my dad took me out a few times, and i really wasn't very good.

when I first got my car, i knew the basics, and I could shift, not smoothly. after a day or 3 in my car, it was almost second nature. After a while your smoothness will improve.

Two of my friends used to have autos on their old cars, i convinced them to get manuals on their new cars even though they didn't know how to drive them. Both picked up on it soon after they got their car. Its amazing what you can learn whe nyou have to.