My second interview

Country Report

Sri Lanka is a small island to the south of India. It is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and has a coast line of only 1340 kilometers. The total population of 21513990 is made up of around 70% Buddhist, 8% Moslems, 7% Hindu, 6% Christian and 10% other. The official language of Sri Lanka is Sinhala. English is only known by about 10% of the population and is commonly used in government.

As to the climate it is a tropical monsoon. Temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C all year around. Due to this tropical climate there are monsoon rainfalls in May, the hottest month of the year.
The terrain is mostly flat with mountains in the south central part of the island.

Preparation Report

As far as preparation for this interview go I once again borrowed my roommates recorder and set up an interview time with Dammy to meet me on a Thursday night in Caribou. I read over my former interview that was taken to see what additional information I wanted to find out. I decided to ask more in detail about a few things I had learned about in the other interview. Prior to the interview I baked some cookies and brought them to the meeting because I know that he likes cookies.

Interview Report

Dammy is originally from Sri Lanka, is 21 years old and has just recently started working with me at Caribou. We met up on a Thursday night in Caribou. It worked out great because he had just gotten off work. He was very different to interview from what I had experienced in my first interview. He wasn’t as serious about the answers he gave me and I had to ask a lot to get the information I wanted. He seemed to not realize that I needed this interview for class and that I wasn’t just doing it to annoy him. He finally opened up and gave me more precise answers.

