My final draft of my research paper about "Fast Food" (Especially between Saudi Arabia and USA).

Zaid Bugshan

English 191

12/15/2013

 Fast Food

(Especially between Saudi Arabia and USA)

 

Consuming fast foods has become an obsession and a trend that is not about to be phased out anytime soon. Available data indicate that one out of every four Americans buy food from a fast food restaurant every day. Families hardly prepare traditional family meals since most of them have resorted to foods ordered from fast food joints.

In light of these new global lifestyles, business ventures have taken advantage of this obsession aiming to make mega profits of fast foods. Fast food chains haven spread across the world. From Europe to America, to Asia, Africa and the Middle East, fast food restaurants dot the skylines of many cities and towns. Brand names like McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Pizza hut among others have become a common sight not only in America but in other countries as well. According to statistics, the famous fast food restaurant McDonalds has over 30,000 branches spread in six continents (John). This paper will examine the fast food craze in America and Saudi Arabia with special focus on the reasons for fast food consumption, the effects, the solutions, and the benefits of the same on the population of these two countries.

Fast foods refer to foods that are prepared for fast consumption in restaurants. These foods are normally high calorie and sugary foods like French fries, crisps, fried chicken, meat burgers and sandwiches among others. These foods hardly contain healthy options like green vegetables, fruit or whole grain. More so, fast foods are high in fat, salt and processed ingredients. It is rare if not impossible to find organic foods served in fast food restaurants because raw organic products are more expensive than processed raw products. Most people prefer fast foods to homemade foods because the former is cheaper and sweeter. A recent poll indicates that McDonalds alone feeds over 46 million Americans every day. The trend also features in school restaurants. Schools serve junk food to students with no provision for green leafy vegetables, yoghurt, whole grain and fruits. The society is exposed to junk food from childhood making it hard to shed the habit of calling in for pizza or having a burger, chips and soda as the standard lunch time meal (Michael).

The fast food vogue has also caught up with citizens from the Middle East and especially Saudi Arabia. Unlike the past years when the only food you could find in Saudi was hot, flavored, spicy traditional Arab cuisine, fast food restaurants now dominate the market. Burgers and French fries have gradually taken over the menu that previously contained meats, vegetables, rice, wheat, and spices. Soda has become a viable option for tea, which is the local favorite drink of the residents (Robin).

  The American brands feature highly in towns in Saudi Arabia. In fact, the local market has adapted the fast food concept so that they design their traditional foods to resemble American fast food menus. For example, the ‘Al-Balik’ is the Arab adaptation of the Kentucky Fried Chicken. The ‘Al-Balik’ is deep fried chicken and shrimp, an obviously unhealthy version of traditionally prepared chicken. More so, there is the ‘Shawerma Joha’ and the ‘Kudu’, which is the Arab adaptation of the American Subway (Saxton). However, the fast foods in Saudi Arabia contain less processed foods than those served in American restaurants. People in Saudi Arabia also consume a Burger with a serving of a healthy vegetable. This is different from America when menus hardly contain a serving of anything fresh and organic. The Arab version of fast foods is also spicier and more flavored than the American equivalent.

The rate at which people consume fast foods across the world is evidently alarming. Statistics shows that in every ten people, seven consume fast food. This situation is being experienced from across the world. As a result, many people at a risk of contacting maladies connected to the use of fast foods on a regular basis. It is therefore, important to try and find out the reasons why many people continue to consume fast foods despite the fact that there are many health concerns associated with them (Schlosser).

People in the current world are said to work longer hours than ever before. There is a great demand for performance and delivery in the job area. As a result, most of the employees in the job sector have very little time left to go home and make food. This makes fast food the easiest and most convenient solution for most of these workers. Statistics show that most of employees in the job industry do not have enough time to cook healthy food at home. In Saudi Arabia, there has been a boom in the economy. Such has brought about more jobs and less rest for the workers. Therefore, most of the citizens especially the youth end up consuming fast foods instead of having well-cooked meals (Thorner).

Fast food in the past has been seen as a luxury by many. This is because fast food is associated with high-end restaurants where food is expensive. It means that persons from the middle and low class could not afford having fast food as they lacked the finances needed to purchase them. The above mentality has changed radically in the current world. According to research, there are more jobs across the world especially in the Middle East. These jobs have brought about new money. Therefore, more people can now afford fast foods than ever before (Walker).

