Ali Alshaikhahmed
Interview #1
10/22/13
Eng 191- 28
My first interview
with Guyanne
1- Preparations
Description of preparations:
Two
weeks ago before the interview I wrote objective about the interview in the
class, the objective was about, why did I want to do the interview, with whom
do I want to do the interview, and how do I intend to do it. I also wrote some
questions. Then as a class we came up with ten core question for the interview.
After that, I added some questions of my own to the questions that we came up
with as a class.
How did I approach people?
I
start looking for international interviewee to do the project. I live near from
the campus. I was talking to my friend about this project. Then I asked my
friend if his girlfriend could do the interview with me. She is an
international student. She is from Africa, and her name is Guyanne. He told he
is going to ask her, because she works and he does not know if she has time to
do it. After, he asked her if she can do it, she wanted to know how long, and
when did I want to do the interview. The he gave me her number, I called her,
and I told her that the interview would be forty-five minutes long. She agreed
and she seemed happy about it.
When, where, and how did I conduct
the interview?
I
conducted the interview with Guyanne on Friday, October 18th we met at
the campus in her dorm Shoemaker Hall. I went there five minutes earlier before
our schedule meeting time. The place seemed quite. She came on time, and we sat
in the lounge. We talk a little bit, and had some snacks. I explained more information
about the interview to her. I told her that I am doing it for my class, and I
am going to submit it my blog, I asked her if it was okay. She said it was
fine. Then I asked for her approval to record the conversation, so I would to
transcript it later, and she approved it. I began the interview by simply telling her,
that I have some questions to ask you. I asked her if she was ready, and she
say yes. I turn on the recorder. We started the interview and it was about
forty minutes. Then I turn off the recorder, and I told her that I was going to
my friend’s house and she was going there too. We walked from the dorm, and
while we were walking she mentioned some new information, I wrote the
information on my note to add them to the information I already had on the
recorder.
Whom did I interview?
I interviewed with Guyanne.
Guyanne is from Burundi in Eastern Africa. Her major is nursing. She came here in 2009, and when she came she
studied at the Intensive English Center in level five. She liked America, but
she does not like Saint Cloud, because it cold. She said Saint Cloud State University
is much easier than the Universities in Burundi, she said the universities in
her country is require 21 or 23 credit, but here its only twelve credit. She
like to assist people that why she choose nursing major. She likes sports such
as football, volleyball, and working out. She also likes traveling a lot. She
said studying abroad is not easy thing because you have to live by your self,
and she mentioned that if you come here and you do not speak English very well
that is very challenge problem. She said her friend was not good at English,
and she had many problems because of that.
She is going to graduate from Saint Cloud State University in 2015. She
said she might continue studying here for master degree. She wants to stay in
the United state of America, even after she graduate from the university.
What surprised me?
I was
surprised about that there are Muslims in Burundi. I thought Eastern African
all Christians. She said there are about five percent of Muslims in Burundi,
but the main religion is Christians. I did some research before the meeting for
the interview, so I would know if there is some thing that I should not say, or
ask about anything that might make interviewee uncomfortable. So beside the
religion thing everything went very well.
2- Interview report
Description of the interview:
While I was
doing the interview, I made sure that I pay attention to what she is going to
say. So she would know that I was interesting about it, and she would want to
give me more information. I made sure that I give the interviewee time to talk
as long as she wanted about any points. While I was doing the interview with
her, I was trying to not just asking her questions, but I tried to make as open
conversation. The best thing that made interview went very well, because the
interviewee was comfortable and interesting in doing it
I asked all
the questions and cover a lot of topics.
The interviewee was so interesting talking about her country. So I
learned a lot of things about Burundi, and Africa. She talked about the culture
and the religion. The main religion is
Christian, and there are some Muslims. There are like twelve public holidays in
Burundi, and she said there are like two holidays but there are not public. It
was easy for me to learn and understand everything she said while I was
interviewing her, because she talked specifically and coherently. So that’s
allowed me to get and understand the information easily.
When I met
the interviewee at the dorm last week we talked about forty minutes. I though
my first interview went very well.
3-Country report
Burundi is a small country, which is located in the East of Africa.
To those who might know it, it is next to Rwanda, Congo, and Tanzania. It is a
poor country and it has political problems. It all started in 1993 with the
genocide of Tutsis by Hutus. After that there were small internal conflicts but
it is fine now. Eight years ago the new president got elected by taking the
power with his rebellion and instead of working on the development of the
country he just goes around planting avocados and playing soccer.
On a social basis, Burundians are people who
love to have fun. Anything calls for celebration. Meeting new people, entering
a house, there are three celebrations for welcoming a baby, two celebrations
before a wedding, three ceremonies for the death of person and one lasts a
whole week. There are also the public holidays, which are a lot too. In Burundi
there is no drinking age. By the time you have the money you can do whatever
you want. Burundians are also have drinkers, not all of them but most of them.
