Anonymous
04/22/2025 22:56
Subject: Re:Would you travel or send dc to study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong right now?
Anonymous wrote:I would say no. China has a habit of imposing exit bans on foreigners to use as bargaining chips, and there has been some worrying incidents of violence against foreigners this past year by locals. In a society controlled by the CCP, public sentiment against Americans can turn nasty very fast (and it is already not good).
For language, go to Taiwan. It will not be the same but close enough.
Dc isn’t specifically going for language although he does speak some mandarin so that is a partial draw. Curious why you think Taiwan would be ‘close enough’ for language… ?
Anonymous
04/22/2025 22:50
Subject: Would you travel or send dc to study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong right now?
Anonymous wrote:Is your DC outspoken about politics/religion or are they mainly interested in cultural/language immersion?
As someone who grew up in China, I think your DC will be fine if they stay away from touchy topics. But if you're really concerned, sure, Taiwan or even Singapore are safer alternatives albeit not quite the same.
Op here. Dc is not interested in politics, thankfully. Truthfully I’m not overly concerned about sending him to Hk, Shanghai (or Taiwan) for a semester but I need to do more research. His current school supports programs at these places so I can somewhat assume they don’t view it as high risk either.
Anonymous
04/22/2025 22:45
Subject: Would you travel or send dc to study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong right now?
Anonymous wrote:If your child is a son and you send him to China you can forget about him ever returning. He WILL end up married to a local. My brother and his best friend went for a one year stint ...16 years ago. His friend got a girl pregnant in his first month there.
This sounds racist, no offense.
Anonymous
04/22/2025 22:44
Subject: Would you travel or send dc to study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong right now?
Anonymous wrote:Hell yes. I’d send my kid out of the country for a good education. Out of the country is awesome as why would anyone want to stay here where a trump is?!
The other thing you need to understand us Chinese culture differs in that they don’t realize care too much about Americans the way Americans constantly paint Russians and Chinese as enemies. They are actually pretty chill about foreign affairs as someone who has lived there for many years that’s my experience.
But yeah, Taiwan works too but actually Taiwanese are more into foreign affairs than average Chinese (I’m actually Taiwanese).
Op here. I signed off for awhile, thanks for responding with some more direct experience! I tend to agree with you about having a chance to study elsewhere, especially with all the crap going on in the US. This would only be for a semester. Dc will be a junior in college when he goes, and is more interested in Shanghai but I don’t see why Taiwan couldn’t work too and the Chinese he studied for the first number of years of his life was Taiwanese mandarin. He doesn’t speak any Cantonese. He’s Asian in appearance (half) which may make the transition to Asia slightly easier, although his mandarin is not great so it’s not like he’d ever pass for a local. He also cares little about politics, doesn’t post on social about it, etc. It’s just not his thing.
Doesn’t Taiwan have political unrest? Or am I just focusing on isolated headlines?
Anonymous
04/22/2025 21:54
Subject: Would you travel or send dc to study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong right now?
Hell yes. I’d send my kid out of the country for a good education. Out of the country is awesome as why would anyone want to stay here where a trump is?!
The other thing you need to understand us Chinese culture differs in that they don’t realize care too much about Americans the way Americans constantly paint Russians and Chinese as enemies. They are actually pretty chill about foreign affairs as someone who has lived there for many years that’s my experience.
But yeah, Taiwan works too but actually Taiwanese are more into foreign affairs than average Chinese (I’m actually Taiwanese).
The other thing you need to understand us Chinese culture differs in that they don’t realize care too much about Americans the way Americans constantly paint Russians and Chinese as enemies. They are actually pretty chill about foreign affairs as someone who has lived there for many years that’s my experience.
But yeah, Taiwan works too but actually Taiwanese are more into foreign affairs than average Chinese (I’m actually Taiwanese).
Anonymous
04/22/2025 21:31
Subject: Would you travel or send dc to study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong right now?
Anonymous wrote:Yes. While travel always carries some risks, I would not be concerned about my child becoming a political prisoner in either location. I did a more dangerous study abroad.
These are such strange times, though.
