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On September 24 2010 14:37 NovemberZerg wrote:
in my opinion going to china will be better off in the long end because china is thriving and will be rapidly as japan growth is steady even though they have 2nd best economy, but im sure the people will be nicer then to there own people because your "white". + its cheaper to live there. even tho japan is cleaner and nicer place to live in.
3rd. China has recently overtaken Japan as 2nd. And the difference is probably only going to increase.
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On September 24 2010 14:33 Manifesto7 wrote:Show nested quote +On September 24 2010 14:05 salidsnake wrote:On September 24 2010 13:57 Jibba wrote:On September 24 2010 13:52 infinitestory wrote:On September 24 2010 13:45 LolnoobInsanity wrote:
China is so dirty though. Keep in mind that there's a huge veil of smog that covers most of the large cities. If you want to live in an urban environment, I would suggest Japan. The summers are unbearably hot. As a Chinese person, I would highly recommend keeping away from China unless you have some specific reason to be there. It's a great place to vacation or start up a business, but it's definitely not the greatest place to live. It's getting better though. I saw many a clear day on my visit to Beijing this summer (I have photos from the top of the Beijing TV tower where you can see the horizon), although the weather was very hot like you said. There's no shortage of air conditioning though. Plus Japan is ridiculously hot in the summers as well. I know it's tough to do, but I think finding a way to visit or experience each country first is a really good idea. I know some Japanophiles who grew up worshiping it and then when they got there, found their impressions of the culture were completely wrong. I also know some people who like the grime and chaos of China's big cities. How hot does it get? Just curious since im apply to study in Yokohama next spring. This summer (Osaka) was the hottest in recent memory for everyone, about 37 for two solid months with 60-100% humidity. It was awful. That being said it was an aberration, and usually it sits around 33 or so with a shorter hot spell of 36-38. For me the humidity kills me. Back in Canada we got days of 35 or so but it was bone dry. Here I get a shower walking to my shower.
The problem with high humidity is that you're swear doesn't become as effective, evaporation rates are slower and it's the evaporation of your sweat that cools you. It's something to get used to and some ppl just deal with it better then others, worst i've been was when i was down in dc for 3 months during the summer. Frankly why anyone could complain about the weather when china is full of smog and people smoking air quality is quite different, really the guy can nit pick at the thing all dam day or he can do what i do.
Flip a coin and if you want to change your choice go with the other one because you clearly don't want to go to the one the coin gave you. Remove the burden of choice and things become easier to make a snap decision.
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Osaka27181 Posts
On September 24 2010 14:40 chrisSquire wrote:
china son. i can get you a job today teaching english. PM me.
Japan would probably make a cooler vacation but if you want to live and develop in asia then there is no question about china > japan. i have done both.
if you want a lifestlye and a people not much different than what you are used to then go to japan.
if you want to be blown away by culture and societal differences then come to china (beijing > shanghai since shanghai is the most uncharacteristically chinese chinese city)
Read the thread. He said he was going to study abroad.
As for your second point, I'm curious as to how you came to this conclusion. Norway = Japan?
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I find it strange that no one actually address the question of Education.
If OP is going to study his master in a foreign country then it goes without saying that a lot of money will be put into this. I don't see a reason to pay for a master just to learn a language and culture, there are cheaper and more efficient ways.
I would say that in terms of graduate schools and general academic qualities. Japan > China in pretty much all areas except for the price.
The only real benefit that I can see from studying in China is getting acquainted with people in the business.
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Wow , many many replies , going to see if I can reply to all of them.
@beefnoodles
Why would you not recommend me going to Shanghai , it was one of the cities I thought looked promising. (based on a very limited google search ofc)
@T.O.P I am studying electrical engineering. I am not sure exactly how my work prospects will look like after graduation (keep in mind that I plan to take my entire masters degree outside norway)
I have just started the planning phase so I need to gather alot of data so I can make a good decision hence this thread.
@Farseerdk I am definitely going to make the decision on my own , it is just that I have very limited knowledge on how the universities work there and various other things. So I thought it would be a good idea to ask on TL just incase there were some former foreigns exchange students and so forth for advice and input.
@dronebaboo Anki ?? ;D
I have considered Korea too , but I learned that I would have problems getting a decent scholarship for some odd reason and since my parents are not rich by most standards and I need it to be able to afford the school and living expenses.
I am leaning towards japan from a cultural perspective but china seems so good from a business perspective. I think it is a good thing that whatever country I decide for have poor english capabilities since it would force me to learn it faster 
When it comes to working abroad in china / japan afterwards , I don't honestly think the jobs can compete with Norwegian wages and job security. If I were to use my language skills and connections, it would probably be as a foreign consultant or something (I have to admit I am pretty green on this part)
@semantics deciding over a cointoss seems rather scary and random 
I have not replied to everyone but I think I have covered the main points , nag on me if I missed anyone 
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China. Definitely. I'd pick japan for a vacation over China, but if your looking to stay there for some time, I'd go to China. The people there are much more open to foreigners, and I think you'll enjoy it more on the long run.
Academically, I'd say going to China will also be more useful for you. While a japanese university might look better on paper, practically, an familiarity with Chinese language and culture would benefit you far more in the job market.
Japan still has one of the most unique and interesting cultures in the world.
:<. diaf. Eh, I think after a few years of living there it just becomes a novelty. Thing I like about China is that there isn't anything resembling a homogenized culture. Often, people in China will describe people by the provinces they come from because each is associated with distinctive cultures and personality traits.
