Journal (Narrative):
For the identity diagram, I found myself filling out circles
with words that pertain to the activities that I like to do. I also found that
much of what I filled out has little, if anything, to do with me physically, as
I see myself as an artist or voice over actor over being a woman. While it is
important, to an extent, it does not impact my life in any significant
capacity. In general, I found that the
traits I listed have little, if anything, to do with my culture. While being an
American is important to me, I do not see it as a defining trait. In terms of how
these traits may affect my study abroad experience, I do not think that most of
them will impact my experience. If anything, I think that my overall
personality and shyness will have the greatest impact on where I go, how I
interact with people, and the experiences that I would be willing to seek out.
The iceberg exercise was very interesting in that some of
the most important facets of a culture are typically unseen. For example, views
on equality, world view, and rules of politeness are not as obvious as clothing,
personal space, and works of art. Especially for anyone visiting a country with
a very distinct and different culture, it can be difficult to see such
important components of culture that impact many social situations. Much of the
learning experience abroad will naturally be trial and error, but it certainly
helps to be accompanied by other students whom I can learn with and from as we
navigate our host countries.
What I am most looking forward to about studying abroad will
be having the opportunity to be immersed in different cultures. Especially
since most of my exposure to the countries I’m traveling to has only been
through their respective entertainment media, I am curious to see just how much
more I can learn from experiencing it for myself. In that regard though, I am
also concerned about is finding myself in a situation that I may not be able to
navigate with limited knowledge of the host language. While I have comfort in
knowing that I will be with other classmates whom will be in the same situation,
and will likely be with me, I cannot help but feel anxious about getting lost,
miscommunicating, or in a dangerous situation. I think that the thing I will
most when abroad is my family. Even today, I am a commuter student, thus still
living at home with my family. They have been a constant presence in my life,
and, while I’m perfectly capable of being gone for extended periods of time on
the other side of the country, I am left to wonder just how I might be impacted
knowing my parents are not a twelve-hour drive away. In that regard, however, I
am excited by the uncertainty of fending for myself in a part of the world that
I hope to work within in the future.
Blog: China/Japan Economy
China has a very complex economic system, defined as a
socialist market system. Essentially, the system is a union between both
socialist and capitalist practices. For the most part, the government plays a
large role in the economy, though its influence has steadily decreased. One of
the unique characteristics of the Chinese economic system is the use of “five-year
plans that outline specific economic goals and budget for the given amount of
time” (Harper 394). Interestingly, “investment represented an average of
approximately 36% of GDP during the first decade of economic reform in China,
[which is] relatively high by developing country standards” (Xu). Over the course
of the last few years, “the leadership appears to be stepping back from
liberalization, increasing the likelihood of less openness to imports and
investment, new bureaucratic hurdles, potentially weaker rule of law, and
strengthened resistance from vested interests in the state sector that already
impede more dynamic economic development” (“China”). This could be detrimental to
the domestic economy and the world economy in general since China is currently one
of the most powerful economies in the world. Even now, the hints of a trade war
between the United States and China could prove detrimental to both parties. Because
the United States relies so heavily on Chinese exports, and, in turn, China
relies heavily on American purchases and services, any upset in free trade to
the two would but both in a vulnerable situation. However, tensions have eased,
though the situation is certainly an interesting one from an economic and
foreign relations perspective.
Japan, once a booming economic power in the post-war era,
but hit a major decline in the 80’s and 90’s. The market-based economy of Japan
has seen some progress over the last ten years. In 2011, “its stunted
growth-rate [had] been the least impressive of any major industrial nation,
averaging 1% per year” (Warner 1). However, the country has its fair share of
hardships to overcome. According to statistics from the Reconstruction Bureau
in 2016, “more than 100,000 people were still living in temporary housing” in
the wake of the 2011 earthquake and subsequent nuclear meltdown in Fukushima
(Milner 816). Currently, in terms of market openness, “the combined value of
exports and imports equals 36 percent of GDP” (“Japan”). Fortunately, Japan has
seen improvement in recent years. Since 2008, “Japan [had] just over 5% jobless
(5.3%)” and that percentage has since “dropped down to 3.1%” (Warner 1, “Japan”).
This improvement in the unemployment rate, government, and “dramatic deficit
reduction improved the score for fiscal health” (“Japan”). However, with the 2020
Summer Olympics being held in Tokyo, the costs of planning and executing the
ceremonies, lodging, and building the stadium in which the games will be held
will be an enormous economic undertaking. Hopefully, with a “revitalization
agenda aimed at reinflating the economy” proposed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,
the nation will be able to get back on its feet by the time the world comes
together to celebrate unity and friendly competition (“Japan”).
Works Cited
“China.” China Economy: Population, GDP, Facts,
Trade, Business, Inflation, Corruption.
Harper, Damian et al. China.
Lonely Planet. 2017. Print.
“Japan.” Japan Economy: Population, Facts, GDP,
Business, Trade, Unemployment. Web. www.heritage.org/index/country/japan.
Milner, Rebecca et al. Japan.
Lonely Planet. 2017. Print.
Warner, Malcolm. "Whither Japan? Economy, Management
and Society." Asia Pacific Business Review, vol. 17, no. 1, Jan. 2011. https://login.libproxy.noctrl.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=57483172&site=eds-live
Xu, Guangdong. "The Institutional Foundations of
China’s Unbalanced Economy." Europe-Asia Studies, vol. 67, no. 9, Nov. 2015. https://login.libproxy.noctrl.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ulh&AN=111116213&site=eds-live
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