Halio Education in China and Germany - Assignment Example

RQ1. How Chinese students live in Europe Halio who is 27 years was born in Shanghai where he has spent most of his life. His educational background is in China where he graduated from high school (2: 14-28). Halio’s choice to come to Germany was to see more and to experience a different education from the one offered in China. The choice to study in German was because the education system there was better than the Chinese one. He was not used to cooking for himself or to living alone as he had spent most of his time with his parents. For Halio, life in Germany is quite different from the life at his home country where has was used to have his parents around him. Halio had heard about Germany and how it looked like from his relatives who lived there (2:143-149). However, the decision to come to study in Germany was made by his parents who gave him the chance to graduate from a Germany university. The parents believed that if Halio graduated from the Chinese universities, it would be quite difficult for him to get a guaranteed job. The parents also believed that Halio would be well looked after by his relatives in Germany (2:151-156). China is overpopulated, and the same applies to its graduates making it hard for a graduate to safeguard a job. Halio has the beliefs that the universities in German are difficult to graduate as they offer quality oriented education unlike the Chinese universities which offer examination-oriented education (2:68-102). Studying in the Germany universities means studying a foreign language and this calls for more effort in studying. The choice of Germany is a compromise between Halio’s parent’s ideas and decisions and those of Halio (2:104-107). Chinese students in German lead a normal life though they have their won a share of challenges. RQ2: Experiences in Germany At the time of this interview, Halio had been in Germany for three to four years (2: 331-334). Halio talks of how he regretted his parent’s decision initially due to financial constraints but later came to enjoy it all lot after he got employed and earned his own cash (2: 109-113). Halio has experienced boredom, financial constraints and a lot of pressure which contrasts the situation in China where has was close to his friends and family. He was at the time very fresh in Germany and did not know what to do. Language was also an issue for him as he had to learn a new language. He tells this story as an illustration that his initial adaptation in Germany was not that smooth. Language was quite a problem to him in that he was afraid of talking to people (2: 157:166). He also experienced a language barrier when it came to studying. Group work is the way of study for Germans unlike the individual work for the Chinese, and this was quite a challenge. Halio has experienced a different atmosphere from the one in his home country which includes cheaper products though there is no variety of products as found in his home country. The environment there is wonderful as there are no polluting factories which are found in developing countries and this made his Germany experience wonderful (2:157-186). He is also unable to communicate Tibet due to the diverse opinions held. The food in Germany is also quite different with the good food of different varieties in China (2: 436). Halio is also facing a huge challenge on whether to go back to China after his studies or to remain in Germany. Halio thinks that he will have to be in that place which will offer him the best opportunity. However, the anti-China policy in Germany is quite discouraging for even though Germany offers lots of advantages and good environment, he would not stand the continued discrimination. To him, a continued stay in Germany would make him a refugee and so it would be better for him to go back to China though it has a lot of dishonest merchants (2:428- 446). He seems confused on the best place to work depending on the opportunities as he alleges insecurity in some countries. RQ3: Social networks and social contacts The decision to study in Germany was influenced by his parents though he thinks that he should have made his solid decision. Despite the language barrier, Halio describes himself as an outgoing person and hence did not have any problem with socialization. After a while, Halio went to Bremen since his girlfriend lived there. To make new friends, Halio talks of how he did homework and sports together with friends and other students. If a common ground is found and they are compatible, then they would become friends (2: 188-202). As a result, he made more German friends in the beginning after which he made more Chinese friends. Halio met some of his German and Chinese friends in bars while in the university while having fun. He also met new friends via other friends, at work or when playing basketball (2:204-214). Halio categorically states that he closer to the Chinese friends that the German friends. After all, he grew up in China and not in Germany and has different cultural background with the Germans. According to Halio, another reason as to why he does not have many German friends is because the Germans are immature since they have been working ever since they were kids. According to Halio, what Germans think is mature is immature, and this makes the culture differences (2:211-242). A comparison between the friends in Germany and those in China are that those in China are real and more honest while those in Germany are well informed. His socialization depends on where he is, just as the saying goes “when you go to Roman, do what the Romans are doing” (2:247). RQ4. Human relationships in Chinese students Halio explains that his social contact with the Chinese in Germany is simpler while it is complicated back at his home country, China. In China, people compare one with others unlike in German where everyone has his own where one can only communicate with his level. Halio’s closest friends are females from China. They also talk politics while clubbing, drinking or during entertainment time. Halio and his friends also engage themselves in social events, playing computer games and political discussions on political issues (2:282-328). RQ5: Gender differences Halio explains that the Europeans and the Germany’s think that all people are equal, and everyone is highly respected regardless of their gender. This is because Germany is governed by law unlike in China which is governed or ruled by people. Women in Germany are also quite independent unlike for the Chinese women who are dependent and usually require men’s money for them to become independent. However, Halio thinks that the independence of the women in Germany has some negative aspects as it makes them change due to influence from the western countries (2:369 -390). According to Halio, the increase in the number of homosexuals in foreign countries is because there is no clear definition of gender differences between them. The gender equality in Germany contradicts the nature as nature has quite distinct roles for both men and women. To Halio, the situation in Germany and the western countries causes mental and physical imbalances as people do not care about having kids. Simply, nature is fast disappearing in these countries as gender roles are not well stated (2:393:410). RQ6: Other interesting aspects a. Family relations Halio was urged by his parents to study Engineering in Germany, and he agreed an indication that he trusts his parents. He parents used their connections with the relatives living in Germany to ensure their sons wellbeing. Halio has had frequent contacts with his parents when in Germany. Halio is the only child of his parents, and this explains why his parents wanted all the best for him. Halio used to live with his parents in a two apartment building since the days in high school and used to make his own decisions. The family relationship is very close in that Halio accepted his parent’s decision to study engineering in Germany (2: 18-82). He even visits his parent in China during vacations and spends time with them (2: 359-362). b. Individualism Halio does not have any attributes of individualism. He describes himself as an outgoing person, and that is why he was able to make many friends even when he faced a language barriers. He spends a substantial amount of his time with his friend clubbing, playing games, and shopping, discussing politics or doing assignments. He explains himself as being a man of the people literally where he goes for dinner with his German and Chiness friends during the weekends. He has been able to make friends including German and Chinese women as he claims that he knows how to communicate well (2: 244-330). Read More