Answer to questions

1. What could SCSU do to make your stay on campus better?

·      It would be great if the dorms heating worked better. In our room if we shut the window or dorm gets really hot a stuffy. To solve that problem we leave the window open. Then there are nights when the wind is whipping and the heat does not over power the cold air. We are in a lose lose situation when that happens.  My roommate and I have both agreed we would rather be cold then too hot in our room.

2. Could you tell me a secret about yourself that very few people here know about and that shows us well, who you are and what you stand for?

·      I don’t have any secrets I would like to share. I can tell you the kind of person I am. There are a couple things that are very important to me and will never change; my family and my faith. Without them I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Since I have moved away I have learned a lot and tried different things and I have realized even more that my faith and family are a building block to my life. No matter what I do I will always have them.

3. Which country`s food do you like the most? What are the similarities and differences between it and your own culture`s food?

·      I like American food the most. Steak is one of my favorite things to eat. I also eat a lot of pasta and pizza. So in a close second I would have to say I enjoy Italian food. I enjoy all the different spices and creativity associated with Italian food. Close family friends of ours are Italian and some of the best meals I have had are Italian based.

4. What are the typical greetings in your culture and what do they mean?

·      There are many different types of greetings I use. The type of greeting I use depends on who I want to greet. If I was to greet a friend we would do some sort of a handshake or mess around with one another. If I were going to greet a professor or someone else that deserved my respect it would be a firm hand shake and look them in the eye to show you respect them. I greet my mom and other girls that are close to me with a hug when I see them. A lot of the greetings are to be friendly and establish a mood for the conversation.

5. What kind of government is in charge of your home country, how did it affect your life and how has democracy in America been a change?

·      I haven’t lived anywhere else that democracy hasn’t been in charge. The government plays a large part in many peoples life but I don’t know if it is a lot or a little compared to other countries governments. I don’t think everything the government does here is good. I think they are involved in more things than they should be, and they fund more than they should as of recent. I do like that we get to say what we want and have the right to vote.  Overall I know our government isn’t bad and it is trying to do its best.

6. What different modes of transportation are used in your country?

·      There are all different types of transportation used in America. I see busses, cars, bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, subway, trollies and trains. The one I have used the most growing up is a car. It was the most efficient and available way for my family to travel. Another type of transportation I am some what familiar with is trains. This last summer I worked for a complain that fixed railroad bridges.

7.  At what age do you start school? Are you under a lot of stress in school?

·      I started school at the age of three or four in pre-school. School for me has been stressful at times. A lot of that stress is from myself and my own expectations. I have been raised to do well in what ever I do. So bad grades aren’t received well by my parents but I haven’t put myself in that situation. Other stresses from school are keeping up with my school work. Growing up I was and still am an active kid that is involved in sports and other extra activities.

8. What religious holidays or other cultural events do you or others celebrate; can you explain your traditions for each? 

·      There are ac couple traditions my religion celebrates. We celebrate; Christmas, Easter, Lent, and Advent. For Christmas well celebrate with family and friends by giving and getting presents. The real reason for Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Easter is all about when Christ rose from the dead. That is normally celebrated with family and associated with the Easter bunny. Lent is the preparation for Easter and starts on Ash Wednesday. Advent is the preparation for Christmas. 

8b Do you have any daily rituals in regards to your religious beliefs?

·      For my religion we don’t have any daily rituals that are set in stone. Some things I do personally though are take time to pray for others and myself. I also try to take time to read the Bible. Another thing I like to do is reflect on my day and the different events. It isn’t really religious , but it is something I like to do.

9.  How would you describe famous sports in your country?

·      America is filled with so many different sports. When I think of famous sports in America I think of American football and baseball. To me the true American sport is baseball. I might be a little bias because I play baseball here, but baseball has been around for a long time in the States. It is what many kids have grown up doing in the streets and back yards around the US. To me baseball in about the enjoyment and “carefree” attitude people care with it. It is about having fun and enjoying what you are doing, which reminds me of the America.

10.Can you describe a typical day for a child in your country?

·      I feel like every child in America grows up so different. The typical day for my was waking up and getting ready for school. Then I would eat breakfast with my sister and my mom or dad. After that I would brush my teeth and finish getting ready for school and head out to the bus stop. When the school day was over I would have a bowl of ice cream or head off to practice. The days I didn’t have practice I would start my homework before diner so I could enjoy the rest of my night. If I had practice I would come home and eat and then do my homework.