Interview

Kim: Hey how are you? Finally off work?
Dammy: Yes I still can’t find anyone to take over my shifts.
K: You really don’t want to work do you?
D: I am too busy with school.
K: How are you going to pay for everything then? Mom and Dad?
D: Yeah pretty much. But I really have to focus on school otherwise they will be paying even more for tuition.
K: I see. How about cutting partying time down a little?
D: Shut up Kim.
K: Ok! Haha well thank you for meeting me to do this interview. By the way could I record this?
D: Why do you want to record this?
K: Just so it makes it easier for to transcribe it later.
D: Sure go ahead.
K: Thanks! Oh and I brought cookies if you want some.
D: Yes I do, what kind are they?
K: They are chocolate chip cookies. My roommate was selling them for her organization so I couldn’t say no. I paid almost $15 for the cookie dough. They better be good.
D: You get them for free at work why would you buy them??
K: She has a way about convincing people…
D: Well they are good!
K: Yeah they are actually. Alright should we get started?
D: Sure!
K: Already, do you think it will be easy for you to find a job after college?
D: In the US or at home?
K: Both.
D: I think it will be easier to find a job at home. I don’t think it will be easy at all to find a job in the US.
K: Why is that?
D: Because there is so much competition out there and I’m not sure I’m one of the good ones.
K: Once again… Cut the partying!
D: Yeah I know I need to but I really enjoy going downtown and I can’t say no to my friends.
K: It’s really interesting. I’ve met a lot of people from Sri Lanka and they all seem pretty dedicated to their studies and don’t really seem to be into the whole party scene.
D: Yeah I know what you mean. I should be doing the same thing but I started hanging out with American students more than with people from Sri Lanka so I kind of got carried away.
K: So you’re blaming Americans for it?
D: No I am not blaming anyone for it I am just saying that I got into the whole party thing because I hung out more with them.
K: I know what you’re talking about, don’t worry.
D: Haha I know you would.
K: What’s your major anyway?
D: I am not quite sure yet. Right now I am pre-business and then I will have to decide on what field I actually want to go into.
K: Business is always good. There’s a lot of jobs available in business.
D: Yeah I hope I will find something because I would really like to stay here.
K: You don’t want to go back to your home country?
D: No I would rather stay here.
K: Interesting. Alright back to my questions otherwise I am going to keep you here all night. What was the hardest thing about transitioning to the U.S.?
D: I actually didn’t think it was that hard. I had been to the U.S. before for a vacation so I sort of knew what to expect but I guess the hardest part was making new friends.
K: Did you have a hard time finding new friends?
D: Well at first I did. People were looking at me like “What is that guy doing here” but once they got to know me it was pretty easy. So let’s say the first couple of months were kind of hard.
K: I see. Seems like you’re enjoying it now.
D: Oh yeah I am.
K: Ok so why did you decide to come to SCSU instead of studying in your own country?
D: I just always found something fascinating about the U.S. so I wanted to go to school here.
K: Hmm the guy I interviewed last time said that the government chooses what kind of studies you have to do over there. Is that right?
D: Yeah I think that is the way it works, I haven’t really informed myself about it though because I have always wanted to go to school over here.
K: Oh ok and what is your opinion of American food then?
D: I like it! Especially pizza!
K: You like it? Don’t you ever miss your own food?
D: I do but I can’t cook so I have gotten used to the food here.
K: Hmm but if you had to pick what food would you choose?
D: I would choose food from my country but I wouldn’t give up pizza!
K: That’s fair! Now how does the climate in your country compare to the climate here?
D: It is warmer in my country than it is here. I don’t like the snow I wish it could be warm all year around!
K: Well now that is the first thing you like better about your country! Is it warm over there in the winter then too?
D: Yeah it is and my parents live right by the ocean so I can go to the beach whenever I want too.
K: Ohh I am jealous I would love to live right by the ocean. I have the Baltic sea somewhat close to my parents house. It takes me about 45 min to get there so we go there a lot over the summer.
D: Yeah it is so nice to be able to just go swim when it is warm out.
K: I could only imagine! So what are some of the cultural differences between the U.S. and Sri Lanka?
D: Well obviously the food as you have mentioned. It took a little time to get used to the American food but after all I like it.
K: Ok so what about family life or stuff like that. What are the cultural differences when it comes to that?
D: The women usually stay at home and take care of the kids. It’s not as integrated as it is here in the U.S. The women still have the traditional role of a housekeeper over in Sri Lanka.
K: How do you like that?
D: I like it. Gives me time to do what I want.
K: Is that so?
D: Yeah my girlfriend works way too much and then when she gets home she wants to do all these things with me but I just want to go hang out with my guy friends.
K: I feel bad for your girlfriend.
D: Whatever!
K: Haha you know it ok let’s keep going. My next question would be who takes care of the finances in your family but I guess we kind of talked about that already. I am assuming it is your dad who takes care of them?
D: Yeah my dad takes care of finances and my mom takes care of the house.
K: Yeah that’s what I thought from what I heard earlier. And would you have been able to get the same education in your home country as you are getting here?
D: I am sure I could have but as you said I wouldn’t have been able to choose my major so I don’t know how good I would have done!
K: That makes sense. It is so weird to me that they choose a major for you.
D: Yeah I am not exactly sure what that is all about.
K: I’ll have to look that up!
D: Ok.
K:  Alright I guess I can skip the next two questions since we have talked about it earlier.
D: What’s that?
K: Just what education is like in your country and if you have a job in the U.S.
D: Yes we did talk about that. So what’s next on your list?
K: What are the things you like most about the U.S.?
D: The girls.
K: Hmmm ok. I don’t know what to say to that. I guess I could have kind of expected that.
D: That’s right!
K: Anything else you like?
D: I like the freedom I have here.
K: Define freedom.
D: Well the U.S. is really big, there’s a lot to do and if I want to go to new places I can do so without spending a ton of money!
K: You couldn’t do that at home?
D: No because Sri Lanka is a small island and you’re kind of stuck there.
K: Yeah the guy I talked to last time told me that your streets are really bad and narrow and that it takes forever to get anywhere.
D: Exactly.
K: That would be kind of frustrating!
D: Yeah it is!
K: Yeah he also told me that when he had to go to the embassy to get his visa it took him like 4 hours for only 100km.
D: Yeah it’s crazy, I am closer to it but it still took me two hours to get there and actually the first time I wanted to go to the embassy there was an accident so I didn’t make it and had to go back there three weeks later to get it all done.
K: Oh that’s frustrating!
D: Yeah it was annoying.
K: I believe it. So how often do you go home to visit your family?
D: I haven’t been home yet since I got here.
K: When did you get here?
D: Summer of 2009.
K: That’s crazy! Don’t you miss your family?
D: I do but I am happy here and it is too expensive to go home!
K: How much is it for a ticket to fly over there?
D: It’s around $2000.
K: Yeah that’s a lot to pay for.
D: It is and then the flight takes forever too.
K: When do you plan to go home next then?
D: I am thinking about going home for Christmas.
K: That would be nice!
D: Yeah it will be nice to see all my friends and my family of course.
K: Yeah you’re parents must be excited if they haven’t seen you for almost two years. How often do you get to talk to them?
D: We talk every other week.
K: That’s it?
D: Yeah I am pretty busy and my girlfriend lives down in the cities so I drive down there a lot.
K: You got your own car?
D: I do.
K: That would be nice! I always take the Northstar Rail down there. It works pretty well!
D: Yeah I took that at first but a car is more convenient.
K: Yeah but how are you going to afford it when you’re not working anymore?
D: Remember I told you my dad is responsible for finances?
K: Haha wouldn’t that be nice?? Lucky you!
D: Yeah I know!
K: Well that’s all I got! You got any questions at all?
D: No not really!
K: Alright then, thanks for taking the time!
D: You’re welcome. See you tomorrow!
K: Alright see you and don’t party too hard tonight!
D: Thanks Kim!

