We had heard so much about Hoover Dam and on one weekend we decided to visit Hoover Dam.
It was only 20 miles from Henderson, and it took less than 30 minutes to get there. It was a nice short drive, and the weather was not that hot that day either.
We found out that Hoover Dam is named in honour of Herbert Hoover, the U.S. president during whose administration (1929–1933) construction began on the dam and whose work as commerce secretary in the 1920s secured agreements necessary for the project to proceed.
The dam was erected during the Great Depression, the dam was a major endeavour that employed thousands of workers; around 100 fatalities occurred during its construction. Although legislation passed by Congress in 1931 officially named the dam for Hoover, officials in the succeeding administrations of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman referred to it as Boulder Dam, its name during the planning stages before construction.
In 1947 Truman signed a congressional resolution restoring the structure’s formal name to official use.
Instead of just wandering around, we decided to take a tour which didn’t cost a lot but provided us with an excellent opportunity to get to know things about the dam. It involved walking through historic tour tunnels, riding an original elevator to the top of the dam, and seeing the Colorado River through a ventilation shaft.
It also included a tour to a visitor center with exhibits, access to the dam’s observation deck for views of the Colorado River, Lake Mead, and the bypass bridge, and options for guided tours of the power plant and the dam itself.
We enjoyed the tour a lot as those days we were not aware of the fact that the dam was subject to environmental concerns. It changed the Colorado River’s course, affecting fish habitats, sediment structures, water quality, and the capacity of the initial floodplains.
When we were finished with the tour, we decided to have lunch there and when we got back home, we were totally exhausted. We thought we deserved a nap to recover from a busy but interesting morning.
I started attending meetings at the Chamber but never forgot what that lady had told me about the Canadian license plate.
The next day, I made enquiries about the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) near where we lived. I decided to visit the DMV to find out the process.
When I got there, I couldn’t believe the crowd at the DMV. People were lining up even outside of the office to get information or apply for a driver’s license. I guess it all had to do with the way the population of Henderson was growing. Most of the people who were lining up were Mexican ancestry which I had no problem with as there were a lot of opportunities for the folks to find work in the casinos in Las Vegas and Henderson.
I didn’t see any other way but to lineup, if I was interested in finding out what does it take to get a driver’s license in Nevada.
It took me almost two hours to get to the counter. As soon as I got there, the girl sitting behind the desk asked me something in Spanish.
I said, I am sorry I don’t speak the language.
She said I am sorry I thought you were Mexican.
I said I wish.
She asked me how she can help me.
I remember asking her what does it take to get a driver’s license here in Nevada?
She said the basic requirement is that you need to pass a written test before you become eligible for a driving test and if you passed the driving test, you would get a driving license. However, she continued, you must be a citizen of the United States, or you should have some kind of legal status in the country.
I said I used to have driver license in Chicago in the 1960’s but currently, I have a driver’s license from Ontario, Canada.
She said unfortunately, we don’t accept driver’s licenses from other countries. I am not sure if we have access to the Illinois driver’s licenses in the 1960’s to confirm the validity. However, if you are here for legitimate reason and have some kind of proof, you are eligible for a driver’s license in the state of Nevada.
I said it makes sense. I asked if I could make an appointment for a written test?
She said, of course, and she looked at the monitor-screen of her computer and said I do have an opening in almost three months.
I said, three months?
She said that’s the best I can do for you. She also said, you don’t have to worry about driving here in Nevada with your Canadian driver’s license until you get your appointment.
Ignoring what she said, I asked is there any way I can get driver’s license sooner.
She said perhaps you should go to the City of North Las Vegas; they may not be as busy.
I thanked her and left totally frustrated.
I didn’t know what I would be able to do to overcome the difficulties associated with obtaining a driver’s license in Nevada.
I asked myself if I should consider applying for the immigration. There were two significant problems with that approach – one it will take a long time to go through the process and two Lynda wasn’t interested in staying in the states forever.
Even if we wanted to live in the states only for a few years, I need a Nevada driver’s license as Canadians were allowed to drive in Nevada with Canadian driver’s license only a few months.
- In Nevada, Canadian drivers can use their Canadian driver’s license for up to 90 days in a calendar year if they are over 18 and are not establishing residency in Nevada. If they are establishing residency in Nevada, they must obtain a Nevada driver’s license within 30 days.
I thought it was critical that I must find a way of getting a driver’s license if I would like to continue to live in Las Vegas or any part of the states. I also thought going to small towns or cities may help me to minimize the waiting time for getting a driver’s license, but it will not change the requirements for getting a driver’s license in the states.
I was very upset with myself for jumping the gun and purchasing a house without giving any thoughts to the logistics of getting settled down in Las Vegas. Yet, I was so determined not to mention it to Lynda about what I had faced with. I knew how she was going to react and as a matter of fact she had every right to be absolutely distressed with me.
One day, when Lynda came home from the clubhouse, she said Bob and Jean would like to go out with us tonight for supper. I said it sounds okay, but I wasn’t too excited with the idea. Nevertheless, we went out to a nice restaurant.
Bob and Jean Myers had come from Illinois. Bob was in the military, and Jean used to do secretarial work where they used to live. Jean had an aunty living in Henderson and they used to come to Vegas frequently and used to stay with her aunty. When Bob got retired from military, they decided to settle down in Henderson.
After living at the Mountainview for a while, Bob decided to find a part time job to keep himself busy, but Jean was totally involved with every activity at the clubhouse and they both were enjoying their lives.
Once we finished with our meal, Lynda and Jean decided to go play machines and try to win some money. While they were gone, Bob and I decided to continue to chat.
Bob asked me if I am still enjoying Vegas. I said – yes, indeed and I told him that I had incorporated a company in Nevada and thinking about doing little bit consulting to keep myself busy.
Bob said it sounds like a plan.
I said the only difficulty is that I cannot continue to drive in Nevada unless I get the driver’s license here.
Bob said what’s stopping you from getting a Nevada license. You used to drive in Chicago when you were living there, didn’t you?
I said of course, I did but it doesn’t matter, I must go through the process to get a driver’s license here in Vegas.
Bob said that shouldn’t be difficult, should it?
I said but to go through that process, I must have a legal status here.
Bob said but I know somebody at work, he’s a consultant who is a Canadian and he works part time who also drives a nice car. Bob said he assume that he has a Nevada driver’s license.
I said it will be great help if you find out how the heck he managed to get a Nevada driver’s license.
Bob said leave it with me, Mir.