Consuming fast foods and visiting joints such as McDonalds comes with prestige, status and class. The importance tinged to these high-level joints keeps attracting the young people to such places. As a result, the level of fast food consumers in the world has continued to skyrocket due to the perceived class and status brought about by the joints for fast foods. It is therefore evident that fast foods are not taken because people love them for their nutrition and sweetness but rather, the food is consumed for class and status (Walker).

Due to the high number of fast food consumers in the world, there has been a boom in the business. Today, there are more fast food joints across the world than ever before. Given this figures, the cost of fast food has drastically reduced as many more companies come in to make a large profit from the business (Thorner). Therefore, the stiff and cutthroat competition by fast food companies has lead to the reduction of fast food prices. As a result, more people can afford the food and thus the level of consumption has continued to rise across the world.

Marketing of products in the world has taken a new twist. Today, it easy to convince an audience or a group of people to consume goods than it has been before. This has been made possible by the high tech and sophisticated modes of advertising and marketing goods. Advertising fast food in such avenues has attracted more consumers due to the savory and mouth watering details in the advertisements. It is therefore, expected that fast foods shall continue to attract more people if the advertisements are not curtailed (Schlosser).

Fast foods affect Americans and Saudi Arabian’s in adverse ways. Studies indicate that less than forty percent of all Americans are of normal and healthy weight. The remaining sixty percent are either overweight or obese. The unhealthy lifestyle adapted by Americans has led to the increase in diabetes among the citizens. Further research indicates that diabetes causes more preventable deaths than cigarette and alcohol combined. This trend is not limited to adults but it also affects children and adolescents.

More so, the level of highly processed foods in the fast foods cause a variety of cancers including, breast, prostate and colon cancers. Foods like chicken that are sold in fast food restaurants are usually injected with hormones like estrogen to make them fat. These hormones also aid them in growing fast than the usual maturity period. Since animals have a high retention rate, the hormones are ingested directly into the body of the consumer. Artificial hormones are not limited to animal alone. Technology has enabled farmers to grow plants under artificially induced conditions. Moreover, the pesticides and chemicals applied on the plants find their way into the bodies of consumers, causing health problems. Ingesting these hormones into the body causes hormonal imbalance, a condition that manifests itself in different ways for example, low fertility and reproductive rates (Saxton).

The statistics are not any different from Saudi Arabia although the number of diabetics, obese and overweight people is definitely lower. However, the complications of lifestyle diseases resulting from eating unhealthy fast -foods are catching up fast in Saudi Arabia. This is because the younger generation strongly favors fast foods as opposed to authentic Arab cuisine. Younger people are registering high rates of hypertension, previously a disease of the old and weakened. More so, more young and middle-aged people suffer from asthma and hormonal imbalance related diseases (Robin). The web of unhealthy eating has entangled the children in Saudi Arabia, predisposing them to obesity and diabetes.

The trend of the fast food is growing too fast these days, this trend of fast food seen everywhere in the world. One can easily get a fast food meal for only 6 to 7 dollars.  People prefer fast food because they consider that fast food makes their life easy and uncomplicated. It is also beneficial for the parents as well, because if both the parents are working they can easily get a fast food meal for their children. The three reasons they are beneficial and are growing too fast is that they are low in cost, they give fast service and the outlets of fast foods are available almost everywhere. These benefits are seen in countries like Saudi Arabia and America as well. (Jayleen, 2012)     

    The problem biggest problems of fast foods are that they lead the human being to obesity. Fast food can give harm to the health in both long term and short term. The fast food content has a high level of fat in them which leads to high level of cholesterol level. The food with high calorie content with high level of sugar can lead to obesity. Obesity is a big problem now days in this modern era and in the young generation. To overcome this problem the government can keep a check and balance on the fast food about what kind of food they are providing and give them warnings and put on fines on them if they are proving food that is injurious for health. The schools can come up with programs that will aware the children about the problem of obesity and its side effects on health. Mostly in Saudi Arabia and America this problem is increasing day by day. In the last the fast food can provide a menu which is heath and full of vegetarian food. (Mercola, 2013)

