Getting a Thai License

Getting a Thai license.  It sounded easy.  I thought that getting an International Driving permit would make the process easier.  It didn't.  Even though nothing in the actual driver training has to do with motorbikes, my licenses did not exclude me from going through the process.  The process involves a color blindness test.  I simply named the color that they pointed to on a chart.Then the reaction test.  I press the gas pedal until I get a light to press the break.  You fail if you don't press the brake fast enough.  Then I had to ask for help because I didn't know where to go.  Everything up to this point was in Thai.  I was given a booklet of rules in multiple languages including English and ushered into a room with a lot of other people.  For the next 4 hrs, we were given a movie, lots of instruction and explanation of traffic signs- all in Thai.  I zoned out after the first hour.  It became clear that I didn't know enough Thai to follow along.  Thank heavens for the other foreigner in the room who knew more Thai.  He helped me to figure out what to do when directions were given like breaks.  After the training we went to take the test.  I failed the first time.  I didn't understand everything in the test though.  Some of the answers made no sense and I had to pick answers like: what is prohibited- driving after taking a diarrhea med, driving when there are heart attack symptoms and other random questions.  Or worse answers, that weren't completely translated.  I had been told prior that I could retake the test immediately if I asked. So I did.. multiple times. Finally they gave me the card for retaking.  I passed the second time.  Then I headed to the driving test.  Compared to America, it was nothing.  I drove around cones, drove on a plank and turned a corner.  Then I went back to the main building and paid and got my picture taken.  After 6+ hrs, they handed me a license.  I was on Thai language overload at that point.  But I've heard that I might not need so much time to renew it next year.  My license since its my first, is only valid for a year.  After that for 5 yrs.
School is wrapping up in only a couple of months.  Spring break in 2 days-much needed. and 6 weeks later I'll be in America. Hard to believe 2 yrs in Thailand is almost done. But I'm here in Thailand for much longer. I signed another contract in Chiang Mai and I'm still praying on Southern Thailand.  I have one foot in Northern Thailand and one foot in Southern Thailand.