Hi Tom,

When I was living in Germany my mother came to visit and stayed for months. She ended up gettting her own apartment and job and almost didn't leave. I told her to make sure she got an international drivers license before arriving in Germany or she would not be able to drive. Driving to her is freedom so she promptly went down and received one by only signing a form and paying 35.00! Anyone who is familiar with the drivers training and tests in Europe would be offended! I spent a lot of time attempting to inform her of the rules of the road in Europe and how they have nothing whatsoever to do with the rules of the road in America! :o)

Tracy

>>I speak Spanish, Grew up speaking Spanish, lived in Central America for 4.5 years and spain for 3...
>>
>>I feel more at home with the hispanic population than I do with any other, but it galls me to have to choose english at atm machines, etc. We have bent over way to far backwards to the various politically correct solutions. When I first went to Central America, there was no option for bi-lingual ballots, newspapers, plus, if you didn't learn spanish, you didn't eat, buy a beer or travel.
>>
>>Anyway, i'm not allowing my blood pressure to go any higher. You all have a nice day..
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>I also speak Castellaño, and my greatest interest outside of my family is flamenco. I have played flamenco guitar professionally, and still perform in the San Jose, California area. My wife (of 38 years) is from Peru and her family is from Zaragoza, Spain.
>
>I can recall the many persons who came from other countries during the period up until the mid 1960’s. They learned how to speak English, became citizens and were a part of the system. Today our voting guides are published in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Russian. I question how well informed a person is as a voter who cannot speak English in our country.
>
>An actual event at our local Department of Motor Vehicles:
>
>I was first in line behind the couple at the window. The lady had taken the written exam and failed 100%. She was Vietnamese and had the Vietnamese exam. The examiner then asked her husband (who acted as her translator) if she could identify any of the International Signs used on hi-ways, from a book she was shown. She could not. The examiner said, “If she could have identified at least one symbol, I would have given her a license”!
>
>Do not drive in California, unless you have to!
>
>One last comment about illegal aliens, they cannot purchase automobile insurance in our state. If they hit you, you had better have uninsured motorists coverage. Everyone else in California who drives a vehicle must have automobile insurance.