cleo, that's reassuring. I've only been driving for 3ish years and I hit curbs quite often.
As for
Daniella, wow! You
have to learn how to drive a stick-shift? Brave soul.

My friend has driven one for most of his years of driving (about 3-4 years) and let me try twice-ish. It is difficult! There is a
lot to do at the same time and it makes me appreciate my automatic very much. Also to note, this friend said that he caught on quite easily when he learned to drive stick-shift. It has been very easy for him since.
So, have hope that after years of driving it may not be so bad. Otherwise, don't feel alone, because I can't do it well, either!
Well... thats the "normal" thing around here. The trick is that you have to BECOME the automatic, really. If you do it a lot you don't have to think about doing it anymore, you just do.