Fast foods consumption is a trend all over the world. The old, middle-aged and the young all consume fast foods at alarming rates. And it trends is increasing day by day. The only reason behind this is that people do not have time to go home and cook for themselves due to their busy and hectic routine. People consider this service to be fast, cheap in price and also easy available.  Citizens of Saudi Arabia have picked up the fast food obsession. This is because of western influence and the willingness of American brand names to invest in the Saudi Arabian Market. This coupled with changing lifestyle preferences and a high economic power has affected the eating styles of both children and adults in the Arab country. The effects of eating fast foods are felt all over the world. America has become an ‘overweight’ and grossly ‘obese’ country. Saudi Arabia is under threat of the same invasion of lifestyle diseases. Meanwhile, the fast food business is vibrant and the players in the food industry continue to reap huge returns from their easy to prepare, easy to eat and even easier to kill foods. So it is necessary to aware the people about the side effects fast food or junk food can cause on health especially in our young generation. The role the government can play in this is that I ban every TV advertisement related to fast food and schools can conduct different seminars and programs for the awareness of the side effects of fast food.

 

 

 

Works cited

John, Jakle. Fast food : roadside restaurants in the automobile age . St. Cloud State University MC Main Collection - Basement : Baltimore, Md. : Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008.

Michael, Jacobson. The fast-food guide : what's good, what's bad, and how to tell the difference . St. Cloud State University MC Main Collection - Basement : New York : Workman Pub, 2009.

Robin, Leidner. Fast food, fast talk : service work and the routinization of everyday life . California Press: Berkeley : University of California Press, c1993., 2007.

Saxton, Freymann. Fast food/slow food : the cultural economy of the global food system. Lanham, MD : Altamira Press, 2006.

Schlosser, Eric. Fast food nation : the dark side of the all-American meal . New York: New York, NY : Harper Perennial, 2005.

Thorner, Marvin Edward. Convenience and fast food handbook. St. Cloud State University MC Main Collection - Basement : Westport, Conn., AVI Pub. Co., 2008.

Walker, Bynum Caroline. Fast food, stock cars, and rock 'n' roll : place and space in American pop culture . California: Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2008.

Jayleen. (2012, April 7). Studymode. Retrieved from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Benefits-Of-Fast-Food-Restaurants-996568.html

Mercola, D. ( 2013, August 24). Mercola. Retrieved from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/08/24/fast-food-fat-profits.aspx



My First Draft of My Final Paper" Fast Food" (Especially between Saudi Arabia and USA)

Fast Food (Especially between Saudi Arabia and USA)

 

            Consuming fast foods has become an obsession and a trend that is not about to be phased out anytime soon. Available data indicate that one out of every four Americans buy food from a fast food restaurant every day. Families hardly prepare traditional family meals since most of them have resorted to foods ordered from fast food joints. In light of these new global lifestyles, business ventures have taken advantage of this obsession aiming to make mega profits of fast foods. Fast food chains haven spread across the world. This paper will examine the fast food craze in America and Saudi Arabia with special focus on the reasons for fast food consumption, the effects, the solutions, and the benefits of the same on the population of these two countries.

            Fast foods refer to foods that are prepared for fast consumption in restaurants. These foods are normally high calorie and sugary foods like French fries, crisps, fried chicken, meat burgers and sandwiches among others. These foods hardly contain healthy options like green vegetables, fruit or whole grain. More so, fast foods are high in fat, salt and processed ingredients. Most people prefer fast foods to homemade foods because the former is cheaper and sweeter. A recent poll indicates that McDonalds alone feeds over 46 million Americans every day. The trend also features in school restaurants.  (Michael).

The fast food vogue has also caught up with citizens from the Middle East and especially Saudi Arabia. Unlike the past years when the only food you could find in Saudi was hot, flavored, spicy traditional Arab cuisine, fast food restaurants now dominate the market. Burgers and French fries have gradually taken over the menu that previously contained meats, vegetables, rice, wheat, and spices. Soda has become a viable option for tea, which is the local favorite drink of the residents (Robin).

