AFS: Question :)

Xiadane · 26 Sep 2006

Please move if in the wrong forum >_<''

Hey everyone, I just joined.
I have a few questions on my mind. I realize that a few of them have been repeats but I'd like everyone to give a piece of their mind.

I'm a high school student currently residing in the USA. And our high school is offering a program called AFS. Formerly American Field Service, it is now a foreign exchange student program. I'm planning on applying to go to Japan for the summer but my parents have some doubts. Why? Because they're Chinese and they have the history between China and Japan engraved in their minds. I realize what's happened in the past but I don't feel that we should be caught up in the past forever. I have also taken up an interest in Japan and would absolutely love to go and see the culture and learn the language. Now... my parents dislike Japanese. They don't hate them.. seeing as they do have Japanese friends.

I have the problem of convincing my parents to let me take a shot at applying to transfer to Japan for the summer. But they're convinced that Japanese hate Chinese/ or that Japanese think of the Chinese as inferior. Although I believe they don't, I don't want to apply to a country where I have only a small chance of being chosen by a host family. The program is made so the family CHOOSES a student from the US. I'd like some people's thoughts/opinions on this.

Thanks!

ArmandV · 26 Sep 2006

Assuming you are Chinese-American, I would tell you that once the Japanese know you are American, they'll treat you like an American. I wouldn't worry about it.

If I were in your shoes, I'd apply anyway. Best of luck!

Xiadane · 26 Sep 2006

Yes I am Chinese American.
窶堋?窶堙ｨ窶堋ｪ窶堙??堋､窶堋ｲ窶堋ｴ窶堋｢窶堙懌?堋ｷ

ricecake · 26 Sep 2006

This type of thread annoys me to the hilt,I've always wondered where the " inferiority complex " came from.Me and many other fellow Chinese in real life don't ever consider Japanese would mistreat us in Japan or elsewhere in the world,otherwise we wouldn't swamp Japantowns on regular basis and shop at Japanese-owned businesses in N America plus local Chinese newspapers loaded with advertisements on pre-packaged Japan tours.In reality,most Japanese do know Chinese hate them.

There are times,I doubt some of these new posters are " real " Chinese.

Xiadane · 26 Sep 2006

Real chinese? You want proof?

But I don't really get what you're saying. I'll just say that I don't think of myself as inferior to anyone. I was just wondering if what the adults are always blabbering on about is true. My friend is Japanese and she treats me as an equal.

ricecake · 26 Sep 2006

People in general either look up or look down on other nationalities.Both Chinese and Koreans have treated Japanese as inferior in the past,for many centuries according to history.

I've been quite embarrassed by a few " supposedly " Chinese exposing baseless inferiority complex when compare to Japanese.I don't ever read Koreans behave such way before foreigners in cyberspace.

Younger Chinese generation really needs big dose of self-esteem NOT self-victimization.

Xiadane · 26 Sep 2006

People here have shown an inferiority complex to Japanese?
I generally see Chinese thinking themselves as either equals or greater than Japanese. >_<''

Well... I don't see Japanese as inferior and I just hope that they don't see me as so either.

ricecake · 26 Sep 2006

There were a few came and went " either fake or real " Chinese posted thread on how Japanese would treat Chinese like dirt blah blah blah,plus one long-time fellow forumer here also had a thread back in April on Japanese in Kobe because he said some person once told him Japanese blah blah blah so he would have to fear for his life going there for one-year stay as scholarship internee.

This type of thread and question get under my skin.

Self-doubt and self-victimization are real diseases for Chinese race.

Xiadane · 26 Sep 2006

True

ricecake · 26 Sep 2006

I am sorry for my harsh words,it bothers me because cyberspace has NON-Chinese audience.

You're studying Japanese right,Jref has an excellent Nihongo sub-forum.

Xiadane · 26 Sep 2006

It's okay. I don't mind. I was just a bit confused at first.
And I already posted there

I've only been studying Japanese for a little while and will continue studying it up until when I can (hopefully) go and stay in Japan for the summer.

ricecake · 26 Sep 2006

We have several helpful fellow forumers come on daily basis,they can assist you on Japanese language.

