Preparation for the Interview:
I chose the Unite States of America as the
country of choice for this interview. We had general questions that we drafted
as a class, but I added and edited some questions so that they could fit my environment
of interview. USA is a large country consisting of several states. I will have
to choose one state that will be my basis of interview. I choose to do the
interview in the city of Saint Cloud to interview a number of people. At the
end of this report is a transcript of one of the interviews with an American
citizen who lives and works in the city of Saint Cloud.
How did you approach people?
I
had contact with many students from the USA, but in this interview I did not
chose students to interview, I chose one of my teachers in St. Cloud University.
Juley agreed to be interviewed. She told me that it was the first time she was
doing this. She was obliged to chip in with my Interview. I told her that the
interview was for my class work and that I would ask her general questions and
that, I would record our conversion. She wanted to know why I wanted to record
the conversation and I told her that is was for transcription purposes. She
promptly agreed to go ahead with the interview. We met at the library. It is
here that we conducted the interview.
When, where and how did you conduct and record the interview?
The
interview was conducted on a Friday morning. This was convenient for both of us
since we did not have obligations over the weekend. It was at the library. I
took with her my mobile phone that I would use as the recording device. I also
had a printed copy of the questions that I was going to ask Juley. I also had
with me some snacks that would serve to keep the mood lively throughout the
interview.
Whom did
you Interview?
I interviewed Juley who is a teacher at
Saint Cloud State University. She teach ESL (English as a second language)
Also, she was one of my teacher last two semester. She is a student at our
campus. Juley was born and raised in Chicago. She travelled within America with
her family while growing up. She came to Saint Cloud to complete her studies.
Interview
Report
Arriving
at the library, Juley warmly welcomed me. We spoke casually about our friends.
I was happy to meet her it been a long time. After the chitchat, she directed
me to the study room. Her answers were very simple and she tried to explain
everything to me to understand. When she talked about how different things are
here in the US, the political condition of her country and how her religion
affects her life, I could actually relate to her. This interview unfolded
that the culture and values of people in
his country are different than that of people here in the US. I was surprised
by the fact that Americans have an industrious spirit. The education sector was
well funded and supported in this country. This has contributed greatly to the
development of the country.
Country Report:
USA is a developed country located in the
Western seaboard. It is mainly comprised of different people. Most residents
are people who are originally immigrants from other parts of the world. The
society is diverse and rich of different cultures. USA is a unity between 52
different states that are represented by a president who is currently Barrack
Obama. Below is a map of the USA [1].
America is also recognized
as the “New World”. It is a combination of regions of North America and South
America residing in the Western Hemisphere of the earth and is covering a total
of 8.3 % of the Earth’s surface that is 45,459,000 Km2. Further
divisions of the regions are done in order to incorporate the population,
resulting in 50 different states. On the globe, the country is situated on 19000
‘N and 96000 ‘W. North America covers about 24,709,000 Km2 whereas
South America constitutes about 17840,000 .( Courchene,2003) [2].
American culture is highly diversified and
varied, affected by cultures of immigrants who have migrated to America from
different parts of the world. It has evolved over time and is also influenced
by American government. It is basically a western culture but there exists
assortment in the versions of expressions and culture due to its geographical
and demographic diversity. American culture includes liberals and
conservatives, scientists and religious scholars, political structures etc.
Therefore it can be said that American culture consists of many unique
subcultures whose affiliation depend on social class, religion, political
orientation or ethnic group membership etc.( Drennan, 2002) [3].
America
has no official language but English is considered the de facto national
language. Spanish is another language spoken in America mostly in state of New
Mexico and commonwealth of Puerto Rico. American literary and art tradition can
be linked with European as America was a British colony but now its unique
characteristics separates it from the European literature and art. (Stuart, 2013)
Americans today have a consumer society
but until 20th century it was largely agricultural. It began to
change when people moved from villages to cities and then from cities to
suburbs. One of the factors affecting America’s diverse culture is the mobility
of its people. (Martin,2009) [4].
Chicago is the third most
populous city in the United States. Located in the State of Illinois, the city
has approximately 2.7 million residents. It metropolitan
area, sometimes called "Chicago land", is the third-largest in the
United States, after New York City and Los Angeles, with an estimated 9.8
million people. Chicago. [5]
Work Cited:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_(country)
[2] Courchene, T. J. ( 2003). Regions in North American
Integratio. (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CEIQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fumec.br%2Frevistas%2Findex.php%2Ffacesp%2Farticle%2Fdownload%2F68%2F65&ei=up9wUv69DqKe2wXV04GoBA&usg=AFQjCNFPB8lyPEDGkNki5z5-Y7UNmstAWw&bvm=bv.55617003,d.aWc
)
[3] Drennan, M. (2002). The Information Economy and
American Cities.
(http://books.google.com/books?id=JV9DCay8ycIC&printsec=frontcover&hl=ar&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
)
[4] Martin, P. (2009). American Life and Culture
Report. (http://futureofmuseums.blogspot.com/2009/11/2009-american-life-and-culture-report.html
)
[5]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago
Interview
Interviewer:
Zaid
Interviewee:
Juley
Location:
University of Saint Cloud, USA
Z-
Zaid
J-
Juley
Z:
First of all, how are you doing?
CJ:
I am good how are you?
