Tainan, Taiwan - A small group of international students from National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), southern Taiwan, ventured to the Tainan Motor Vehicle Station recently in pursuit of a motorcycle license which is not on the bucket list of many foreigners in Taiwan.
Driving illegally in Taiwan can land foreigners into many legal troubles like inconvenient court appearances, heavy fines, and embarrassing police records, according to the university.
Upon arriving, the international students first underwent a mandatory physical examination that took about an hour. After that there was a journey across the street to the main office.
The place was full of people, long lines, and various offices. It was similar to a typical DMV found in any US city, which made many of the students rather nervous, said Jonathan Manson, an American who studies at IIMBA, NCKU, having his documents copied and waiting to get the approval to take the written exam.
While waiting to take the written exam, many of the students passed time by reviewing the signs, mingling with the locals, and getting to know their fellow students from other departments.
Arin Pangastuti, another IIMBA student from Indonesia, who was one of the applicants who failed the written test, said, “I didn’t mind getting denied, although I was looking forward to having a license. I must fix my entry stamp and return. I would really like to get this done, though.”
Clearly she was motivated to get the required documents, but a little discouraged that she couldn’t complete everything that day.
All other international students from NCKU successfully passed the written test. Most of the people received a 90%.
The actual driving exam was a little more difficult, according to the students, one of whom said, “During the test, one is required to drive 20 meters in a lane of only thirty centimeters wide, while maintaining a very low speed. It sounds like a piece of cake, but it is harder than it looks.”
The international students took turns practicing in the parking lot before taking the test.
Everybody who was watching the international students cheered as they went through the simulated course. After everyone passed the driving course they were then ready for the last step, getting the actual license.
“We took the moment to get to know each other more and discussed how much unexpected fun we had had throughout the eight-hour escapade,” according to IMBA student Martin Pech, who added that some of the local staff congratulated the international students too.
As always, the typical warmth and friendly atmosphere that foreigners receive from the local Tainan community warmed their hearts.
These students will likely spark a new trend among international students to have a driver’s license, according to the staff from International Affairs Office (OIA), NCKU, who orchestrated the event for foreign students.
SOURCE / National Cheng Kung University Taiwan