Kyoko_desu · 26 Sep 2006

Xiadane said:
they're Chinese and they have the history between China and Japan engraved in their minds. I realize what's happened in the past but I don't feel that we should be caught up in the past forever. I have also taken up an interest in Japan and would absolutely love to go and see the culture and learn the language.

Hello and nice to meet you, Xiadane-san!
If you are a person like that, then you will have no problem in Japan. I notice there are some Japanese who dislike Chinese people, but in my opinion, their hate is like "If you hate us, OK, then we will hate you back!" Most of us respect Chinese people from who we imported the culture, food, language and alot more great/beautiful things. Chinese people even so kindly raised the Japanese children who their parents had to leave there when the war ended. How could you adopt and raise your enemy's children so kindly? It all can tell how naturally kind and nice Chinese people are.

Maybe it's a bit hard to be picked by a Japanese host family because I heard white people are just more popular... However, once you get chosen, I am almost sure you will have a great time here. You know, young Japanese people of high school or university ages are more open minded and don't really care what happened in the past between China and Japan.

So give it a try! Ganbatte ne!

ricecake · 26 Sep 2006

Kyoko_desu said:
I notice there are some Japanese who dislike Chinese people,but in my opinion,their hate is like " If you hate us, OK, then we will hate you back ! "

In recent years,illegal low life Chinese mainlanders heightened Japanese prejudices toward Chinese otherwise it's Koreans most disliked in Japan.We're burden by those d#mn mainlanders' negative image,they're despised everywhere.

I think it's a Japanese trait,return with contempt because you people do that with those Koreans.Not us,it's stubborn Koreans would play tit for tat with Japanese.

I am sick and tire of reading a few low self-esteem idiotic Chinese ( real or fake ) in internet forums exposing their inferiority complex either consciously or unconsciously subject to unneccesary rejections or prejudices they bring upon themselves,it's plain stupidity.Apparently,these individuals didn't get proper parenting at home.

I still suspect they're either fakes or those know nothing ethnic Chinese from Vietnam and other SE Asian countries settled in N America and Europe,NOT real Chinese from Hong Kong and Taiwan plus mainland China.I've encountered some of them mis-represented themselves as " Chinese " or " Chinese-American/Chinese from Europe ".

No one in my immediate family ever hated or disliked Japanese,our elders have discussed those years effected their lives in 1930's-1940's.Average real life Chinese rarely talk crap about Japan or Japanese on daily basis as some people might suspect we do.

ricecake · 26 Sep 2006

Xiadane said:
I'm a high school student currently residing in the USA. And our high school is offering a program called AFS. Formerly American Field Service, it is now a foreign exchange student program.

One question,what made you think anyone here have better answer than AFS coordinators who facilitate the program,they have direct access to Japanese families participate in it and should have information on " who " they would accept.:?

Xiadane · 27 Sep 2006

Thank you Kyoko-desu. The only real doubts I had was that I may not be chosen into an asian country's host family is because some may be doing AFS for the sole reason of having a 'white' person in their home. But I really hope that they'll see me as someone who is interested in their culture and language and maybe even as someone who knows of two different cultures.
Ricecake, I don't know what you have in for me, but you can think whatever you want. I didn't come here to pick a fight and I was just here to ask people's opinions. Why? Because I thought maybe this forum would have some more 'real' answers than those provided by people who want me to join to the program and in a sense... people who are wanting my money. So of course, they'd tell me to give a shot at whatever I want to do. I also never said I had an inferiority complex. I also never said that my parents or anyone actually felt inferior to the Japanese. I never said my parents bag on Japanese everyday. I didn't even say my parents hated the Japanese. It can probably be said, however, that most Chinese do have at least some feelings for what the Japanese did to them in the past. You just jumped to conclusions and made assumptions.
More so, don't make judgements by yourself. And don't insult my family, okay? I asked an innocent question and so far everyone has been helpful except you who has stayed on my back, attacking me. I do plan on asking AFS coordinators, but the earliest meeting is on Wednesday afterschool. And, the meeting is only with the school sponsor of the activity. I am also not entirely sure if my parents would approve of my going, as I stated in my very first post. If I do decide to go, I said I'm applying for a SUMMER transfer. That is quite a ways off and I saw this forum as some extra encouragement/or as a heads up. Also, I have to fill out all the applications and paperwork. Even more so, it would take weeks, possibly months to receive the information about the families.