A year ago, I would have said, “Consider English-language bachelor’s programs in Bulgaria,” to families trying to find a cheap, interesting alternative to community college.
Now, I think kids planning to study outside the United States need, at a minimum, to be great at handling red tape and be on board with race at America.
Anonymous
04/22/2025 20:24
Subject: Re:Would you travel or send dc to study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong right now?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
For language, go to Taiwan. It will not be the same but close enough.
I lived there for years and never saw that happen, and I saw a lot of sh-t happen. A friend lost her passport in a taxi and they didn’t care if she ever left. After going to several police offices, I finally asked the expat community for someone I could bribe.
China absolutely has illegal immigrants. Maybe not as much as the US, but they definitely have them.
General Americans are safe there because they will make an example out of any Chinese who hurts them. I would let my kid go because it’s getting to the point where is just as unsafe in the US. For bodily safety for American women, it’s much safer in China. I walked home at 1am often with no issues.
yeah, China does not have any "undocumented" there, so you are safe there... just don't go to India do a walk home at 1am though.
Anonymous
04/22/2025 18:56
Subject: Would you travel or send dc to study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong right now?
Yes. While travel always carries some risks, I would not be concerned about my child becoming a political prisoner in either location. I did a more dangerous study abroad.
Anonymous
04/22/2025 17:32
Subject: Re:Would you travel or send dc to study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong right now?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
For language, go to Taiwan. It will not be the same but close enough.
I lived there for years and never saw that happen, and I saw a lot of sh-t happen. A friend lost her passport in a taxi and they didn’t care if she ever left. After going to several police offices, I finally asked the expat community for someone I could bribe.
General Americans are safe there because they will make an example out of any Chinese who hurts them. I would let my kid go because it’s getting to the point where is just as unsafe in the US. For bodily safety for American women, it’s much safer in China. I walked home at 1am often with no issues.
yeah, China does not have any "undocumented" there, so you are safe there... just don't go to India do a walk home at 1am though.
Oh look, a know-nothing MAGA mouth breather.
Anonymous
04/22/2025 15:40
Subject: Re:Would you travel or send dc to study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong right now?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
For language, go to Taiwan. It will not be the same but close enough.
I lived there for years and never saw that happen, and I saw a lot of sh-t happen. A friend lost her passport in a taxi and they didn’t care if she ever left. After going to several police offices, I finally asked the expat community for someone I could bribe.
General Americans are safe there because they will make an example out of any Chinese who hurts them. I would let my kid go because it’s getting to the point where is just as unsafe in the US. For bodily safety for American women, it’s much safer in China. I walked home at 1am often with no issues.
yeah, China does not have any "undocumented" there, so you are safe there... just don't go to India do a walk home at 1am though.
Anonymous
04/22/2025 14:49
Subject: Would you travel or send dc to study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong right now?
Anonymous wrote:Sure. HK is great. Much safer than the USA because they don't have the gun violence. Don't know Shanghai.
Shanghai is even safer than HK. But it is still a bad idea for issues unrelated to guns.
Anonymous
04/22/2025 14:15
Subject: Would you travel or send dc to study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong right now?
Sure. HK is great. Much safer than the USA because they don't have the gun violence. Don't know Shanghai.
Anonymous
04/22/2025 14:10
Subject: Would you travel or send dc to study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong right now?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If things get heavy, China will view dumb young Americans as bargaining chips. No way.
This. Not a chance I’d let my kids go.
+1 never!!
Anonymous
04/22/2025 11:12
Subject: Would you travel or send dc to study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong right now?
Anonymous
04/20/2025 19:01
Subject: Would you travel or send dc to study abroad in Shanghai or Hong Kong right now?
Anonymous wrote:Why or why not?
I have a son studying overseas.
If your child is open to being a refugee: yes. Definitely.
If not, no. Not unless and until Trump is out and we know what the new world order is like. Trump’s actions are turning American students overseas into hostages.
Other countries could respond to Trump’s stupid, cruel actions by kicking our kids out mid-semester, changing our kids’ costs mid-semester, putting our kids in concentration camps, or, in extreme cases, killing our kids.