最近バイクの免許を取った。日本と違って、台湾にはバイク免許が二種類しかない。５０cc以下の免許と、それ以上の免許。日本でもバイクはまあまあ使われている（このアメリカ人の目から見れば）でも台湾ほどではない。特に南台湾には車よりバイクの方が多い。バイクの免許さえあれば台湾で旅するのもだいぶ便利になってくる。田舎に行ってバスに頼らずに回れるからね。
I went and got my motorcycle license recently. To American ears it probably sounds more impressive than it is. Our image of motorcycles is over-sized Harleys driven by scary men covered in tattoos and leather. But in southern Taiwan scooters are the main form of transportation for most people. There are far more scooters than cars, and most of them are diddly little 100 cc affairs, just big enough to zip around town comfortably on. Everyone drives them, even little old ladies who hug the right side of the street and only go about 10 miles per hour.
雖然我已經住台南兩年多可是上禮拜我才拿到機車駕照。其實因為上課上班都離我家很近，所以我日常生活不需要。但是因為不帶機車去鄉下不方便，所以我決定去考。
交通局に変な実がなっている木を見かけた。いったい何なんだろうか？さっぱり分からない。
At any rate, while I was at the DMV, I noticed some trees they had planted were bearing weird fruit. I have no idea what these things are. Anyone know?
在交通局我看到這種水果。到底是哪種？我完全不知道。
この木もあって、たしかこれは檳榔の木だと思う。
There were also some trees that had nut-like fruits that reminded me of betel (areca) nuts. Actually, I really think that that's what they are.
也有檳榔樹！（是嗎？我覺得就是，但不確定。）
Seeing as betel nut is a mild stimulant, this made me wonder if the Virginia DMV in the US has rows of tobacco plants growing out in front of their offices.
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