How English-friendly is Taichung?
The Foreigner’s Perspective –By Lindsay Alderton Translated by Picker Chen Despite being Taiwan’s third-largest city after Taipei and Kaohsiung, Taichung has long had one of the nation’s largest international communities. What attracts people is not only the cheaper housing and stable climate, but also the fact that Taichung’s relatively compact size makes it a less overwhelming choice for new arrivals. “After all, you can’t really get too lost in Taichung, can you?” says Kristine Schultz, 28, from Denmark. “And even if you do, that’s half the fun!” An experienced traveller, Kristine has coped with complex communication barriers in a number of different countries, and relishes the challenges which arise. However, this is not the case for everybody. For countless others who step off the bus into a confusing bedlam of speed-hungry scooters, and incomprehensible neon, it can be more than a little daunting. Steve, 24, from England, still keeps a piece of paper in his wallet with his addre