             The American brands feature highly in towns in Saudi Arabia. In fact, the local market has adapted the fast food concept so that they design their traditional foods to resemble American fast food menus. For example, the ‘Al-Balik’ is the Arab adaptation of the Kentucky Fried Chicken. The ‘Al-Balik’ is deep fried chicken and shrimp, an obviously unhealthy version of traditionally prepared chicken. More so, there is the ‘Shawerma Joha’ and the ‘Kudu’, which is the Arab adaptation of the American Subway (Saxton). However, the fast foods in Saudi Arabia contain less processed foods than those served in American restaurants. People in Saudi Arabia also consume a Burger with a serving of a healthy vegetable. This is different from America when menus hardly contain a serving of anything fresh and organic. The Arab version of fast foods is also spicier and more flavored than the American equivalent.

            People in the current world are said to work longer hours than ever before. There is a great demand for performance and delivery in the job area. As a result, most of the employees in the job sector have very little time left to go home and make food. This makes fast food the easiest and most convenient solution for most of these workers. Statistics show that most of employees in the job industry do not have enough time to cook healthy food at home. In Saudi Arabia, there has been a boom in the economy. Such has brought about more jobs and less rest for the workers. Therefore, most of the citizens especially the youth end up consuming fast foods instead of having well-cooked meals (Thorner).

            Consuming fast foods and visiting joints such as McDonalds comes with prestige, status and class. The importance tinged to these high-level joints keeps attracting the young people to such places. As a result, the level of fast food consumers in the world has continued to skyrocket due to the perceived class and status brought about by the joints for fast foods. It is therefore evident that fast foods are not taken because people love them for their nutrition and sweetness but rather, the food is consumed for class and status (Walker).

Due to the high number of fast food consumers in the world, there has been a boom in the business. Today, there are more fast food joints across the world than ever before. Given this figures, the cost of fast food has drastically reduced as many more companies come in to make a large profit from the business (Thorner). Therefore, the stiff and cutthroat competition by fast food companies has lead to the reduction of fast food prices. As a result, more people can afford the food and thus the level of consumption has continued to rise across the world.

Marketing of products in the world has taken a new twist. Today, it easy to convince an audience or a group of people to consume goods than it has been before. This has been made possible by the high tech and sophisticated modes of advertising and marketing goods. Advertising fast food in such avenues has attracted more consumers due to the savory and mouth watering details in the advertisements. It is therefore, expected that fast foods shall continue to attract more people if the advertisements are not curtailed (Schlosser).

            Fast foods affect Americans and Saudi Arabian’s in adverse ways. Studies indicate that less than forty percent of all Americans are of normal and healthy weight. The remaining sixty percent are either overweight or obese. The unhealthy lifestyle adapted by Americans has led to the increase in diabetes among the citizens. Further research indicates that diabetes causes more preventable deaths than cigarette and alcohol combined. This trend is not limited to adults but it also affects children and adolescents.

More so, the level of highly processed foods in the fast foods cause a variety of cancers including, breast, prostate and colon cancers. Foods like chicken that are sold in fast food restaurants are usually injected with hormones like estrogen to make them fat. These hormones also aid them in growing fast than the usual maturity period. Since animals have a high retention rate, the hormones are ingested directly into the body of the consumer. Artificial hormones are not limited to animal alone. Technology has enabled farmers to grow plants under artificially induced conditions. (Saxton).

            The statistics are not any different from Saudi Arabia although the number of diabetics, obese and overweight people is definitely lower. However, the complications of lifestyle diseases resulting from eating unhealthy fast -foods are catching up fast in Saudi Arabia. This is because the younger generation strongly favors fast foods as opposed to authentic Arab cuisine. Younger people are registering high rates of hypertension, previously a disease of the old and weakened. More so, more young and middle-aged people suffer from asthma and hormonal imbalance related diseases (Robin).