I don't honestly think the jobs can compete with Norwegian wages and job security. If I were to use my language skills and connections, it would probably be as a foreign consultant or something (I have to admit I am pretty green on this part)
A lot of companies who manufacture overseas will often send mid-level employees with language and culture skills on frequent business trips to cities like HongKong and Shanghai. That being said, this is coming from an American perspective, I'm not sure how common that situation is in Norway.
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Scary perhaps, but there are those who slowly peel off bandages trying to soak them in water or perhaps Isopropyl Alcohol or w.e, I personally just rip it off and deal with any fallout.
In the end a decision has to be made, you're fairly competent in the risks and rewards of each situation and is simply just torn. Flipping a coin makes you decide as much as the coin is deciding. Affirming or denouncing the coin's decision. Either way you get an answer from doing such an act. What you're doing posting here is simply a plea of someone, something to push you one way or another. You can continue to torment yourself over the decision but in the end you're choosing one way or another and will have to live with it, you can't lament over choosing one over the other because you can't possibly know how it would have other wise turned out.
So it is scary, but isn't that scary part really just the decision itself not the fact a coin decided for you but that you can't find a way to decide. Why else would you post for help on a forum, clearly the situation is not so empirical that one can say one is obviously the right decision, so you're just looking for that push.
If you don't want it to be left up to a coin try to braid a counselor or w.e you have at your school to push you into one or another. Or perhaps a trusted teacher.
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I've been to both ( i lived in japan for about a month) and i liked them both.
If i were you I'd go to China simply because i think at this point in history it would be a very interesting place to be. Its growing and changing so much. I also found china to be more "friendly" and approachable. Not that Japanese people arent nice or helpful or anything, quite the opposite, but they are more reserved towards foreigners and definitely have their own unique culture that i think most westerners would find...odd.
I'd also think learning the language and ways of a blooming super power in the world would be helpful educationally.
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For vacation probably Japan, for future business/job prospect 100% China. Japan has a unique culture I love animes and stuff but if I want a language that will help me land a job its definitly Chinese. Think about it you can also use mandarin in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
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What kind of food do you like more? Chinese or Japanese? I'm talking about legit food, not the westernized ones.
Chinese street food is just too good to pass up I think.
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On September 24 2010 15:35 xbankx wrote:
For vacation probably Japan, for future business/job prospect 100% China. Japan has a unique culture I love animes and stuff but if I want a language that will help me land a job its definitly Chinese. Think about it you can also use mandarin in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Isn't Cantonese spoken in HK?
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On September 24 2010 15:38 TOloseGT wrote:
What kind of food do you like more? Chinese or Japanese? I'm talking about legit food, not the westernized ones.
Chinese street food is just too good to pass up I think.
Yeah i was a fan of Japanese food till i actually had japanese food in Japan.
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I have to admit that I have eaten very little chinese and japanese food , we don't have good coverage here in norway. I do prefer fish so perhaps japanese food is more my style , but I may be wrong.
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I wouldn't go to China for engineering. Companies there already have enough supply of engineering grads from local schools so I don't see how you can stand out and apart from TsingHua I don't see how any school will give you the prestige or challenge that you seek.
If you were a commerce / business grad then going to China makes sense but for engineering what the hell? not to mention that Japanese engineering is no joke and much better education for your money.
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Japanese is even more difficult to learn than Chinese due to the difficulty of the grammar and the numerous alphabets. I would pick Chinese if I was you, no doubt about it.
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Hong Kong : ) you get to learn Cantonese have plenty of opportunities to speak mandarin and eat awesome Dim Sum. Its a pretty foreign friendly country as well (eng everywhere)
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I live in Japan and would say China due to the benefit of knowing the language. I'm not sure which would have the better education, but aside from elite schools, Japanese university education is a joke.
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you didn't specify how long you will be studying abroad, so I will assume it is one year, since that is what most college programs are like.
Things to consider:
Cost - likely china cheaper than japan. Food/board/tuition.
Program Education - As an undergrad, I doubt one program will be THAT much different than another. I wouldn't be able to say without further research, but at first glance, I'm not weighing this very heavily because its only a year.
Language Program - Possibly you also want to learn the language good. Going to a place where you end up hanging out with all the english speakers will do you no good. Check to make sure your language program has some hardcore immersion stuff.
Language Usefulness - If you dont know where you want to be in the future, Chinese would be more useful for business/traveling (since china is so much bigger than japan). That said, anime/games are in japanese, and japanese media more developed than chinese media. So it boils down to what you want to do with your language.
Culture Shock - Either way, if you've never been to either country, there will be things that you like and things that you dont like. Some people can tolerate dirty, some people cant. Some people tolerate racism better than others. Either way, I wouldn't base my decision on this unless i knew for sure I dont like x habits and y cuisine. If you dont know ahead of time, you wont be able to plan for this and you will get to find out when you get there :p.
Starcraft - I would hesitate to guess that there will be more chance to run into chinese sc2 players than japanese. Why? Well the PS3 and Wii are home products of japan, and japan in general is richer, so I think there are more console gamers than PC gamers. If you intend to pursue a starcraft hobby and to use it to connect with other people, maybe you have better chance of it in china.
Nobody can make your decision for you, but these are some areas that I would consider.
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japan is definitely more developed than china, but i think that going to china would be more of an interesting experience. You'll learn a lot from there
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EPT
