you do not have to take the driving test just a written one. The test is in Chinese, but you can take a translator with you. After some complications translating his Indy license, Andy took and passed the test! Let me tell you, driving in China is not for the faint at heart. Most expats NEVER drive while they are here, but instead rely upon a driver. Upon first arriving, it would appear that there are NO rules. However, there are rules. They are just different than the ones we use! :-) The driving here reminds me more of an ebb and flow. People pull out (into busy traffic) and the rest of the traffic kind of flows to make room. Of course, as people move out of the way there is much honking. There are also things that are perfectly normal that we would never do in the States. Just some examples:

• 2 lanes can become 3 (or 3 become 4 as the case may be)
  
• Left turn always has the right of way
  
• Multiple cars turn left at a time (let me explain this one . . . if you are turning left and the car in front of you is taking too long, you can turn ahead of them or even simultaneously. Isn't that crazy?)
  
• If your lane(s) of traffic are stopped and no one is coming in the other direction, you can use those lanes. Though I have to admit, mostly taxis seem to use this one.
  
• And really the wildcard in all of this is the bike and electric bike traffic who seem to follow a whole different set of rules
  

Since I am one of those that will NEVER DRIVE IN CHINA (and really people, can you blame me?), I either ride my bike or have the driver take me places. The company has two drivers. Their primary job is to pick people up for work and then take them home again (they each drive a 15 passenger van and make almost like a bus route, stopping at intervals). But during the day, if they are not needed the drivers are available to me if I need to go shopping or run any errands. Isn't that such a strange concept? But some days (like today), the drivers are occupied and where I am going is too far to bike so I take a taxi. Now, riding in a taxi is an exercise in faith. Taxis are an adventure all their own. First, you have the language barrier. The expat association prints out taxi cards that are laminated and have most shopping, sightseeing places, restaurants, and neighborhoods written in both Chinese and English. Most stores always have a business card with Chinese on one side and English on the other, and these are wonderful to give to the taxi driver. I like to practice my Chinese and try and tell the taxi driver where I want to go without the cards and only after I get blank looks use the taxi cards. My favorite is when I tell the driver our neighborhood (in Chinese) he looks at me blankly, I try again, still get the puzzled look, finally I pull out the card and he says it THE SAME WAY I DID! Totally cracks Andy and I up (and it has happened to both of us)! Then, once you communicate where you are going, the taxi is (literally) off and running.