Adapting to the Minnesotan Way of Things

Michigan and Minnesota are very similar.

Yet, they have their differences.

One of the differences we LOVE: it is ALWAYS SUNNY – unless there is a snowstorm coming in. I think we have had one cloudy day since moving here (it was raining). I’ve heard people say that Michigan is depressing in the winter and I never really understood that because I didn’t know any better – I do now. Our house gets much warmer during the day because there is ACTUALLY SUN! I had no idea how much Lake Michigan causes overcast weather. I am proud to say that Minnesota can now be called the Sunshine State (coming from a fellow Michigander).

The past two days have been spent running around, creating a “life” here. Yesterday we went to the county building only to learn that in order to even THINK about changing our driver’s license to Minnesota, we have to take a test. So we went to the test place and the man asked if we had studied. We honestly thought he was joking, but he looked at us with a stern face and in those 2 seconds we realized he was NOT joking. Ouch. He said that they stopped printing the study manuals so he gave us a card to look it up online, but proceeded to tell us that there are bunch of manuals behind us (there was a whole rack of them). So we looked at the manual and realized, yikes, we need to study!

So last night and early this morning, Dan and I studied hardcore (well, maybe not hardcore…)

They don’t mess around out here!

After getting our internet set up this morning (after a few hours), we headed over to the testing center. We still found it funny that we had to take this Knowledge Test in order to even get a Minnesotan license, but driving is a privilege, not a right. So, we just accepted it and had fun with it. The lady working there was having one of those days (you could tell she was getting very odd phone calls) so we tried to make her day brighter and make her laugh. I think it worked.

We both flew through it and we both passed! Dan got 32 out of 33 right (the one he missed was on whether you could cross a bicycle lane to turn right (he said no, thinking you couldn’t drive on the lane), but the question meant if you could still turn right, even if it crossed over the bike path. The answer was Yes. Very confusing question as you can see! I got 32/35 right (why I had more questions, I am not sure). One of the questions I got wrong was the distance you had to keep away from a stopped school bus with flashing lights. The right answer was 20, but I guessed 30. (Don’t remember the other ones).

And here is the kicker:

I’ve decided I may have played too much Ticket to Ride. Back in the day, I rocked in geography (like state capitals and what not). I still LOVE geography. Well, TTR has done me in so to speak. The test gave us a practice question: what is the capital of Minnesota? Options were: Duluth, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and I think Rochester. When I saw St. Paul I thought, yup! That’s it! Then I saw Duluth. I thought, oh, maybe that’s it. So what did I guess? Duluth! Why I thought that was the capital, I have no idea – but I think it’s because of my TTR playing (not that the cities on the game board are the capitals, but for some reason today I thought they were).

You can laugh…and laugh some more.

Dan even proceeded to tell the lady after we both passed that he didn’t think I deserved to get my license b/c I didn’t know what their capital was :).

Sadly enough though, I think 3 out of the 5 people that had taken the test, did not pass. If I did not study, I am not certain I would’ve passed. It would’ve been close, but truly there are things that I have forgotten about since I last took it 13 years ago! You may laugh and think “oh, I could so take it” but then you read the manual and you realize how much you really do forget! Like how far you have to stay away from certain vehicles IN NUMBERS. For example, you have to allow for at least 3 feet between you and a bicyclist. Things I just don’t normally think about on a daily basis. Funny thing is, as we were driving home, we kept talking about other people’s driving and how they must not have recently taken the test because they are “wrong” in what they are doing. So if we recognize you on the road, we will be judging your driving! Just kidding :).

Anywho, here we are standing proudly with our study manuals!

After we took the test we went to the county building and registered for our new license, got forms to register to vote, and also changed our vehicle titles (which we didn’t know we had to do) and vehicle registrations. Today we also set up new bank accounts and worked on closing out our previous (much more complicated process than I would’ve expected).

Here is a tip that I wish I would’ve known: If you are moving to another state, close out your bank account BEFORE you move!

Tomorrow I have a few more things to tackle, but this place is feeling like “home.” Tonight we went over to our friend’s place and just chatted, talked about life in Minnesota and life in youth ministry. We had SUCH a wonderful time! Lots of laughs, sincerity, and realization on how much we have in common. Everyone just needs to come and visit us so that we can show you what this place is about :)!

Here are a few more things we are learning:

Work is important, but people are not afraid to stop and chat for awhile – much like the south, relationships are very important here.

Speed limit signs seem to be relative.

Drive with one hand on top of the steering wheel so that you can wave at everyone passing by (they will all wave at you first)

We have a 4 foot drift at the end of our driveway and it is considered “normal”

Sunglasses are a must (even though I never have really worn them before – even in Michigan)

And one of the most meaningful…just be yourself.

We are learning and appreciating so much about the Gopher state (even though I think a wolverine would definitely take down a gopher) and we continue to thank God for bringing us here.