this post was submitted on 06 Jul 2026
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I've been getting a lot of crushing anxiety as of late over mass surveillance in the US. Just really wacky paranoia all around (probably due to the way my parents raised me). I'm doing an electrical engineering degree right now and have no debt on account of landing a full-tuition scholarship out of highschool. I have enough saved up that next year when I start my master's degree I will still be pretty free of debt. Overall I am pretty privileged; I want to get more involved in organizing and other leftist actions because I feel culpable in the current system. My anxiety keeps me from taking any real action though because I feel like joining any organization would put my family on a list to be put in Palantir-sponsored Abu Ghraib. I've been considering going to therapy and trying to get medicated—although my parents won't like it (I still live with them)—in order to try and organize as best I can without getting kicked out (I'm 19 lol idk if I can survive on my own).

I realized that my research interests/degree concentrations (quantum computing, chip technology, and robotics) align really heavily with what China considers national priorities. On a whim (and because I like learning new languages) started studying Mandarin and fell in love with it. I also know that Chinese colleges are relatively friendly to foreign applications and was considering doing a PhD over there when all is said and done here. I know it's significantly, significantly easier said than done and I don't expect it to be a walk in the park at all. I was just wondering if anyone here could shed some light on my idea, I guess? It would also help to be from a more 'pro-China' perspective, as I asked a similar question on feddit and they basically hit me with an 'Oh the horrors..." about China and how it was actually terrible and impossible for me to emigrate over there.

Again I know it won't be easy at all, and I know there's not exactly a shortage of engineers in China, but I would really appreciate any input on this past the token shitlib "actually China is literally evil 1984 jojorwell" stuff. Thanks in advance.

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[–] EmmaGoldman@hexbear.net 10 points 12 hours ago

Pretty much the only thing keeping my wife and I in Canada is that she doesnt want to be a 24 hour flight away from her entire family. Completely understandable, it's hard to leave everyone you know and love behind if you actually have people you know and love.

[–] cfgaussian@lemmygrad.ml 11 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

If you get accepted into a Chinese university, i say just go for it. Whatever challenges come up, you can overcome them.

Maybe you don't even need to wait until PhD. Many universities offer the option to do a semester or a year abroad. You just need to find the right program that is suitable for you.