Going to China.

[Sij]

             My biggest passion in my life is martial arts. I WAS going to go to the University of Bridgeport. Because they have an accredited program for martial arts. But then I stumbled upon this school in China for martial arts. In the Taining province, a nature reservation in the mountains. So far from what I understand, its 5 hours of training a day. There's no tuition cost. Just a 150$ reservation fee when you get accepted. And of course the fee's to actually get there. Its a school made so westerners (like myself) Can learn the Chinese Martial arts from some of the best masters in the nation, in a westerner-friendly school. Its everything I've ever wanted it to be!

Here's where I need advice. Should I go to a community college first, and get my associates in business first? OR go to the school first and get my degree after? Right now I'm not sure how long I'll be there, so I'm not sure which I should do first. What do you guys think?

I appreciate your help.

[WingedZephyr]

I'd recommend getting your associates degree first. Get it out of the way before you go.

[Sij]

See that's what I was thinking. But then recently I asked myself the question "Why exactly am I going to college?" I can't really come up with an answer. I just don't really know I guess.

[ArcticSkyWolf]

okay, if you are going to china, like legit, then here's some tips as I've been there too.


-don't drink tap water, either boil it or drink water bottles. The water is not that clean, except for Hong Kong which isn't China.


-look both ways and cross the street carefully, don't get run over, I almost got ran over...


-food there is cheap, if your bringing money, bring a lot and buy stuff. electronics are a different thing. for food, it's really cheap, electronics in general are expensive, sometimes more expensive than here in North America.


-you won't get shot, no one has guns, only the military, either way to find a gun dealer on the streets is almost impossible (just sayin)


-when you take a taxi, they will floor it. Just pay what you need to pay, dont tip because they just scared the stuffing outa you when they swerved and passed 10 cars three times the speed of what everyone else is going.

[Self-sain]

I don't see how the taxi thing is a tip >_>...

Anyways, it depends on what you plan on doing if you love martial arts that much, maybe you should look at it being your career. Idk, just wasting money to go and get a degree you'll never use seems useless.

[Sij]

okay, if you are going to china, like legit, then here's some tips as I've been there too.


-don't drink tap water, either boil it or drink water bottles. The water is not that clean, except for Hong Kong which isn't China.


-look both ways and cross the street carefully, don't get run over, I almost got ran over...


-food there is cheap, if your bringing money, bring a lot and buy stuff. electronics are a different thing. for food, it's really cheap, electronics in general are expensive, sometimes more expensive than here in North America.


-you won't get shot, no one has guns, only the military, either way to find a gun dealer on the streets is almost impossible (just sayin)


-when you take a taxi, they will floor it. Just pay what you need to pay, dont tip because they just scared the stuffing outa you when they swerved and passed 10 cars three times the speed of what everyone else is going.

Artic, I'm not going to any part of china where I will have to worry about anything you just told me! I'm going to a martial arts school that is in a secluded nature reserve in the mountains. Meals and rooms would be provided. And all the training areas will be within walking distance. Although the way I will be getting there is by train from Beijing. (This is all if I actually am able to go there.)

And Self-sain, I already plan on making Martial arts my career. My business degree is so I know what I'm doing when I open my own studio.

[ArcticSkyWolf]

Are you suuuuuuuuuurrrrrrreeeeeeee?????????? 

[Sij]

Are you suuuuuuuuuurrrrrrreeeeeeee?????????? 

Yes silly I'm sure!

I will be buying clothes and stuff in Beijing when I get there. I'll need some good clothes to train in and clothes are cheaper there than they are here. So your tips will probably come in handy for the first day I'm there!

[ArcticSkyWolf]

Are you sure you wont drink any tap water? Either at you might need to walk or drive to the train station.

[Sij]

I don't think they're going to give us dirty water in a school where health is so detrimental to what we are doing. Besides, if that's the case I'll just get bottled water.

[ArcticSkyWolf]

Get me a souvenir 

[Pea]

When it comes to planning for the future, I'm not very experienced. So you won't get any advice from me. At least... not anything that would be of any use. I do have to say I was hoping to meet you because we live so close to each other. But I guess not. Some people say, "Life finds a way." I say, "Life gets in the way." 


I hope you have fun with your progress and such. It sounds like you have yourself set on a well built track.

[maggintons]

just be sure to phone your embassy if you end up in a train accident.....(only a little joke)

[josh_down]

think -long and hard- about moving to china. it's so different there that it's almost unbelievable. chinese people (not to be offensive) are almost like a different species... no underestimation. i know this because for the past 2 years i have lived with a fairly large sample of chinese people, and they -are- like a different species.

[maggintons]

yeah they never get lazy my dad once was at a meeting there they showed a lovely place full of mountains and grass ...then they showed it as a city someone in the meeting went "wheres the mountain" and they went
"ah we moved it" THEY ACTUALLY MOVED A ENTIRE MOUNTAIN FOR A CITY ...honestly if you like living in a nice quiet place that never changes...don't go there ....and also they have very few building regulations and our flat or home could be unstable...its because as the saying goes "Build It And They Will Come"