This started when I landed in my apartment with another roommate who does not know driving. He had what he needed to live in the apartment. Here I started my first day looking for friends who would take me to buy the basics to live in an apartment. Most shopping areas could not be accessed by walk. There comes the generous help of friends.

After couple of days of shopping I had what I needed to live, cook and eat. It does not stop there. Now I need to start my work, which fortunately is only 5 miles. Well, only 5 miles right! I still need a car or take a city bus, which takes 1 hour to reach this place. After the first week, I decided to get a license.

To get a drivers license, there are two steps involved. 1) To get learners permit 2) To take the actual behind the wheel test.

1. To get learners permit: It requires to take a test which has multiple choice questions. For this the DMV provides a guide with rules and regulations. A thorough review of this guide is very essential to pass through the test. Once you pass this test, you are given a Permit to drive. You could at this point only drive with another person with drivers license in the car.
   
   If you have never had driving classes, this is where you start taking classes. The best way is to contact an individual or company who offers driving classes. They generally charge for each half hour. A 20 hour training program should be sufficient.
   
   If you already knew driving, you could take 2 to 3 classes to get familiar with the signs, freeways and regulations.
   
   After you are comfortable you could go for the actual driving test. Taking classes from a trainer is advantageous as they take you for the test and you just have to pay them for the time.
   
   Otherwise you need a car with insurance for the test. You need to find a person who is willing to go and spend that time with you.
   
   
2. The actual test involves setting up a prior appointment or going to the DMV and standing in the line based on the busy nature of the city.
   
   One of the DMV representatives goes with you and take you through a 15 to 30 minute ride. The rep. takes out points for each error you make. You may request to make turns, do parallel parking etc.
   

After I passed the test, I was given a temporary permit and was informed a permanent magnetic card shall be mailed to my home. A few formalities such as taking photograph etc. was completed while I was there.