post 16

Ali Alshaikhahmed

Interview 2

Eng-191-28

My second interview with Ainga

1-    Preparations  

     

Description of preparations:

     

Three 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. After I finished my first interview I started looking for someone to do the second interview.

How did I approach people?

      I looked for international student to do my first interview. I found someone from Burundi, and I did the interview with her, and we become friends. I went to her house twice. I asked her if she could help to find someone to do the second interview with.  She told me, she is going to talk to her roommates if anyone has time to do the interview with me. Then she called me, and told me that one of her roommates would do the interview with me.

When, where, and how did I conduct the interview?

      I conducted the interview with Ainga on Friday, November 2ed we met at the campus at Garvey Commons. I went there ten minutes earlier before our schedule meeting time. The place was good, because it wasn’t lunch time so, it was quite. She came on time, and we sat at a table near from the window. We talk a little bit, and had some coffee and cake. 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. She had some idea about what we were going to do, because her roommate told a little about 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 took about thirty minutes long. I turned off the recorder. The information that she gave me is similar to the information from my previous interview. I was about to leave, but it was twelve o’clock so I told her, if we can eat lunch together. She agreed, because she was going to eat her lunch there anyway. We ate lunch and talked for about two hours. Then we walked to her place, which is near from campus. 

Whom did I interview?

     

I interviewed with Ainga. Ainga is from Burundi in Eastern Africa. Her major is nursing.  She came here last year in 2012, and when she came she studied at the Intensive English Center in level four. She liked America, and she likes Saint Cloud, because it cold, and the weather in Burundi is not 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 which is the same as Guyanne said. She like to assist people that why she choose nursing major.

What surprised me?

            Actually, there was not anything new for me, so I was not surprised. I interviewed someone from Burundi, and I did some research that is why nothing surprised me.

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 holydays 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 Garvey Commons last week we talked about thirty minutes. I though my first interview went very well. I think my second interview is better than the first one, because that was my first time to interview with someone.

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 “Ainga”

Ali=A

Ainga=AN

A: Hi, I have an assignment for my English class and I am doing the interview with you for that.

AN: Hi, I would be happy to assist you to do your assignment.

A: Are you ready to start?

AN: Sure, let get started.

A: Can you tell me about your self?

AN: I am Ainga, and I am from Burundi. I am studying nursing major at Saint Cloud state university. I have been studying in the United States since 2012. I am undergraduate student. I think after I gradate, I may transfer to another State to complete my Master degree. 

A: How do communicate with each other in your home country?

AN: The way we communicate in my home country is not different than the way people communicate in the United States. We use cell phones, social network, and the most common one that we use is Facebook. We have one way that might be a little different than here, families usually visit each other in the weekend, and in some other occasions.

A: Is English a common spoken language in your home country?

AN: In my home country, we have two common spoken languages. English became a common spoken language these days. Our native languages are French, and Kirundi that’s the two main languages in Burundi. However, we learn English in schools, and some universities, that is why English become a common spoken language in Burundi.

A: What is the clothing style for men and women?

AN: In my home country, there are two styles. First in the cities the style is not different than the style in the United States both for men and women they wear whatever they want. However the style in the small town, men usually wear jeans and t-shirt, and the women usually wear a dress.

A: How are women and men treated differently?

AN: In my home country, we treat each other as equal. Everyone in the family has his or her responsibility, and it is different from family to another family. Usually the men take responsibility to do the stuff outside the house such as taking the children to school, and the take the responsibility to the stuff in the house such as cooking, cleaning. 

A: How has your experience here helped you interpret and respect culture differences?

AN: I have a lot of friends here from different countries, and different culture. I meet them a lot, so I have to respect their culture.  

A: Do you enjoy speaking with other exchange students?

AN: Yes, I enjoy talking to exchange students from different countries. I like to learn about other’s people culture, that is why I like to speak with exchange students. I made a lot of international friends from different countries, I enjoy to meet, and to talk to them. We always talk about the culture in their countries and the culture in my country.

A: have you been able to visit other part of the United State?

AN: I like to travel a lot, and every time I have the chance to go somewhere new I will go. I have been to some other states in the United States. My uncle lives in Wisconsin, I went to visit him there. I went to a trip with my friends to North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa. That was a nice to trip. I think I might go to Colorado, with my roommates, after this semester.

A: What are your home country’s major religions?

AN: The major religion in my country is Christi. There are Muslims, but they are a few like about three to five percent. The Christi are about ninety percent. The other five percent have another religion or do not have religion. That how the religion is divided in my country.  

A: What influenced you to come to the United State? Especially, Saint Cloud state?

AN: The reason why I came to the United States is because the university here is easier than in Burundi. I choose Saint Cloud, because my friends are here and they told me it is a nice place to study in it, and the school is easy. 

A: What do you like the most about Saint Cloud?

AN: Saint Cloud is a nice city, I like the weather here, and I like the snow, because there is no snow in Burundi. Also the weather in summary is beautiful.

A: In your society how many children can one couple have?

AN: In our society the couple that can decide how many children they want to have. Usually they have three to four children.

A: Do you have any questions for me? I have asked so many of you?

AN:  Yes, how long have you been studying in the United States?

A: I have been studying here for two years. Do you have anything else to ask?

AN: No, thank you.

A: Thank you for helping me doing this assignment. I appreciate your help.

AN: I am happy that I could assist you.