Would you let your junior college student study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong next year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the PP what do you think will happen to your kid?

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.

On that note, I’d an Americans have to be very mindful when traveling anywhere these days. And yes, many countries besides China/Chinese hate Americans. That is not something to ignore even if folks are pleasant to your face.

[Anonymous]

HK and Shanghai are far safer than DC if you look at crime statistics. No gun violence, strong central control on crime. Not great places for freedom of expression of course, but it's an exciting time there for technological advance, and I wouldn't hesitate to send my kid there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For Asia, Japan, Korea, or Singapore.

You do realize they don’t speak Mandarin there, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Yes, it is. It does make the US sound like a bit of a hell hole though, doesn’t it?

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.

Really? Obvious most Canadians know the US fairly well, but if you didn’t and read that with no personal context, I can’t see how you’d want to visit.

Crime
Mass shootings and frequent gun violence
Gang activity
Terrorism threats

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the PP what do you think will happen to your kid?

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. [/quote]

Sorry, what? I suspect you don’t know many Chinese people. Good grief. Some of you are just nuts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the PP what do you think will happen to your kid?

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.

On that note, I’d an Americans have to be very mindful when traveling anywhere these days. And yes, many countries besides China/Chinese hate Americans. That is not something to ignore even if folks are pleasant to your face.

Would it make a difference to you if your kid wasn’t white? Just curious.

[Anonymous]

Hong Kong yes, mainland no.

Also what do you mean “let”, are they not already an adult?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Yes, it is. It does make the US sound like a bit of a hell hole though, doesn’t it?

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.

Really? Obvious most Canadians know the US fairly well, but if you didn’t and read that with no personal context, I can’t see how you’d want to visit.

Crime
Mass shootings and frequent gun violence
Gang activity
Terrorism threats

-getting locked up for weeks on end with no lawyer or phone calls
-getting deported to some random country you’ve never been to

Yeah, no one wants to come to the USA right now lol.

[Anonymous]

Taiwan is also great. They have an AMAZING food scene, I’ve been twice (as a white woman) and absolutely loved it. Too bad the program isn’t as intriguing for him, that would be my top pick over china.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Let me get this straight… Don’t go to Shanghai in 2025 for a semester abroad (3 months) because 20 + years ago your one friend lived in Beijing for 5 years and other parts of Asia for 9 years and she recently got cancer which she blames on food in Asia. But if you do go, bring your own food?

Never stop, DCUM! Never stop! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

This makes sense to me, although I’d caution dc re no drugs, no political chatter etc.

Also I believe most people in Hong Kong speak Cantonese, no? So Shanghai might be a better fit language wise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Let me get this straight… Don’t go to Shanghai in 2025 for a semester abroad (3 months) because 20 + years ago your one friend lived in Beijing for 5 years and other parts of Asia for 9 years and she recently got cancer which she blames on food in Asia. But if you do go, bring your own food?

Never stop, DCUM! Never stop! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I think you’re the idiot here. I said her medical team who were part of a research team suggested she likely was exposed to toxins while living there. Her words, not mine. Based on experience long term experience in that region, I know which country I would let my kid visit and what precautions I would have them take. However, I don’t care who goes where.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Let me get this straight… Don’t go to Shanghai in 2025 for a semester abroad (3 months) because 20 + years ago your one friend lived in Beijing for 5 years and other parts of Asia for 9 years and she recently got cancer which she blames on food in Asia. But if you do go, bring your own food?

Never stop, DCUM! Never stop! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I think you’re the idiot here. I said her medical team who were part of a research team suggested she likely was exposed to toxins while living there. Her words, not mine. Based on experience long term experience in that region, I know which country I would let my kid visit and what precautions I would have them take. However, I don’t care who goes where.

Oh yes, your ‘experience long term experience’ in China. lol. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

This makes sense to me, although I’d caution dc re no drugs, no political chatter etc.

Also I believe most people in Hong Kong speak Cantonese, no? So Shanghai might be a better fit language wise.

Cantonese in HK. The Wu dialect in Shanghai. One of the exciting things about spending time in China is discovering that no can understand each other.

[Anonymous]

What exactly are you guys afraid of? What do you think is going to happen to your kid? I’m confused.