It was tempting to name this post "the biggest load of malarkey I have encountered in my two years living in Brazil" but I figured that I should at least try to keep on topic. Besides, I may need the title for something else in the future.
Mostly for tax purposes (to keep ourselves at arm's length a bit from Canada and show our intent to stay in Brazil, as Mr. DRL's license was expiring, and he didn't want to get a new Canadian one), Mr. DRL and I both underwent the process for obtaining Brazilian driver's licenses. As to be expected, there were countless forms to fill out and fingerprints to be stamped, a few visits to DETRAN (the Brazilian version of the DMV or Registry as we'd call it in Canada) but we got through that part a few months ago. Since we had valid Canadian driver's licenses we did not need to do an actual driver's test behind the wheel, but we did complete small physical exams (eyesight, blood pressure, etc.) as a requirement.
Then, we had to take a 2 hour long psychological test. Which is where the malarkey comes in.For the record, I passed (surprised, are you? Maybe a little?).
I arrive, fill in some paperwork, do some fingerprints, have my physical exam, meet some nice people (mostly young Brazilians, one other gringa), then am brought into a room with about 8 others to complete the exam. The instructor speaks a tiny bit of English, which is helpful. But before the exam begins she goes on a tirade in Portuguese about foreigners coming in and taking Brazil's oil resources, THEIR resources, and how if you were to go for a driver's test in another country there would be no help with translations. The part about the translations probably true, but not super for making us feel all that welcome/comfortable in this tiny room for two hours with all that hostility. But anyway!
The test is the biggest joke I have ever encountered. I was warned by Mr. DRL and a friend that it was bizarre but no amount of warning prepared me for it. Every opportunity I had I stealthily took photos to share with you. Because that is the only way you can ever understand begin to understand... what is involved to get a Brazilian driver's license. OH.MY.GOD.
Exhibit 1:
Pin the horseshoe on the??? No, I am not kidding, this was an actual multiple choice question on the test.
This part was interesting too - you had to put a tiny dot in each of the triangles on the line (far left box), then in the middle you had to complete a maze with a steady hand, finally on the right, put two small check marks in each box. I feel so much safer on Rio's roads knowing that the driver's have completed these crucial tasks.
The ducks were pretty funny too...
This page took the cake for me. Really, swastikas? Finger + Ring = Finger with ring on?
There was also a section of the test which required us to memorize items in a picture and write them down, and a bizarre exercise where we had to write matching straight small lines on a paper for a predetermined amount of time, then count them up. It's a mystery as to what they are looking for in that exercise? Is it better to have more lines or for them to be uniform? I went for more uniform and was glad after as I didn't have to count as many tiny little lines in the end but who knows?
I am SO not looking forward to this. Unreal!
Posted by: Account Deleted | March 19, 2010 at 11:41 AM
Sorry to hear about the 'oil' tirade. Unfortunately some people in Brazil think that they are being exploited byt the'imperialist Americans'. Little do they know, is that without foreign investment and technology, the offshore oil discoveries would never be drilled.
ANYWAY>>>
Brazilians LOVE these psychotecnical testings. You even have to do them when applying for jobs, hence my question of drawing a tree.
These tests are useless because in the end of the day, Brazilians are all maniacs on the road. They all think that they are the reincarnation of Ayrton Senna.
And the road conditions......no comment
Posted by: Canarioca | March 19, 2010 at 02:51 PM
Just to let you know--the political commentary by the tester is not the norm. I took the exam in 2007 and the test administrator was very professional, as was the doctor who did the interview afterwards.
BTW, it's not unusual in parts of the US for the DMV to offer the study booklets in the languages of the most common immigrants of the region, even though you have to take the test in English.
Posted by: Wrenaissance Art | March 19, 2010 at 07:23 PM
Since I am planning a move to Rio, I have been reading your blog for several months. I haven't ever commented before, but I just had to say "thanks" for this post. Hysterical! The best laugh I've had in a while.
