China (Beijing/Shanghai) or Japan? (full year)

Applying to College
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<p>So as the title says, I am planning on studying in either country for one year, or two semesters.</p>

<p>For China I could either go to Shanghai or Beijing, while in Japan I can go to Tokyo.
Right now I am a senior in highschool, so who knows, I could want to go somewhere else. However, as of now I am pretty interested in Japan. I like the crowded streets, the lights, the night life, and the atmosphere. Tokyo is a very unique city, is is by far one of the most popular cities in the world. I like their culture, the style, and h-ell, I like dragon ball Z, which was my childhood. The business aspects there are good too; its the fourth biggest exporter of goods to America (or something around there). In the future, I could see it being a major economic player.</p>

<p>However, I am also thinking ahead, and learning Chinese seems like a smart idea. I might minor in either Japanese and/or Chinese because both are becoming economic powerhouses, exceeding the USA in the years to come. China, especially the business style of Beijing, seems like a good choice, but I also have no idea about the Chinese culture or anything similar. its not as socially poplar as, say, Tokyo.</p>

<p>In your opinion, which one is better? Is it possible to study both languages in college while majoring in engineering/business? I am a white Italian (Italian parents) Male, so I would be considered a "gaijin" in both places. Italy was a choice too, but I will see in the next three years.</p>

<p>Chinese programs - Programs > Program</a> Search (results) > Study Abroad at UConn</p>

<p>Japanese programs - Programs > Program</a> Search (results) > Study Abroad at UConn</p>

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<p>Japan becoming a economic powerhouse? Nah bruh you got it all wrong</p>

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<p>[List</a> of countries by GDP (nominal) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)]List”>List of countries by GDP (nominal) - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>Japan and China, especially in American terms, are right next to each other. They also source the CIA’s fact book, so I don’t think its wrong.</p>

<p>Or even better yet, Japan is right below China as of today.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.usatoday.com/money/world/2011-01-06-1Aasiashift06_CV_N.htm[/url]”>http://www.usatoday.com/money/world/2011-01-06-1Aasiashift06_CV_N.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Japan has been stagnant for the last 20 years, China is the one who has been growing with rapid speed, pick China</p>

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<p>Ok true, but you could say the same ting about the USA, or that they have been declining, yet they are still the top. Japan will still probably be in the top three for years to come.</p>

<p>However I do see your point.
Is studying abroad really about the “business aspect”, or is it about having a great experience? Does it really matter where you go?</p>

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<p>I think for someone who has had no working experience in the business world, the “business aspect” of the experience is not as important. If you decide on China, choose Shanghai rather than Beijing, unless you are studying politics.</p>

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<p>Probably not unless you have a strong foundation in at least one of the languages. Languages are taught differently at different schools. For example, at DD’s school, Japanese requires a five-credit class each of the first four semesters. Each course meets for seven contact hours. My daughter has had a scheduling conflict every semester with either her physics courses or math courses, which also have extra contact hours. </p>

<p>Another thing that students who are studying languages do is attend intense summer language programs that help them gain language skills.</p>

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<p>I can’t say whether China or Japan would be better for you personally, but if you choose China then you’ll definitely want Beijing. There’s no single Chinese language, it’s kind of like how the Romance languages of Europe have similar traits despite being different languages. Shanghaiese is the language of only a small part of the country outside the city; Beijing Mandarin is the official language of the country. Most people in China are learning Mandarin even if it’s not their native dialect.
Shanghai is apparently a nicer city though, so if you don’t mind staying in that little section of the country it’d be cool.</p>

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<p>Definitely go to Beijing, I took a few years to go screw around and Beijing was the best. It’s dirty, but it is cheap, and you’ll meet a lot of cool people. A lot of the foreigners there are professionals, so try to meet someone in your respective field and buddy up with them.</p>

<p>You can teach english and make some okay money (about 2x what other people make) so you’ll have a sick apartment and lots of food.
Check out BLCU and take some mandarin classes, you will pick it up super quick when you’re in country. Plus tuition is extremely cheap. $1000 a semester at UIBE for intensive Mandarin study.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t mess with Japan, I love Japan but they’ve pretty much peaked, and their population and culture are equally messed up. Chinese people aren’t all that better, but there’s a lot of them and it’s nice being able to talk to 1.6 billion people.</p>

<p>Shanghai is nice, but there’s too many foreigners there, and SH girls are nasty (in demeanor), the general consensus is that Shanghaiers are mean.</p>

<p>But I spent most of my time in Beijing, so I’m partial to it. If you’re cool with seeing little kids peeing in the streets, and trash everywhere, and sewage smells, then go to Beijing. If you see roaches crawling on the walls of that local restaurant don’t mind them, that’s normal. China is a generally lawless place, which is why foreigners love it to death.</p>

<p>Look into UIBE (Univ of International Business and Economics), it’d be cheap to get your 4 year there, it’s a pretty good business school, one of the top schools in China. It’d be in all english is you want too.</p>

<p>But honestly, if you get to beijing, find your self a nice not crazy girl (probably an outsider from Hebei or something) and take language classes you will pick the language up really fast. Depending on how much you study and your shyness, you can be fluent (in your particular lingual area) within a year.</p>

<p>At UIBE a year of intensive Mandarin is supposed to bring you up to the level of a high school student. I only took a semester and it was definitely good.</p>