 

The trend of the fast food is growing too fast these days, this trend of fast food seen everywhere in the world. One can easily get a fast food meal for only 6 to 7 dollars.  People prefer fast food because they consider that fast food makes their life easy and uncomplicated. It is also beneficial for the parents as well, because if both the parents are working they can easily get a fast food meal for their children. These benefits are seen in countries like Saudi Arabia and America as well. (Jayleen, 2012)     

            The problem biggest problems of fast foods are that they lead the human being to obesity. Fast food can give harm to the health in both long term and short term. The fast food content has a high level of fat in them which leads to high level of cholesterol level. The food with high calorie content with high level of sugar can lead to obesity. Obesity is a big problem now days in this modern era and in the young generation. To overcome this problem the government can keep a check and balance on the fast food about what kind of food they are providing and give them warnings and put on fines on them if they are proving food that is injurious for health. The schools can come up with programs that will aware the children about the problem of obesity and its side effects on health. Mostly in Saudi Arabia and America this problem is increasing day by day. In the last the fast food can provide a menu which is heath and full of vegetarian food. (Mercola, 2013)

 

Fast foods consumption is a trend all over the world. The old, middle-aged and the young all consume fast foods at alarming rates. And it trends is increasing day by day. The only reason behind this is that people do not have time to go home and cook for themselves due to their busy and hectic routine. People consider this service to be fast, cheap in price and also easy available. So it is necessary to aware the people about the side effects fast food or junk food can cause on health especially in our young generation. The role the government can play in this is that I ban every TV advertisement related to fast food and schools can conduct different seminars and programs for the awareness of the side effects of fast food.

 

 

 

Works cited

Michael, Jacobson. The fast-food guide : what's good, what's bad, and how to tell the difference . St. Cloud State University MC Main Collection - Basement : New York : Workman Pub, 2009.

Robin, Leidner. Fast food, fast talk : service work and the routinization of everyday life . California Press: Berkeley : University of California Press, c1993., 2007.

Saxton, Freymann. Fast food/slow food : the cultural economy of the global food system. Lanham, MD : Altamira Press, 2006.

Schlosser, Eric. Fast food nation : the dark side of the all-American meal . New York: New York, NY : Harper Perennial, 2005.

Thorner, Marvin Edward. Convenience and fast food handbook. St. Cloud State University MC Main Collection - Basement : Westport, Conn., AVI Pub. Co., 2008.

Walker, Bynum Caroline. Fast food, stock cars, and rock 'n' roll : place and space in American pop culture . California: Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2008.

Jayleen. (2012, April 7). Studymode. Retrieved from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Benefits-Of-Fast-Food-Restaurants-996568.html

Mercola, D. ( 2013, August 24). Mercola. Retrieved from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/08/24/fast-food-fat-profits.aspx

 

Improved my outline about "Fast Food" (Especially between Saudi Arabia and USA)

Outline about "Fast Food"  (Especially between Saudi Arabia and USA)

 

1- Introduction:
Consuming fast food has become an obsession and a trend that is not about to be phased out anytime soon. People all over the world are eating food straight from the local food joint.
Thesis:  This paper will examine the fast food craze in America and Saudi Arabia with special focus on the reasons for fast food consumption, the effects, the solutions, and the benefits of the same on the population of these two countries.

a) Fast Food facts

b) Heath consequences.

 2- Fast Food
 a) Restaurants: Brand name like McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Pizza hut among others have become a common sight not only in America but in other countries as well.
 b) Advertising: Advertising fast food in such venues has attracted more consumers due to the savory and mouth watering details in the advertisements.

 3- Health Concerns: Fast food refer to foods that are prepared for fast consumption in restaurant. These food are normally high calorie and sugary foods like  French fries, crisps, fries chicken, meat burgers and sandwiches among others.
 a) Calories and Fat
 b) Obesity and diabetes
 c) Quote "Nutrition and Well being"
 d) Obesity
 e) Facts
 f) In children
 g) Dangers
3) The benefits: The three reasons they are beneficial and are growing too fast is that they are low in cost, they give fast service and the outlets of fast foods are available almost everywhere. These benefits are seen in countries like Saudi Arabia and America as well.

 4 How to Fix, What is Being Done?
 To overcome this problem the government can keep a check and balance on the fast food about what kind of food they are providing and give them warnings and put on fines on them if they are proving food that is injurious for health.
 a) By non-profit organizations
 b) The government
 c) Schools
 d) Restaurants themselves

 5)Other Countries:The fast food vogue has also caught up with citizens from the Middle East and especially Saudi Arabia.
 a) Same issues?
 b) Why or why not

 6)Conclusion:
Fast foods consumption is a trend all over the world. The old, middle-aged and the young all consume fast foods at alarming rates. And it trends is increasing day by day. The only reason behind this is that people do not have time to go home and cook for themselves due to their busy and hectic routine. Citizens of Saudi Arabia have picked up the fast food obsession. This is because of western influence and the willingness of American brand names to invest in the Saudi Arabian Market.