To add to the previous comment, there are places in the US where you can not only study for the driving test in another language, but also take the test in that language.
Posted by: Louise | March 20, 2010 at 12:45 PM
Airlegs - We'll drink wine after. Or Sangria at Venga!
Canarioca - you said it, sister. Brazilian resources are VERY well protected. This chick has no clue. But she administers this "exam" for a living, so we must consider this... I agree the driving is maniacal. But apparently I'm sane enough to do it...
Wrenaissance Art - Good to hear that the commentary is not standard procedure. Good to know about the languages!
Louise - Welcome! And Thanks!
Posted by: Daily Rio Life | March 20, 2010 at 04:57 PM
So here's the deal. I have a camera with a memory stick and deleted some pictures. After I deleted the pictures, I uploaded the pictures that I left on the camera into the computer. Can I recover the deleted pictures on the computer, or would I have to have my camera plugged in and find the deleted pictures on that? By the way after I put the pictures on the computer I filled up the memory stick with other pictures. Can you even recover deleted pictures with memory sticks? I know you can with SD cards but what about memory sticks? Thanks!
Posted by: buy viagra | May 14, 2010 at 12:07 PM
ahahhaha, it's funny i found that you already wrote about this, i was thinking about writing to Rachel (rio gringa) and having her write a story on it since it's not the type of material i write on my blog, but the tests for driving license here infuriates me!!! and do you know what makes it WORSE?!?! my mother-in-law is one of the people who chooses and GIVES the effing psychology tests!!! ahhhh!!!! she sits at her kitchen table and grades them, i've taken quite a few while drinkin coffee just so i can laugh at it (she also gives the tests for the police officers so they can hold a gun, one of them is "draw a human" from which she can learn their personality. wtf?) anyways, it's hard because i know my husband wants to agree with me about how worthless these tests are and that everyone thinks they are complete jokes, but it's his mother's livelihood! definately had a raised-voice conversation in the car about it a few weeks ago, but he agrees. And up until about 10 years ago you used to have to get the test RETAKEN every 5 years just like the medical exam, can you imagine. her business was cut by almost 3/4 with the new one time exam rule. the government tried to eliminate them, but the spychologists need jobs. it's amazing how this type of bullshit test could never exist in the US because the nation would be screaming about their liberties. i have to get over my "I refuse to back down from my view!!!!" and take the effing test (been here 5 months and still cant drive) i was (am) a very resistant child, but what can you do...someday i will tell her (with love) that her entire group of test givers need to suck it up and find new jobs!
Posted by: mallory elise | July 14, 2010 at 10:28 AM
I think a better indication of whether you're Brazil road-ready would be a test of getting into the tiny parking stalls in buildings!
Posted by: Daily Rio Life | July 15, 2010 at 03:25 PM
When I popped the hood open on the Jeep, I could immediately tell what the problem was - the fan belt was broken. But upon closer inspection, it became obviuous that it had been cleanly and intentionally cut. I took the broken belt back inside the tavern and showed it to Ma.
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Posted by: the wise one | January 06, 2012 at 01:05 AM
It's an interesting concept for a driving test. Well, it's probably there to judge how you think on the road. Even if the test seems unorthodox, it's best to be ready for it and score high.
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I just took this damn test today and failed. UNBELIEVABLE! I had no problem getting my drivers licence in Japan. I feel really crummy and pissed.
I thought this kind of test was to evaluate your subconscious personality and no matter how many times you take the darn thing the results are supposed to be the same. My Brazilian husband tells me that 90% of the ppl are failed. Are they doing this just to get more money?? If so, I wish they would just charge me the extra $90 so I could save time from taking this 2.5 hour test again...
Posted by: June | March 15, 2013 at 07:14 PM
Thank you for sharing this post. I found it very informative and helpful. You give some great insight to what living in Rio is like. I am actually moving there for my job and am very excited. I am just hammering out a few details like how I am going to get my car over there.
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