Describe my preparation: (How did I approach people? When, where, and how did I conduct and record the interview? Whom did I interview?)
My process description is very simple. Everything is included in the interview is very important, so I made sure all it is all very clear and there are enough details so the person I am asking will know exactly what I am talking about.
First of all, I needed to think of fourteen different questions to ask an international student. I am an international student too, so I thought about all things that were difficult for me or that I thought was weird about America and SCSU and created questions about them. Some things I thought of first for example were "How does the climate in your home country compare to here?" and "How do you celebrate your tradition festivals here."
Next I needed to find someone to ask my questions to, so I asked someone in my economy class from China if she would answer some questions for an interview. I have her facebook so I sent email to her to make appointment. Her name is Mengya Xia. She is from China. She agreed to meet me in Atwood on February 26, 2011 at 1:00pm. So before the interview I printed off two copies of all my questions, I gave one to her when we met and I kept one myself. I brought my voice recorder but she was too shy so we didn't use it.
Then I began to ask her the questions and wrote down everything she said. However one answer wasn't clear after I wrote it down so I asked her again in the library. I thanked her for her information and for her time and begun to write my report about the interview.
First of all, I needed to think of fourteen different questions to ask an international student. I am an international student too, so I thought about all things that were difficult for me or that I thought was weird about America and SCSU and created questions about them. Some things I thought of first for example were "How does the climate in your home country compare to here?" and "How do you celebrate your tradition festivals here."
Next I needed to find someone to ask my questions to, so I asked someone in my economy class from China if she would answer some questions for an interview. I have her facebook so I sent email to her to make appointment. Her name is Mengya Xia. She is from China. She agreed to meet me in Atwood on February 26, 2011 at 1:00pm. So before the interview I printed off two copies of all my questions, I gave one to her when we met and I kept one myself. I brought my voice recorder but she was too shy so we didn't use it.
Then I began to ask her the questions and wrote down everything she said. However one answer wasn't clear after I wrote it down so I asked her again in the library. I thanked her for her information and for her time and begun to write my report about the interview.
Describe the interview: What did surprise I? How did the interview unfold? Interview report
In this interview, I was surprised about the weather in China which is very different depending on the are. Age marriage in China, men usually marry after 22, and women usually marry after 20. In my country, men and women can marry at 18 years old.
On February 26, 2011 at 1:00pm, I interviewed Mangya Xia in Atwood. She is an international student who is from China. The interview was about 30 minutes. The interview with Mangya went very well. She was happy to answer all of my questions, and she enjoyed talking about her home country and her experience here in the US. Mangya was my classmate at Econ 205 last semester. We were the same class but I seldom talked with her because I was shy. But after the interview, I understood her more. We become friendly now. I learned some things about Chinese culture, like how it is polite to talk about religion and about how people in the United States talk more to strangers and don't as much to family.
I also was happy that she had some of the same experiences as me, because I am also an international student. Like she is homesick like me and she learns English the same as me. And how many times American people don't understand some things you say when you first came here to Minnesota.
Country Report:
In this interview, I was surprised about the weather in China which is very different depending on the are. Age marriage in China, men usually marry after 22, and women usually marry after 20. In my country, men and women can marry at 18 years old.
On February 26, 2011 at 1:00pm, I interviewed Mangya Xia in Atwood. She is an international student who is from China. The interview was about 30 minutes. The interview with Mangya went very well. She was happy to answer all of my questions, and she enjoyed talking about her home country and her experience here in the US. Mangya was my classmate at Econ 205 last semester. We were the same class but I seldom talked with her because I was shy. But after the interview, I understood her more. We become friendly now. I learned some things about Chinese culture, like how it is polite to talk about religion and about how people in the United States talk more to strangers and don't as much to family.
I also was happy that she had some of the same experiences as me, because I am also an international student. Like she is homesick like me and she learns English the same as me. And how many times American people don't understand some things you say when you first came here to Minnesota.
Country Report:
China is located in the Eastern Hemisphere with a population of "1.3 billion"(fco.gov.uk) people . The capital is Beijing, and the official language of China is Mandarin, but many people also speak Cantonese.
China has five major religions "Daoism, Buddhism, Islam, Catholic and Protestant Christianity" (fco.gov.uk). Buddhism is the most popular in this country. Kung fu in is very popular in China and most of the world knows about Chinese Kung fu. According Martial-arts-info Website,"Kung Fu is a broad term that is used to describe all martial arts of Chinese origin. Kung-Fu existing under many different names throught China’s history. The Shaolin monastery housed many fugitives from justice, and many warriors turned monk, which sets the roots of Kung Fu in the Shaolin Temple in Northern China. In fact there were five different Shaolin temples in five districts, and so five distinct styles of Shaolin Kung Fu developed."