My Outline about my final topic "Fast Food"

 Fast food is easily accessible and cheap which causes people to gravitate towards eating it increasing Americas obesity rate and diseases that are associated with it.

Outline

 

 1- Introduction
 a) Fast Food facts
 b) Heath consequences.

 2- Fast Food
 a) Restaurants
 b) Advertising

 3- Health Concerns
 a) Calories and Fat
 b) Obesity and diabetes
 c) Quote "Nutrition and Well being"
 d) Obesity
 e) Facts
 f) In children
 g) Dangers


 6) How to Fix, What is Being Done?
 a) By non-profit organizations
 b) The government
 c) Schools
 d) Restaurants themselves

 7) Other Countries
 a) Same issues?
 b) Why or why not

 8) Conclusion
 a) The end.

Research Paper Topic. Fast Food (Especially between Saudi Arabia and USA)

Fast Food (Especially between Saudi Arabia and USA)

 



The main topic of my research paper will be about the Fast Food. I choose this topic becuase there are many harmful effects about fast food and many people choose to eat at fast food restaurants because it quick, especially for people with jobs and are always in a hurry; but many do not know the truth behind it and the harmful effects that contributes to eating fast food continuously. Fast food is made of low quality ingredients and consists mainly of sugar, fat, high calories, and high sodium. Fast food causes obesity and nothing is being done to stop this major issue in America of any other countries right now.

Review of interview 3

1. Who scored highest?
2. Whose interview did you like best? Why?
-----------------------------------------------------------
1- Faisal, Alhajri, Faisal, Alshammari, Lim Dong Hyuk, Zhu, MinJie, Shi, Mengzhen, Alhajri, Mubarak M,Doege, Brandon J.

2-I think these are the best: Faisal, Alhajri, Faisal, Alshammari, Lim Dong Hyuk. Because they have a lot of informations, organization, and they improving.


Evaluation Spreadsheet

My Third Interview

My Third Interview

 

How did you approach people? When, where, and how did you conduct and record the interview? Whom did you interview? What did surprise you? How did the interview unfold?

 

I was really excited about this task and I really looked forward for the interview with Junichi.L a Japanese guy. I was nervous but eager and excited at the same time. The interview went on really good and it was fun. I learned a lot about Japan, its culture and how people of Japan hold their culture close to their hearts. I recorded the interview on tape so that I could replay it earlier and also because I wanted to focus on the interviewee and give him my full attention, I did not wanted to be seen as preoccupied as it gives a bad impression.

I started my task with formulating a questionnaire. I was really very careful when framing the questionnaire. I made sure to frame the questions in such a way that it did not get too personal or even a little bit offensive. I kept the questions simple and open ended. For the interview I made a list of fifteen questions which are as follows:

1-Do you like the weather in St.Cloud? Please explain
2- What do you do for leisure?
3- Could you please tell me about yourself?
4- How often do you communicate with your family back at home?
5- What is the biggest holiday in your country? Please explain about the holidays (Activities, Food, Date, Origin, and etc,)
6- In what ways might it be difficult to practice your religion here in the U.S?
7- Tell me some important things from your culture?
8- What is the biggest difference between the American culture and your culture?
9- What are your goals for the future; after you graduate, what are you going to do?
10- What is your favorite sport?

11-What is your major? Why you chose this major?

12-What is your language? How many languages do you speak? How many languages in your country?

13-What do you like to do when you hang out with your friends and/or family?

14-Where do you prefer your home country or here? Why?

15- Do you have any questions for me? I have asked so many of you!

I went to St. Cloud University and found a shy but eager to help Japanese boy name Junichi.L. He was really passionate and a true patriot. He just loved his country, people, family and his culture and traditions. He was really religious but open minded as well. I informed the candidate about the interview and explained him about the survey that I was doing. He discussed about his culture and family in great detail. He was open and friendly though a bit shy. He was eager to help me and answered in detail. He told me how Japanese value their culture and how they have preserved it over the years.