Z:
Do you like
the weather in St. Cloud? Please explain.
J: The weather in St. Cloud is mostly cold, but I like the weather
in the Summer more than the weather in the Winter, because all people like to
do their activities outdoor.
Z:
Ok, Could you tell me about yourself?
J:
So, mmm I was born in Chicago in Illinoi. I spend all of my life there and then
I studied in University not in Chicago but it still in Illinoi like Five Hours
from my home town then after that I spent two years in Japan teaching English
and then I Came back and spent one year living with my family and substitute
teaching so this mean like if a teacher is missing from a class room they are
sick then they call me and I come in just for on days it is not very
interesting work hhh. And then I move to Saint Cloud.
Z: why did you choose to study at Saint Cloud
University?
J:
For two reasons. The first reason was I want to change my job because is not an
interesting job for substitute teaching. So I want to get more Training and but
when I decide to do this it is very late to apply to university so many
universities I cannot apply to. I look at University of Minnesota because I
have some friends in Minneapolis but it was too late. But then I find Saint
Cloud. And I can apply here later and then also they respond back to me and sau
we can give you job and scholarships. So two Reasons.
Z:
How often do you communicate with your family back at home?
J:
In today’s world, you can keep up with friends and family back home through
social media like Facebook and Twitter Apps like What’s app, Skype almost every
day. Family and friends could know about your daily activities and you could
know about their activities. So I communicate with them almost every day.
Z:
In what ways might it be difficult to practice your religion here in the U.S?
J:
I don’t have difficulty in practicing my religion as I follow Christianity and
most of Americans follow Christianity. I am responsible for my beliefs and
practices are not affected by what others are following and how they are
following. I pray when I want not when I am told too.
Z:
Tell me some important things from your culture?
J:
The most important thing about American culture is that it is not affected/
created by a single group of people. It is diverse. People can follow their own
lifestyle and practices irrespective of what others are following. American
culture is flexible and is open to all.
Z:
ok. Would like to tell me about your country history?
J:
Sure! What specifically would you like?
Z:
For Example Immigration People About United State in general.
J:
So, my family most of my family my dad side were here since the beginning of
America. So, when we had our war with the Great Britain. my relative was
fighting in this war so half of my family has been in America for a long long
time but them my mom’s family is from Poland and her grandfather came from
Poland So he mmm my grandmother Knows Polish But none of us Know Polish now and
so that is something I always wishing in America immigrants come and then they
kind of adapt to American life and I wish I have more like traditions from
Poland and I wish I Knew Polish and things like that in America I think we are
very Friendly to immigrants but then we want everybody to change to be the same
. So it is tow ways it is good for immigrants but not so good for immigrants I
think.
Z:
What do you do
for leisure?
Like what activity do you do?
J: when I was A child I played Soft ball so I
had many teams Now I do running and also go with friends see movies or music
shows .
Z:
Can you tell me about activates that young people do here in Unites State?
J:
well. When I was in high school and when I was in college the main thing I did
was either go to the movies or watch movies with my friends so almost every
weekend either renting a movie or going to a movie.
Z:
So the main thing is movie
J:
yeah
Z:
What are the Major holidays in your country?
J:
I think the most major Holiday is Chrisms and this is just common for I think
any country that was influence by Christianity. So it is like kind of the
celebration of Jesus but now even people who are not celebrating for religion
.celebrate it for just culture so like giving presents and that kind of thing.
Then another main holiday that I think a spicily Americans like to celebrate is
Thanks given and this is because it is kind of our idea of America. So the
Story of Thanks Given is probably not true well we say but it is our idea. We
like the idea we came to America and then the people here helped us in it is
this idea of immigrants and being together but the real story maybe is not like
this story.
Z:
So, I think Thanks Given Is coming soon is that right?
J:
Yes, I am looking for going to mu home in Chicago.
Z:
ok, what is your country major religion?
J:
I think right now in America has mostly been christens but then there are a lot
of Jewish people in America and there is a lot of Moslem people in America my
idea is that those are the main religions in America.
Z:
Ok. What do you perceive as differences between your culture and the other
culture?
J:
I think In my mind the biggest different between American culture and other
cultures is since America is very powerful we do not learn about other cultures
as much as many country so we just expect people want to come to America and so
we have a very small view of the world where many other countries Like when I
was in Japan. In Japan they know many things about America and they know about
our president and I do not know about this in Japanese culture Yeah so I think
that is a big different in America we do not try to learn about other countries
as much where other countries in the world really try to learn about the rest
of the world.
Z: What are your goals for the future;
after you graduate, what are you going to do?
J:
After I graduate, I am going to get admission in a good engineering college.
For this I have been working part-time to save for my college expenses. I have
always to do something that is of some value to the world.
Z:
Is there anything you would like to add before we end our interview? Or do you
have any questions for me, now that I have had the pleasure of asking you about
so many things?
J:
I do not think so yeah. So how did you come up with these questions and why did
you decide to ask these questions?
Z:
Actually I come up with these questions by my class mates and I chose this
question because I am interesting to hear the answer for it.
J:It
is interesting to hear people’s ideas instated of like we can read news and
read books but sometimes individual people have different idea so that is interesting
Z:
Ok. So thank you for Let me answering my questions.
J:
Of course. Good Luck
Z:
Thank you.
