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submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by ComradeMiao@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

America

  • Good pay
  • Bigger Houses
  • Free internet
  • Not an ethnostate
  • Nice/open people
  • Nice Nature
  • Public Respect (somewhat)
  • While the chances are low, shootings and police/ICE violence is not 0%
  • Universities, really good if not best (as an academic)

China

  • Clean, Major cities are clean but more polluted and trashed than other two
  • Ethnostate, forever an outsider
  • Increasingly difficult internet.
  • Nice/open people
  • Safe Society
  • Universities, pretty mid to bad at best unless its top

Japan

  • Cleanest
  • Ethnostate, forever an outsider, but not being stared at or random photos like in China
  • Free internet
  • Nice Nature
  • Public Trust
  • Public Respect
  • Safe Society
  • Universities, pretty mid to bad at best unless its top three

I feel forever trapped between these three countries with family, languages, culture, and religion. Very lost on which to pursue for my career. A recent trip to China has made me very much feel not China. I cannot stand the staring, photo taking making me feel like I'm a zoo animal, even more so for my child. But it is nice and pay can be decent. I also really like Chinese people and culture.

America has a lot of good, but I'm so sick of having to be stressed about its politics and the culture of violence. I do love the nature, individual freedom, and academic (tho the recent not being able to comment on Israel has been insane).

Japan is great on the surface but subtle racism, bad pay, and trump-copy cat prime minister is concerning. Committing to China or especially Japan over the US is fucking my family financially if we want to visit family in the other two countries.

Side note, I love being fluid between three cultures but not having a stable home in one place is somewhat exhausting.

Another random thought is America is actually so comfortable compared to China or Japan when it comes to being yourself.

Edit: why is everyone being pedantic or getting upset over one word rather than just answer lmao

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[-] AnchoriteMagus@lemmy.world 39 points 6 days ago

Leaving out the fact that America's economy is in freefall and it's currently experiencing a fascist collapse is............a choice.

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[-] stumu415@lemmy.zip 4 points 4 days ago

As a white European, who has lived in worked in the USA for a few years, worked with a fully 100% Japanese enterprise and now living in China for the last 7 years, I can wholeheartedly say China. I made myself swear I'll never work with Japanese again. It's the most frustrating experience. My project was supposed to take 9 months but ended up taking over 3 years due to indecisiveness from the Japanese. Plus the working hours are insane with the drinking afterwards. China is much better than Japan workwise. Also I don't know why you left nature out of the China list. Nature is amazing here. For me personally living here is great. The infrastructure with public transport and high speed railway is second to none. Plus the daily convenience because of the super apps like AliPay and Wechat. It's hard to explain to someone who hasn't been here. Luckily a lot more people are discovering China thanks to the visa free travel now for most countries - except the US of course. It's amazing to hear/see these tourists being shocked how good and normal life is in here because they get fed only negative propaganda back home. China is not North Korea.

[-] QinShiHuangsShlong@lemmy.ml 8 points 5 days ago

Why ask this question when you clearly have decided that China is bad and America is great? If you want to go to America so bad just do it there's no need to ask inane questions and fight people giving you answers and advice.

[-] ComradeMiao@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago

I love China and have devoted much of my life and career to China. Don't come at me with stereotypical .ml presumptions.

[-] calmblue75@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 days ago

Are universities in China and Japan that average? I'm asking since I never felt that American universities were that good, and you've referred to them as really good.

[-] ComradeMiao@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

Honestly outside of the top handful in both countries I’d say yes. I take this from my own experiences in all three as well as what colleagues tell me. US universities have problems but producing good learners isn’t one. I went to a state school and I think it was better than similarly private schools.

[-] QinShiHuangsShlong@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 days ago

I didn't presume anything I read your replies as you turned yourself inside out whenever anyone had the slightest bad thing to say about America.

[-] uuj8za@piefed.social 16 points 6 days ago

Disagree with the US not being an ethnostate. If you're not white, then it does feel like an ethnostate. I was born here, but I've always been made to feel that this isn't my country. I'm a guest here. I'm tolerated (in the blue states), but not welcome. I'm constantly getting news that half the country hates people like me and wants me to leave (again, born here!)

But, uh, yeah, if you're white or white-passing, then yeah, the US is your ethnostate. 👍

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[-] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 17 points 6 days ago

Uhh where the hell in america you getting free internet? Not a thing. $70 a month for 200 Mbps.

America is way too huge to make a generalization on the people but I'll tell you on the non-coasts, youll run into hick racist assholes. But its cheap to live in those areas.

The landscapes are awesome on the west side.

I wouldnt move here since its about to experience a full collapse with many jobs being lost and a full on acceleration to fascism. Most people want to get out of America, not move in lol.

[-] sudoer777@lemmy.ml 8 points 6 days ago

I think they meant not having a great firewall, which they don't need since they'll use military and economic force instead

[-] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 3 points 6 days ago

Oh duh, I see.

Yeah, america is no different than China in military and surveillance. The citizens are just dumber (many WANT surveillance fascism).

Dont move there.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 8 points 5 days ago

The US Empure has hundreds of millitary bases all over the world. You can count the number of international military bases owned by China on one hand. The US Empire is constantly at war. China hasn't been to war in many decades. Entirely different.

[-] vfreire85@lemmy.ml 2 points 5 days ago

70 usd for 200 mbps? Local isp's here in Brazil are charging 20 usd for 600 mbps, 30 usd for 1 gbps.

[-] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 days ago

Yay american corporatism 😁

Its plenty enough for me though tbh.