 

 

Interview report on how the interviewing went

 

I met with Junichi.L on the 11^th of November 2013. The interview went on for around 40 to 50 minutes.  I taped the interview so that later I could easily put it in writing later on. I taped the interview so that I could give my full attention to the candidates. The interview went on quiet well and I learned quiet a lot. As the interview unfolded I observed that the candidate was a true patriot and had high regards for his country, cultures and traditions. I also found out that all Japanese value their culture a lot and have preserved the Japanese culture over the years.

He was really patient and kind and gave me his full attention. He gave me a lot of his time and discussed everything in detail. It was really nice talking to Junichi.L and in my interview with him I learned a lot and I really admire his patriotism and love for his country.

 

Report on country/region and culture

 

Japan has quiet a rich cultural with numerous ancient festivals and traditions. Japanese, Korean and Chinese are the languages widely spoken in Japan, but the official and the national as well as the most widely spoken language is Japanese. The national and traditional dress of Japan is a Kimono for both men and women. Kimono is a long and flowing garment which is tied with a belt, it is usually decorated elaborately. The designs, patterns have evolved over time but the main design still remains the same thus even though it has modernized a bit still it has not lost its traditional touch.[1-3]

 Japanese are hard and diligent workers, they are really focused and innovative. They are very courteous and punctual and set high regards for their culture and traditions. Japanese people are really positive and polite. They are shy yet alarmingly intelligent. They respect everyone. Also Japan is a country immune to stereotyping. They have all the good qualities and this is the reason for their success.[2]

Martial art is one of the most prominent and widely practiced Japanese traditions, since childhood children learn this art. It is good as it makes one able to defend himself /herself at all times.  It comprises of defenses in numerous ways like using techniques of combat, using weapons such as swords or staffs. The most famous and widely known types of martial arts are namely judo, aikido, karate, jujitsu, and sumo. Also it is not something you can learn in a day, it require years of training and strict discipline. In order to master this art you have to be really diligent and focused, it is not at all easy to learn. Martial art is a development of both mind and spiritual.[2-3]

Japanese music has also evolved but even here the traditions remain intact. Often even the modern performers use the traditional instruments like taiko which are basically drums contemporary music and compositions Japanese manages to keeps its traditions and traditional music alive.[4]

Apart from this Japan also has a history of really good and spectacular paintings, woodcutting sand carvings which inspires artists and art lovers from all around the world. Traditional Japanese pottery and porcelain have a long history and go years back. Japanese art is considered as one of the earliest form of arts. Also Japanese calligraphy is also widely known and appreciated all over the world for its extravagance. Japanese even pack their gifts really artistically and in a very beautiful manner.[1-2]

 

 

Work Cited

[1] "Japanese Holidays." Japanese Holidays. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. <http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2062.html>

 [2] "Culture Japan - Your Portal to Japan." Culture Japan - Your Portal to Japan. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

[3] "Languages of Japan." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

 [4] "Japanese Festivals." About.com Asia Travel. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. <http://goasia.about.com/od/Events-and-Holidays/tp/Japanese-Festivals.htm>.

 

Website Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Japan

http://www.dannychoo.com/

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2062.html           

http://goasia.about.com/od/Events-and-Holidays/tp/Japanese-Festivals.htm

 

 

Interview transcription of my interview with Junichi.L

 

Interviewer: Zaid Bugshan

Interviewee: Junichi.L

Location: University of Saint Cloud, USA, 11.00AM

Z- Zaid Bugshan

J: Junichi.L

Z:  First, I would like to thank you for giving me your time and for letting me do the interview with you.

J: That's Ok. I am glad to hear from you.

Z:  So do you like the weather in St.Cloud?

J: Well yes I like the weather here, it is pretty much good and like that in Japan. I do not like the winters though, as I find it somewhat dry and sad, but yeah I immensely enjoy summers, I love summers and enjoy a lot.St. Cloud City is very hot in summer and very cold with snow in winter and as I like both weathers I love it here.
 

Z: And what do you do for leisure?

J:  I am an introvert; I like to keep to myself most of the time. I do have a lot of people but I am shy around new people. I like to read and paint, I am poet and I love to write. Writing is my passion and also an outlet to express and vent out my feelings. Also I love baking an I am always in the kitchen trying new recipes, my friends love my cooking and they often ask me to cook up their favorites.