Scores for Interview 1

Scores

My First Interview

Country Report

Sri Lanka is a small island to the south of India. It is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and has a coast line of only 1340 kilometers. The total population of 21513990 is made up of around 70% Buddhist, 8% Moslems, 7% Hindu, 6% Christian and 10% other. The official language of Sri Lanka is Sinhala. English is only known by about 10% of the population and is commonly used in government.

As to the climate it is a tropical monsoon. Temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C all year around. Due to this tropical climate there are monsoon rainfalls in May, the hottest month of the year.
The terrain is mostly flat with mountains in the south central part of the island.

(to be in more detail by the next interview)

Sources 
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html

Preparation and Description of Interview 1

While preparing myself for my three interviews with international students I first focused on a certain culture I would like to get to know more about. Ever since working with a man from Sri Lanka I have been really interested to see what the Sri Lankan culture and attitude was like. I came up with three main objectives which included: understanding their behavior, their reasoning for coming to the U.S., the cultural differences. I also want to learn about their plans for their future and their fears and hopes for their future. Since I am an international student myself I find it really interesting to compare their views and opinions to my own.
After deciding on our core questions in class I had to decide on only a few questions that I would be able to ask in my interview that I came up with myself. I decided to focus on their experience in the U.S. and mainly on how they keep in contact with friends and families from home.
It wasn’t hard for me to find people to interview since I work with a man from Sri Lanka he gave me contact information of his friends and they were more than willing to help me out. After a date and time was set I went to ask one of my roommates if I could borrow her recorder and went over to the Caribou Coffee shop in Atwood to start my first interview. To break the ice I offered Chamira, the guy I was interviewing, coffee or anything else from caribou but he had just eaten. He had told me beforehand that he was really busy with projects and homework so I kept the small talk to a minimum but he seemed pretty comfortable talking to me right away since he had seen me working in Caribou before.
When the interview was over I went straight to the library to transcribe my interview as my roommate needed her recorder back.

Chamira is originally from Sri Lanka and is one of my co workers friends who was willing to do my first interview with me. The first thing I asked him was whether he is fine with me recording the interview or not. He said it was no problem so we started the interview. I choose Caribou Coffee for our interview because he recognized me from there and at 8PM at night it is usually pretty quit in there. As he had told me prior to our interview he only had 30 minutes for me because he had a major project to finish the next day so I was grateful for him taking time out of his busy schedule.
Next I offered him coffee but he didn’t want anything because he had just eaten so we started our interview.
During the interview I was surprised how openly he answered my questions and how he was really interested in it. He paid a lot of attention to me and really focused on me. I have always known that people from Asia have a different work ethic and are really accurate about the things they do but it always seems to amaze me all over again.

