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The COMPASS is NOT a magazine for
foreigners. If I had NT$10 for each time that I have made
that point over the past several months, I'd probably have enough
for a meal at one of Taichung's finer restaurants. Many readers,
advertisers and others are still surprised when I inform them that
over 75 percent of COMPASS readers today are not foreigners but,
rather, Taiwanese. It is no exaggeration to note that about
95 percent of the daily inquiries and comments (overwhelmingly positive)
we receive from readers, subscribers, advertisers and other interested
parties are from local residents.
All this makes us very happy, as it has long been our goal
to create one of Taiwan's first completely bilingual guides--useful
to English and Chinese readers alike--as well as the only free guide
magazine dedicated to Greater Taichung in any language. Towards
this goal, we hope to continue serving and informing all residents
and visitors as a truly international venture.
Towards that international vision we are this month featuring
Taichung's international organizations. These should not be
viewed as 'foreigners' groups' but--much like this magazine--as
a cross-roads for Taiwanese and foreign individuals and businesses
to meet and interact. In addition, we are providing an 'About
Town' look at all the great ways to celebrate the Christmas season,
not to mention the new year.
One more very special feature this month is the addition
of a color map of Taichung's well-known 'wedding street' on Sanmin
Road. In cooperation with a month-long city government promotion
of this area and its businesses, we are providing a cultural and
wedding-shop guide map as well as a couple related feature stories.
Interested in getting married? This might be a good time to
start planning.
And, finally, as difficult as it is to believe, the year
2000--welcomed with so much fanfare--is almost over. Here
at the COMPASS magazine, it is our sincere wish that all of our
readers and advertisers have a very Merry Christmas and an auspicious
start to the first year of the new Millennium!
Douglas
Habecker
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