Great Wall of China
The Forbidden City
Kung fu of China
Most people in America know China for its historical structure, The Great Wall of China, which was build by the Emperor Qin to keep other tribes away. But it also has other historical landmarks like The Forbidden City of the Ming Dynasty in the 1400s which was home to many Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasty.
The weather in China is very different depending on the area. Northern China has long and cold winters from December through March, summer is very hot and rather humid from May through the end August. Southern China has high temperature, winter is short from January to March, and April through September is very rainy. Central China has cold winters too, but not as long as Northern China. It also has very hot and humid summers.
China and other countries in Asia have a different Zodiac and New Years than America because they use a lunar calendar. The New Years happens around February and there is a big festival for about one week where they celebrate and nobody needs to go to work or school. It is similar to the vacation we get for Christmas. People clean up and decorate their house around one month before the New Year. They also buy new clothes, shoes, presents, and get new hair cuts before New Year. In the New Year, almost all the stores are closed in the first, second, and third day of celebration. People wear new clothes when they visit their family to wish them a Happy New Year. The children receive a red envelop which has lucky money inside from their parents or their relatives. People have a big dinner together with their parents and their relatives.
References
http://www.martial-arts-info.com/120/kung-fu/
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/asia-oceania/china
http://www.yourdiscovery.com/ancient_china/landmarks/great_wall_2/index.shtml
Interviewer: Thao Thi Vo or Thao Vo Herman, Vietnam
Interviewee: Mengya Xia, China
Time: 1:00pm February 26, 2011
Place: Atwood
Length: about 30 minutes
Time: 1:00pm February 26, 2011
Place: Atwood
Length: about 30 minutes
Thao: Hello, my name is Thao. How are you today?
Mengya: I'm good. How are you Thao. Long time I didn't see you.
Thao: I'm fine. Long time I didn't see you, too. What is your name?
Mengya: My name is Mengya Xia. Did you forgot my name?
Thao: I didn't forget your name but I cannot speak your name correctly so I want to hear you say again, hahaha. How are your classes?
Mengya: My classes are good. But they make me work harder than last semester, haha
Thao: Oh really. My classes this semester are very difficult so I need to work hard too. Mengya, I have an assignment about an interview with an international student, that is why I want to meet you today. Can you help you answer some questions?
Mengya: Yes, sure Thao.
Thao: What is your major?
Mengya: My major is accounting. How about you?
Thao: My major is accounting, too. Where are you from? Please tell me some information about your hometown?
Mengya: I am from China. China has spicy food. The weather in China is very different depending on the area. China has Kung fu. Kung fu in is very popular in China and most of the world knows about Chinese Kung fu. China has Great Wall. It is very popular in the world.
Thao: How does the climate in your home country compare to here?
Mengya: My country also has 4 seasons but it is a little warmer than saint cloud.
Thao: How do you celebrate your traditional festivals here?
Mengya: I celebrate it with my Chinese friend, or cook together.
Thao: What are some cultural differences between your country and here?
Mengya: I think Americans are more independent and talkative. Chinese rarely speak to strange people, but they are more closed with their families.
Thao: At what age do men and women spend private time and at what age do they consider marriage?
Mengya: Maybe at 10 they want to spend private time. Men usually marry after 22, and women usually marry after 20.
Thao: Is religion more open in your country? Please explain.
Mengya: Yes, it is. In America, asking for religion is not a good manners. In China, people usually ask for another's religion, and people who have a religion can be respected.
Thao: What was the hardest thing about transitioning to the U.S.? (Culture shock)
Mengya: Language(english)
Thao: What were your preconceptions about the US before coming here and how have they changed?
Mengya: I thought America was dangerous because people can own guns here.
Now I think America is safe. People cannot smoke at any building, and there are many fire bells in any room.
Thao: What is the most difficult situation you have faced when you live in the U.S?
Mengya: communicating with Americans when I have poor English.
Thao: Why did you decide to come to SCSU instead of studying or working in your own country?
Mengya:I want to learn English here.
Thao: What is the most interesting event you like in this school?
Mengya: The school usually have many good activities.
Thao: What surprises you the most about this school?
Mengya: There are many Chinese teachers here.
Thao: How do you improve your English?
Mengya: Practice
Thao: Do you think it will be easy to find a job after college?
Mengya: Yes.
Thao: How often do you call your family? What do you do when you are homesick?
Mengya: Every day. When I am homesick, I usually call my mother, and speak to her.
Thao: Thank you so much. I have a lot your information so I can do my assigment
Mengya: You are welcome Thao. If you want to ask more, I will meet you again
Thao: Thank you Mangya. See you later
Mengya: See you
Thao: Have a good day
Mengya: You too
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