Z:  Could you please tell me about yourself?

J:  Hmm well I am Japanese my name is Junichi.L which means the obedient one. I am an introvert kind of a person I like keeping to myself most of the time, though I love my friends and like spending time with them too. Apart from that I am a diligent and a hard worker. I love challenges and meeting tough deadlines. I am a team player and posses good communication skills also I have a power to persuade people, you can say that I am really persuasive.

Z:  How often do you communicate with your family back at home?

J: Well ours is a really closely knit family, I love them a lot and I get really homesick at times. So I talk to them once a day. We share even the tiniest bits of things and have no secrets. We are really close to each other and frank too.

Z:  What is the biggest holiday in your country? Please explain about the holidays (Activities, Food, Date, Origin, and etc,)

J: Matsuri is the work we Japanese use for what you people call festivals. We have a lot of Matsuri’s in Japan. We have Shogatsu which is the New Year, Setsubun which is the bean-throwing festival and is a lot of fun. Than we have Hanami which is the cherry blossom festival, and we also have Golden Week,Obon, Lake towada Snow festival etc. We have a lot of festivals. My favorite one is Setsubun. It is really fun but kind of bizzrre. It starts off with the Haru Matsuri  which is the Spring Festival. Setsubun is a really old tradition but with time it has evolved, now it is telecasted on televisions, events include performances etc by national celebrities on stages etc around the country. The main and the fun part of the festival is that people throw beans in mame maki ceremonies so as to drive away evil spirits that could cause trouble later. Candies and money is thrown out towards the crowds, and people rush forward to collect the small gifts. It is celebrated on 3^rd Feburary at all the major temples and shrines in Japan. I am really religious that is why I love this festival.

 

Z:  In what ways is it difficult to practice your religion here in the U.S?

J:  It is not at all difficult to practice my religion here. Religion is something that lies within us and no matter what the situation is or the place is. Religion is all about faith and believes, and faith is something that resides within. Also god is in our hearts and is always with us to help and guide us.

 

Z:  Tell me some important things from your culture?

J:  Hmm Well Japan is known for its very unique culture and heritage. We Japanese have preserved our culture over the years and it has remained unchanged. Japanese traditions and customs give uniqueness to our lifestyle. Our families are closely knit, with high regards for the elders. Also we have a custom of exchanging gifts for almost everything.

 Z: What’s the biggest difference between the American culture and your culture?

J:  Well our culture differs from American culture in all ways. There is no comparison as they are like two ends.

Z:  What are your goals for the future; after you graduate, what are you going to do?

J:  Well I would like to improve myself using education, making me a better well known individual. Apart from this I would like to graduate and get a job as a marketing head at a reputable multinational.

Z:  What is your favorite sport?

J:  Hmm well I am not a fan of sports, though I like watching baseball but that too only sometimes.

Z:  What is your major? Why you chose this major?

 J:  My majors is Advertising. I choose this major because I am very creative, innovative and open to new ideas, in short all the skills necessary to make a good marketer. Also since childhood I was really clear on what I wanted and what I wanted to be .I find myself really luck that I have the skills, abilities and all the things needed to achieve my goals and dreams as creativity is something you are born with one cannot simply learn to be creative. Also we Japanese are really innovative and so I think this is the right carrier field for me.

Z:  What is your language? How many languages do you speak? How many languages in your country?

J: Well our national language is Japanese, though Korean and Chinese is also spoken, but the main language is Japanese. I speak Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French and English.

Z: What do you like to do when you hang out with your friends and/or family?

J:  I just like to relax and eat and talk. I like to sit back watch movies, play board games or X box etc.

Z: Where do you prefer your home country or here? Why?

J:  I miss my country, I miss being there and I love everything about Japan. I love it back there as my family is there, I like the lifestyle in Japan, the way people know each other care about each other and all, over here in United States everyone minds there own business and do not care much about anyone else except themselves.

 Z:  Well that’s all from my side, do you have any questions for me?

J:  Well Yes, Thank you. What do you think about Japan?

Z:  I think Japan is a great country, I wish I can visit is sometime and experience the life there. Also we all use Japanese products and I am absolutely impressed by the way you people work so hard.