Very important, pivotal decision

[MohtasaUnique]

Should I minor in Chinese, Japanese, or Russian? They're the only three languages that are offered both at my university AND supported by the Air Force ROTC program.

I'm leaning towards Chinese because they're probably going to take us over here in the near future...... But I really would rather visit/be based in Japan than China. HOWEVER I've already taken a Chinese course for a year two years ago, so I have a basic knowledge of the language. I don't like the idea of Russian because I don't want to risk being based in a snowy white wasteland, plus their language is super angry-- that's bad energy!

 

[SuF]

Chinese would help you in a business career.

 

Mandarin

 

[MohtasaUnique]

Central's Chinese course covers both mandarin and cantonese in the course series QQ

 

[x339]

There is a higher chance of China ruling the world than Russia or Japan, so Chinese will obviously help you more.

 

[SuF]

^That's a majority. Lock.

 

[0120012345]

Japanese.
Don't fall into the forlorn community of the Chinese. Why are you into ROTC though? I assure you, you will go through hell like I did.

 

[MohtasaUnique]

I going through it with 5 of my friends, so I'm doing it as much for service and a better life after as the social aspect of it too. Plus I need the incentive to get fit, I haven't worked out in a long time, so I need a reason to start up again

 

[0120012345]

Good choice of training physical fitness, you will do shittons of hard labor. You won't get a body resembling those of a typical gym rat, which people commonly admire. Your first few days will be the hardest. Good luck on it.

 

[Laptop65]

More people speak Chinese than out of the three options there. Although, Russian is interesting (aside from the fact Russia is about to tear apart).

I would say Chinese.

 

[thatguy1234]

Chinese. They have the most people in the world%$#$%

 

[Jei jei KK]

You should study Japanese because I also study it and it is akin to torture

although I imagine Chinese would be worse, what with the little I know of it. Or you could study Russian, move to Russia and buy cheap games for me there.

 

[MohtasaUnique]

Good choice of training physical fitness, you will do shittons of hard labor. You won't get a body resembling those of a typical gym rat, which people commonly admire. Your first few days will be the hardest. Good luck on it.

No I don't plan on being like this:

I just want to be healthy and strong, not big and beefy

@JJKK NOU I wouldn't be self taught though, so it'd probably be a bit easier with a native speaker there to help you every day.. but I think chinese is easier, it just seems simpler to me

 

[0120012345]

No I don't plan on being like this:

I just want to be healthy and strong, not big and beefy

Of course you don't. You won't be able to anyway in ROTC. I wish could tell you everything, but I respect military secrecy. Once you get out of there, expect a better life.

 

[Meeder1]

Really depends on where you intend to be going with you're life after service.

Chinese and Japanese would both help you in a business career, Mandarin more so than Japanese. However you really don't want to be stationed in a culture you don't find interesting, you have to think ahead "I will be spending years in this place". So if it were me, I would be going for Japanese.

 

[Noam]

I would also go for Japanese. The language is relatively simpler from what I understand and reading will certainly be alot easier. In the end China is a communist regime and you might be restricted from sites you browse regularly and perhaps even Sythe. In addition consider what your friends will be doing - idk exactly how it works but there should be a decent chance you will be stationed with them.

 

[MohtasaUnique]

We don't expect to be on commission in the same location after ROTC is over, we're only together for the training

I find Chinese culture really interesting, but it's also a scary and foreign (lolwatnorly) place. My Chinese teacher (who's actually a Pollock) from my class two years ago told us tons of stories of his stay in China. One that still bugs me is how he was on a public transport ferry, taking him from Shanghai to Hangzhou. It was an overnight ride, and when he was taking a shower in one of the 10 small booths on a boat carrying over 1000 chinese men, another chinese man got into the shower with him. He screamed at him to get out, and the man got all offended. He didn't understand because, in a nation so over populated, there's NO privacy like we have here in America. He couldn't understand this man getting upset about sharing a booth that could "comfortably" fit three men in the 4x4 foot cubicle. I'm REALLY intense about my privacy, so I wouldn't be looking forward to that. Additionally, I don't want to be caught up in the middle of anything concerning China and North Korea if I'm stationed there. Their relationship has always been pretty deep, whether friendly or hostile in the last few years.

 

[Quatakai]

Chinese

 

[Spraynwipe]

Chinese is the most difficult regardless of dialect.. and the most useful in the long term. Good luck either way its going to be tough but rewarding.

 

[FishFishy]

Please do Russian

You'd look like a fucking badass.