ネイティブが教える英会話のジェムスクール☆Teachers☆

So I recently went to the Driver's License Center （運転免許センター) to begin the process of converting my US license to a Japanese license. I plan to be here for a while, so I feel it's important that I do that. Anyway, it's a process to get it changed. First thing I have to do is go for an interview, to even see if I will be allowed to get a Japanese license. That's what I did this week. I went to the center in Takamtsu, as it was the closest one to me. The thing about the interview is that it is only in Japanese. Fortunately for me, I have a friend in Takamatsu who was free to help me out.
The interview itself wasn't so bad. The man who did the interview was very nice, and patient in trying to understand the differences between Japan and US driving laws. They are quite different, let me tell you. One thing they do in the states that they don't do here is a learner's permit. At about 15 years of age, teenagers can take a paper test to acquire a permit to drive, being limited to driving with someone who has a license and is over the age of 18. They also are not required to go to a driving school to learn to drive (though it is recommended). And that is one of the bigger differences between the two countries. Fortunately, my friend was able to translate my explanations well enough, so I think the interview went fairly well! Now to wait for them to call me and let me know if I can continue with converting the license.

This is an example of a New York Driver's license. My current license looks like this. Though I think they change the look recently, within the last two years.