ricecake · 27 Sep 2006

Kyoko_desu said:
Maybe it's a bit hard to be picked by a Japanese host family because I heard white people are just more popular...

It's NOT entirely of ethnicity or race issue here,Japanese have to weight in " undesirable cultural traits " of Chinese folk for their lack of respect for cleanliness and self-discipline.

I've befriended a Japanese foreign exchange student many years ago,she vented to me about her unpleasant experiences with local girls at a Christian high school in Wisconsin.Prejudices are everywhere,it's how one overcome those issues.

Xiadane · 27 Sep 2006

My mom and I discussed this issue before. It's essentially a culture clash. From what I know, the Japanese language itself is a very honorific and polite one. Some Chinese in the less educated parts are often disrespectful and grundgy, but it doesn't mean that all Chinese are. But those are the stereotypes again...

Kyoko_desu · 27 Sep 2006

Xiadane said:
I thought maybe this forum would have some more 'real' answers than those provided by people who want me to join to the program and in a sense... people who are wanting my money.

That makes sense.
But I don't think ricecake-san was being mean to you or anything, she just wondered and asked, so smile, Xiadane-san.

Oh hey, by the way, have you noticed that this forum has a learning Japanese section? If you have any question about Japanese language, post it there. Though I'm not really able to teach, other Japanese people will answer you very kindly. You are always welcome!

ArmandV · 27 Sep 2006

Xiadane said:
My mom and I discussed this issue before. It's essentially a culture clash. From what I know, the Japanese language itself is a very honorific and polite one. Some Chinese in the less educated parts are often disrespectful and grundgy, but it doesn't mean that all Chinese are. But those are the stereotypes again...

As I said before, you are Chinese-American! That's quite a bit of difference than someone from mainland China. You may have Chinese blood, but you are also American. The Japanese have a much more favorable disposition towards Americans, so if you have any kind of doubts, play that up.

Listen to Kyoko.

Xiadane · 27 Sep 2006

Thanks again you two. You've really made me feel excited about this. I asked my mother once again and she said it was a definite yes for applying to go to Japan for a 5 week Language Study course! I'm so happy right now! Now I have to go through the process of applying and getting more information. But hopefully I'll keep my interest up until the finalization of the application. And hopefully I get accepted!!

Iron Chef · 2 Oct 2006

Good luck on your quest. Hope it all works out for you.

Yoko_Kisaragi · 13 Feb 2007

OMG I'm going through this program as well, only I am going for 1/2 year!!! I'm very excited!

.::b|ue Ash::. · 13 Feb 2007

From my experience the whole Japanese against any other nationality seems to be more publicly displayed and spoken about in a place like America.

I have several american asian friends who are always talking about "Japan don't like us because of this, etc etc."

Pssst, there are probably some Japanese having this same discussion, worried about coming to America too.

They are just people, go to Japan, it is lovely, wonderful learning experience.

However, when speaking to my friends in Japan they never mention it, and I never see tourist from any country being treated differently.

maushan3 · 14 Feb 2007

So, are you going to Japan or not? How did it end up in?

I think can feel what you are going through, Xiadane. I lived in Georgia for a year and only once did I hear a racist remark about Mexicans. It might be because I think I do not fit the Mexican stereotype, but I told people I was Mexican and no one was mean or discriminatory to me because of my nationality, and this was in the Deep South. Where racism and the KKK once thrived.

So just go for it. If you do not go, you would have never known how it would have been. I too am applying with AFS for a year-long exchange to Japan.

Mauricio

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