Would you let your junior college student study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong next year?
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Anonymous
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Why or why not? Anyone with any direct experience?
This is a repost from the political board. I should have posted in here initially. My dc is American but is half Asian (looks more Asian than white if that makes a difference) speaks some mandarin and his university has several programs in China, including at a top school in Shanghai that dc is very interested in attending. But not sure it’s safe. Taiwan might be a better option but he’s not as interested in the partner program there. Dc is not into politics, and has never voted although he did register Dem last year. I was interested to see the Canadian travel advisory for the US. Made the US sound terribly unsafe! https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-states |
Anonymous
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Probably not.
What about Singapore? We're living there now for work, and while English is the official language, Mandarin is widely spoke as well, and Chinese culture and traditions are a part of the thread of life here. And I think it would be a low-risk, safe experience, compared to the uncertainty of relations with China and conditions for expats there right now. |
Anonymous
I totally agree with you but he’s not particularly interested in Singapore. Says the partner program there isn’t as appealing and also I think he just thinks of Singapore as ‘boring’. He’s looking at it from a 19 year old perspective unfortunately. How do you like living there? |
Anonymous
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The Canadian Travel Advisory for Canadians entering the USA is thorough & well done. Excellent advice with good resource information.
Whether or not I would let a college student study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong next year would depend upon the then current political climate and would also depend upon the school and housing involved. |
Anonymous
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This post was just done last week.
Why repost? My answer was: Only if family nearby, in case of epidemic or trade war that forbids safe easy travel. |
Anonymous
Yes, it is. It does make the US sound like a bit of a hell hole though, doesn’t it? |
Anonymous
Why respond? |
Anonymous
| Absolutely. We have a kid abroad right now and all the hype about danger and tourists being targeted is not happening. They have traveled to so many different places every weekend staying in all sorts of accommodations and have had no problems. |
Anonymous
No, not to me. Everything sounds reasonable. Important to understand that pot is illegal under federal law in the US. Nothing in the travel advisory would deter me from traveling from Canada to the US if I were a citizen of Canada. |
Anonymous
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Study in China, um no.
I am a huge supporter of study abroad but this is a terrible time for these locales. |
Anonymous
| To the PP what do you think will happen to your kid? |
Anonymous
| For Asia, Japan, Korea, or Singapore. |
Anonymous
Different poster. Be aware of intentional food poisoning if the student is in a locals' restaurant and the student is clearly from the USA. Many Chinese hate Americans. |
Anonymous
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I would pick Hong Kong over Shanghai simply because of health reasons and food quality. I’ve lived in Asia for a lot of years. With China, even without political considerations, I’d worry about the quality of food. The farming system there and the industrial waste spillage and their casual disposal into the waterways and farmland gives me pause about toxins in food. With Hong Kong you may have more access to foreign supermarkets and food. And yes, I would cook my own food and limit eating out in restaurants. If possible, I would bring my own food with me if I had to go to China.
My kid had an opportunity to go to Beijing for two weeks in groups program. I didn’t let them. We’ve lived in Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia and visited many more, thought not in the last 12 years. Lots of food are imported from China so we employ a certain strategy to insure our safety as much as possible. Also, a friend that I knew while living in one of the above countries about 20 years, and who’d previously spent 5 years living in Beijing came down with multiple myeloma 6 years ago. She became part of some research. During the background history (she had no family history of the disease) portion of the research, it was concluded, according to her, she was probably exposed to certain toxins while living in Asia - she lived in Taiwan (3 years), Beijing (5years), South Korea (6years). She was a foodie and was not particularly careful about where her food came from. I remember warning her to use bottled (we had water delivery options) water to drink and cook with and to limit her groceries to imported food whenever she could, she never listened. This was the early 2000s. We’ve spent a lot of time living abroad, so for me, I take a lot into consideration when traveling or living abroad. |
Anonymous
| I'd allow it. In mainland China, Shanghai is the easiest place for foreigners. There's always a strong community of expats and students. And Hong Kong is even easier. China is not going to hold American students hostage, but I'd be mindful of the news and be prepared to leave at short notice should things change. Whatever study program this is exists with the cooperation of the Chinese government. I think common sense will be fine. China is endlessly interesting. I'd take the opportunity. China always takes the long view. Trump is just a passing distraction. |