interview one

            For my first interview I interviewed Karnaa12. This interview was the hardest for me to do not because it was the first but because it was due right after spring break. I went out of town for spring break and Karnaa12is a friend from class. I was able to send her a text asking if she would be free when we got back from break. She knew what I needed to do so she gladly agreed. Even though she isn’t from a different culture I still felt I could learn from her and her experiences. To get prepared for the interview I printed off the list of questions I was planning to ask and on my computer there is a recorded that I could use. We meet in the library and found a spot away from people so they wouldn’t be disturbed. Then we just socialized a little bit about break and whatever else came to mind to easy the tension and create a sense of comfort.

            Karnaa12 and I have talked in class and built a little bit of a friendship. The interview was a little bit different. Our relationship isn’t a very serious one we like to joke around and tease each other and joke around. Which make the interview hard at times because it was a side we haven’t seen from each other yet. We were able to get thought all the questions and over all the interview went very well. There was a couple things that had surprised me. Even though we both grew up in the US we had a large amount of differences in the way I would have answered the questions. Another thing was I thought I knew her pretty well but when we really started talking I learn so much more that I never knew and don’t know if I would have known if we didn’t do this interview.

The US “the melting pot” it is always said how people want to move here and start the “American dream”. Like Karnaa12 I am also from America, but she is from Minnesota and I am from Wisconsin. There isn’t much of a difference between Minnesota and Wisconsin but there is some. First and for most, the Green Bay Packers are better than the Minnesota Vikings. On a serious note Minnesota known as the land of 10,000 lakes or the North Star State. Their sate bird is the common loon, their tree is the red pine, the flower is pinkand white lady’s-slipper, and their capital city is St. Paul. Minnesota is also known as the hockey state. If I were to describe Minnesota to someone that has never been there before I would begin by telling him or her about the weather. Minnesota has four distinct seasons; cold bitter winters with large amounts of snow, warm humid summers, vivid falls where the leaves on the trees change color and the bugs come out, and last but not least warm rainy springs. One thing that all the seasons have in common is the wind always seems to blow.

The US in general is known as somewhat of a lazy culture, but also the best of the best is here. Just about every culture is represented in one way or another here.

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

·      There are a couple typical greetings I have noticed in American culture. There is a wave, basically saying hello. Next there is the finger you can give people, which is sticking up your middle finger while all the others are in a fist. This is mostly used when driving and people are mad. It can be you or another person. There is also the smile which is another way of saying hello, but I don’t have time to talk. There are many more but these are the three basic ones I notice most often or use.

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?

·      One secret that no one really knows is that I hate the wrinkles you get in your feet and hands after swimming. It creeps me out. Anytime anyone gets near me with them I want to smack them away, but I don’t along with many things that gross me out. The reason it says who I am is because I am a strong person I am able to do many things that freak, or gross me out. Some things are better not shown on the face if it grosses you out because it can offend people. Working in a clinic there are many things that I face that gross or creep me out so I have to not show any emotion on my face while facing them, and other people should do the same things in certain situations.

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

·      A typical day for a child in our country varies. If you are in daycare time is spent mostly playing and doing arts and crafts during the day. If you are in kindergarten you will spend either a half day there or a full day. The day consists of school work and play again. Depending on when parents get off at night, dinner gets served. After that it is usually play time, or homework time until bed time. A normal bed time for me was 8 when I was young, between, 5-8.

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

·      At age 5 I started school, when I began college I was 18. When I started at SCSU I was 22 and I have never been under as much stress as I am at this school. I have many teachers that I can’t understand because of an accent, or other students. There is not much help from some teachers because they have too many students, or don’t care. There is also the school work which, there is never enough time in the day for.

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

·      Football, grown men who tackle each other over a ball. Hockey people who like to beat each other to get a puck into a net. While watching them there is lots of booze involved with crazy fans. We all know one. The sports Americans love are contact sports where there is a lot of fights and tackling.

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

·      I love Italian food, pizza, and pasta. However, I can’t really tell you the difference between American food and Italian food. Since to me there is really no difference and I don’t know what is really considered American food. Is it Burgers and fries and freaky, greasy, fast food? If it is then the Italian food I like is not deep fried or caked in grease. I like the pizzas and pastas that don’t have a ton of grease where I have to take my napkin to dab grease off. I like it more on the healthy side. So I guess the difference is carbohydrates and grease.

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

·      The different modes of transportation are walking, riding a bike, moped, car, bus, or a train. The different modes of transport depend on where you live. If you are in the city a lot of people take the bus. If you have to travel a significant distance and a train goes to both places, that can be taken. Most people drive their car when they live in the suburbs. Then there is also the college campus many people ride their bikes, walk, or ride a moped.

8. 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 don’t know much about the government all I know is they make laws, take money out of my paychecks and that I get a small amount back once a year. There is also a president, and a vice president, and more people than I would ever want to think about running the country. I don’t know how the democracy in America been a change, nor do I really understand what this question is trying to get at. All I know is I don’t get a say in how I would like the country ran, or how the money gets spent. I do know is I don’t get help from the government for my college, housing, or anything for that matter.

9. Do you have any daily rituals in regards to your religious beliefs?

·      We don’t have any rituals for our religious beliefs. Church would be the only thing and we are not there often.  If you want to there is prayer, but there isn’t any set times to do it or how many times it is needed. I was baptized Lutheran but don’t know much about the difference of it. I pray to god and not to mary, or any other idols.

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

·      We don’t really have any traditions in my family. We celebrate Christmas by putting up a tree and lights. Christmas morning we open gifts and if there is snow we go snowmobiling and sometimes we will go to my grandma’s house. The other holiday we celebrate thanksgiving, my dad and bother are usually up hunting so it’s usually just me and my mom. If we feel like cooking we will make a turkey or steak. If we don’t feel like doing anything we will order a pizza. Easter we usually go to church that morning. Halloween, ,my family dress up the dogs and cat in their costumes, and then we pass out candy to the kids. Fourth of July is usually different every year. It involves lots of alcohol and fireworks. Sometimes I am camping, the lake, or at a party.

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

·      There are many things SCSU could do to make my stay better. First the computers should work a little faster. It is fustrating when it takes ten minutes to wait for a computer to finish logging off. Next, it would be nice to be able to see an advisor in a reasonable amount of time instead of having to wait a week. Then, there needs to be more teachers for certain classes, for example, philosophy it is so hard to get in a class unless you have early registration. If all of these changes were made it would make my stay on campus for school easier.

Sources- http://www.50states.com/minnesot.htm