You can deduce that by the fact that the only prosperous company is the
brewery: BRARUDI. The beer is consumed on a regular basis and at a fast speed
that they almost compete with Germans. Another thing there is to now about
Burundi is that the weather is hot and the beaches are amazing. The tropical
whether call for amazing events happening mostly during the summer since
everyone is in holiday back home. It is a really good place to visit.
The language, there
are tow main languages in Burundi Kirundi and French. Some people speak
English, but it is not there native language. Also, there are educations for
the deaf and they use American Sign Language (ASL). The education in Burundi,
University of Burundi is the biggest university in Burundi.
Worked cited
"Burundi."
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Oct. 2013. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
"Languages
of Burundi." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Apr. 2013. Web. 22
Oct. 2013.
"BURUNDI."
Burundi Map / Geography of Burundi / Map of Burundi. N.p., n.d. Web. 22
Oct. 2013.
4- Interview
transcriptions of my interview with “Guyanne”
Ali= A
Guyanne= G
A: Hi, I have an assignment for my English class and I am
doing the interview with you for that.
G: Hi, I am glad you have asked, I would be happy to help
you.
A: Are you ready to start?
G: Yes, let begin.
A: Can you tell me about your self?
G: I am from Burundi, and I have been here for three years.
This is my sixth semester in Saint Cloud State University. My major is nursing,
and after I graduate I might continue my master degree, and I want to live here
and find job here.
A: How do communicate with each other in your home country?
G: In my home, we communicate with each other by phone,
e-mail, but these communication ways are not the traditional way to
communicate. The traditional way is meet each other, for example friends meet
each other at evening, and families visit each other in the weekend.
A: Is English a common spoken language in your home country?
G: No, English is not a common spoken language in Burundi,
but recently it became a common spoken language. English is not a native
language in my country, but we study English in school, so it became a spoken
language in my country.
A: What is the clothing style for men and women?
G: In my home country, there are two types of styles. First,
people who live in the big cities, their style is not different than the style
here in America. Second, the style in the small town men like to wear suit and
ties, and women dress up in western clothes.
A: How are women and men treated differently?
G: Men and women
treating each other a little bit different than here in the United Sate. The
men take all responsibility for buying stuff for the house, and school tuition
for the kids. Women take the responsibility in the house, like cooking, take
care of the children, and stuff like that.
A: How has your experience here helped you interpret and
respect culture differences?
G: I gained a lot of
information since I came here, and I got very good experience about respecting
other people’s culture. For example, when I first came here I did not like the
American holidays. Then I made so many American’s friends and I saw how the
holidays was important to them, and they celebrate the holiday. After that, the
American’s holidays become my holiday too, because I am living here now. The
thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.
A: Do you enjoy speaking with other exchange students?
G: Yes, I like to make new friends, and learn new thing
about new countries and culture. I have friends from Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and
Russia. I meet them everyday and I enjoy hanging out with them and talk to
them.
A: have you been able to visit other part of the United State?
G: Yes, I like to travel a lot especially in the summer. My
sister studying in Portland, Oregon, and my father went to visit her in the end
of the spring semester. So after I finished the spring semester I went to Portland,
and I like it there. I think I am going to Denver, Colorado. My cousin lives
there.
A: What are your home country’s major religions?
G: Actually the major religion in my home country is
Christi, and I am Christians. There are Muslims, but they are just about five
to ten percent of them. Also there are about five to ten percent having
different religion or they do not have religion at all.
Interviewer: What influenced you to come to the United
State? Especially, Saint Cloud state?
G: What influenced me to come the United State is that the
education here in America is much better that in my home county, it is easier.
For example in my home country we have at least to take twenty-one credit, but
here it’s just twelve. In addition I like to travel. Why Saint Cloud State
University? I choose to study here because my sister was studying here, but she
transferred to Portland.
A: What do you like the most about Saint Cloud?
G: In Saint Cloud I like the weather during the summer, and
the fall. The weather in the winter is to frizzing; we cannot go outside
sometimes, because of the snow.
A: In your society how many children can one couple have?
G: In our society it depends on the couple how many they
want. The average, they usually have three children.
A: Do you have any questions for me? I have asked so many of
you?
G: Yes, I have one question for you. After you graduate from
Saint Cloud Sate University, are going back to your home country or you will
stay here?
A: I am not sure
about that, but I think I would go back to my home country.
A: Do you have anything else to ask?
G: No, that the only question I had for you.
A: Thank you for doing the interview with. I really
appreciate your help.
G: I am glad that I had a chance to help you.
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