When I was 19, I started taking driving lessons. I got into the car and saw the stern face of an older man. He wasn't much of a talker. My questions were generally answered with grunts, or he'd give me a look of "are you fucking serious." It made me nervous, and I didn't want to waste a bunch of money (I'd paid for a package deal, 30 lessons + exams with no way to switch instructors) so I figured I'd ask him about his home life. I thought that if he felt more comfortable talking to me, he'd be more willing to actually advise me. Boy, was I wrong. I asked him some general questions, like "got any kids", stuff like that. He says "yes," he has two. Starts talking about his wife. Holy shit, this was actually working, he was smiling and everything. Pretty soon though, his smile fades and he tells me that she's suicidal. Things have been shit between them for years. I feel awful for him, so I try to be comforting. He tells me he's torn between needing to work a lot to provide for her and their kids, and being scared to leave her alone in the house. That he loves her, but she's not the same person anymore. By the end of the hour, he's a blubbering mess. Pretty much every lesson from there on out, by the time I sat down and closed the door, he'd start crying and talked about his wife, his kids or work.

I was basically paying him to have me play pretend therapist. I tried telling him that I was in no way equipped to offer any advice, but I figured he just needed to talk to someone. I quit after 15 lessons or so because I just couldn't deal with it anymore. He wasn't teaching me how to drive, and I didn't know how to help him. I urged him to find a therapist, and he agreed. I thought about calling the company to get a refund, but I figured it might get him fired, so I never did. It cost me about €1400 and I still don't have my driver's license.