Amazing how America propagandizes other countries as being "not free and poor" when its us who are the shithhole country !

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[-] Bazell@lemmy.zip 12 points 6 days ago

If by America you mean the USA, then totally no. Current hell with government will only worsen there. China seems appealing, but some government policies and language complexity makes it hard to live there until you adapt. Remains only Japan. Despite still having some complicated compared to English language, it is the best option here on my opinion.

[-] disregardable@lemmy.zip 12 points 6 days ago

if you stay in a foreign country for 10+ years, your neighbors, shop keepers, etc. will get used to you. but really, the deciding factor in whether anyone can move to a foreign country is the work available to them. if you don't get a good job, with reasonable hours, probably with an international company, good luck making it work.

[-] ComradeMiao@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

Luckily my field has a decent amount of jobs in all three countries with okay pay, better in the US though. You're right about neighbors. The annoying parts of China don't happen with neighbors, only randos on the street.

One thing about the US is that living arrangements are more isolating. I have friends that made local friends in Japan. I wouldn't pick the US, but I'd say pick where you think you'll be happy and have good friendships. But it's hard to say as well because you don't say where in any country good live, ie big or small cities, etc

[-] ComradeMiao@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I prefer big cities or pure countryside. In the US I mostly have friends through work. In Japan I find it difficult to make random friends outside of work too… less my age at work as well.

Agree with you that big Japanese cities are less physically isolating but people can be somewhat cold compared to the other two.

yeah, that makes sense. one thing to remember though, is that if you move somewhere and don't like it, you can leave. This decision isn't permanent.

[-] ComradeMiao@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

Yeah... you're right, I really would love a forever home though. I feel I've moved too many times and countries and its exhausting, especially with pets.

[-] slowtrain33@lemmy.ml 6 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

American here who just immigrated to Japan with my Japanese spouse and mixed child 2 months ago. We left for our family’s safety, and are very happy with the decision.

I will say though: if you don’t have any Japanese family members moving with you, living in Japan can be very difficult. I have JLPT N1 certification, have lived and worked here for 6 years previously, and am very comfortable speaking/reading/writing Japanese, but I wouldn’t try to live here long term without my spouse… it’s just… tough. People here have never been terribly welcoming of non-Japanese, and with the recent surge in popularity of the openly anti-immigrant Sanseito party (gained 13 seats in the upper house last year), it’s not looking great for us foreigners here.

Still, for US, this felt like the safer option compared to the states right now.

I know this isn’t a cut and clear answer to your question, but just hoping I can provide some context from personal experience to help you make an educated decision for own unique situation.

[-] ComradeMiao@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

Thanks for sharing your own experience! :)

That's kind of my own feeling... Japan has some difficulties but its safer than the states...

[-] sudoer777@lemmy.ml 8 points 6 days ago

Universities, really good if not best (as an academic)

What are you talking about?

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[-] BassTurd@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago

Whether the US is the right choice for you probably depends on your skin tone and where you'd be living. If you appear Asian and move to rural Texas, you're probably gonna have a bad time. If you look Asian but move to somewhere like NYC where there's more of a melting pot of citizens and currently liberal leadership, it will probably be a better experience.

There is a lot of bad stuff happening here, but it isn't detrimental (currently) to everyone equally. I personally wouldn't consider China due to the extreme censorship and heavy handed government, but the US is tracking that way. Japan has its own issues as you mentioned, but I'm not well versed enough to speak on them.

It's definitely not a clear cut choice and you'll probably have to eat some shit regardless of your choice. I think the potential is highest in the US for success compared to the other choices, but you could also walk into the wrong store and get arrested by ICE.

[-] HubertManne@piefed.social 2 points 5 days ago

This might have been easier in the past but honestly as bad as the us is Im not sure anywhere in the world is safe from where the world seems to be going. Im not sure what pay you will be pulling down but I know I have never felt comfortable enough financially to visit anywhere abroad as a us person. Large part is having to be ready to handle being unemployed every so often and the other is healthcare costs.

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[-] MerryJaneDoe@piefed.world 4 points 6 days ago

You can actively work on countering the negative effects, so I'd start with just a list of positives. If all the negatives were gone, which country would you choose?

Let's suppose it's the USA. You're uncomfortable there, because of violence and ICE scares, but everything else is fine. You can look at local crime rates, especially gun violence. Find an area/school where these statistics are near-zero. You can mitigate the ICE risk by retaining an immigration lawyer and making sure that all your paperwork is in order.

Make the same type of list with Japan and China. What would you need to do to mitigate the xenophobia/ethnic differences? (Are you already fluent in both languages?)

You also mention finances, which should probably be near the top of the list. Figure out a realistic cost for your entire time at school, then work with your family to understand what's doable and what stretches them past the breaking point.

[-] Arcadeep@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

Unfortunately, having paperwork in order does not protect you from ICE. They do not care about the law and will abduct you as you are walking into/out of any immigration hearings. They routinely ignore judge's orders to release people and have no accountability for any harm or damage they cause. Sure, you might get yourself out in a week or two IF you have a good lawyer, but not before they do whatever they want to you in the meantime

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[-] scintilla@crust.piefed.social 3 points 6 days ago

If you have to choose between one of those three I think the choice has to be japan assuming you have guaranteed work lined up at all three locations with reasonable pay for the area at least.

[-] ComradeMiao@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

That's what I'm learning towards but I don't love the bad pay, small houses, trump-like prime minister, and forever not fitting in... but those can be viewed as minor to US or China critiques.

[-] nutbutter@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 5 days ago

Free internet in America and Japan? How?

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this post was submitted on 30 Mar 2026
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