Interview

Kim: Hey, thank you for meeting me here!
Chamira: Yeah no problem, Kim right?
K: Yup it’s really nice to meet you! I have to ask you right away, can I record this interview? It will just be easier for me to transcribe it later!
C: Yeah that’s completely fine!
K: Thank you, I appreciate it! How has your day been?
C: Pretty busy, all the homework. I can’t wait for spring break.
K: Me neither! Are you going anywhere?
C: Maybe I will go to Chicago for a few days but not sure yet. I have to finish all my projects before I can go anywhere.
K: I know how you feel. I have a lot to get done too but I am thinking about going home to Germany for a couple of weeks so I will have to get everything done ahead of time.
C: Oh you’re from Germany? I didn’t know that.
K: Yes I moved here two years ago for school.
C: That’s cool!
K: Yes it’s been a great experience so far! Do you want me to get you some coffee since were sitting at Caribou?
C: No I am fine thanks, I just had dinner at home.
K: Alright, well should we get started?
C: Sure!
K: Ok first question: Do you think it will be easy to find a job after college?
C: No I don’t think so.
K: And why is that?
C: Because no one is willing to hire international students right now.
K: Yes I have experienced that myself, why do you think that is?
C:  I think it is because the American economy is down right now and president Obama wants companies to give jobs to American residents to get the economy going again.
K: It’s frustrating isn’t it?
C: Yeah especially because we’re qualified people. It doesn’t make one feel too good.
K: Yeah I know how that goes. Do you think it will be easier for you in your home country then?
C: Yes I think it will be a lot easier especially with the education I got over here.
K: Nice! So what was the hardest thing about transitioning to the U.S. for you?
C: There is a lot of racism in this country. It was hard to get used to that at first.
K: Really? Did you personally encounter racism?
C: No I wasn’t hurt or anything but they just call people black, white or brown here and the main question they ask you is “When are you going back?”
K: That’s interesting! I guess I am one of these people but not to hurt anyone. I like to joke about it.
C: There’s good people to but people just resist to change here and they talk a lot behind your back.
K: I definitely know what you are talking about. Sorry to hear that you have come across that.
C: Oh it’s not all that bad. It just took some getting used to.
K: I see what you mean. So why did you decide to come to SCSU instead of studying in your own country?
C: Where I am from I don’t get too choose my major and it is also really competitive so I don’t know whether I would have gotten in or not.
K: You don’t get to choose your major?
C: No the government chooses it for you. They decide what field you have to go into.
K: That is really interesting. I have never heard of anything like that. How do you like that?
C: I don’t like it at all! I want to do whatever I want to do and that is why I am here.
K: I like that attitude!
C: Haha.
K: So what is your opinion of the American diet?
C: Diet?
K: The American food.
C: Ohh I don’t like it at all. It doesn’t have any flavor. I usually eat home cooked food!
K: What do you usually cook then?
C: Hmm rice, curry and sandwiches.
K: Oh so only rice, curry and sandwiches? That sounds kind of iffy  to say the least.
C: Well obviously not only that I make stir fry out of it and things like that.
K: Now that sounds better! So do you ever go out to eat here?
C: No I don’t’. It doesn’t taste good to me so I don’t want to waste my money.
K: That’s fair. So how does the climate in your country compare to the climate here?
C: It is warm and tropical at home but I like it here.
K: Do you really?
C: Yeah I enjoy the snow, not all the time but sometimes.
K: Brr it’s too cold for me. I am already cold when it gets down to 30*F.
C: You would like it in my country then it’s always around 30*C.
K: Yes I would like that a lot! Maybe you should take me sometime.
C: Haha sure!
K: So what are some cultural differences between your country and here?
C: There is no kissing in public in my country!
K: Hmm interesting I don’t know what to say.. . Is it socially not acceptable to kiss in public?
C: No, holding hands is fine but no kissing.
K: What else is there?
C: Women here are really loud and talk too much. Women in my country don’t talk that much. We see them as flowers and they get treated like that.
K: American boys could learn from that!
C: Haha yeah I know.
K: Are women allowed education over there then?
C: Yes they are! But it is mostly the men who take care of the finances.
K: Well that answers my next question. So is it your dad who takes care of the finances in your family?
C: Yes but for my family it’s different. My dad was a vet and my mom was a teacher but then they both gave up their jobs to open up their own business.
K: What kind of business?
C: First a car dealership and now they have a store for construction supplies.
K: Good for them! Alright let’s move on I know you said you didn’t have much time. Would you have been able to get the same education in your home country? I guess I already know the answer but assuming they would have put you in the major you would have wanted to go for would you have been able to?
C: Yes I think I would have. I just wouldn’t have gotten in because I am not really smart.
K: Don’t say that. You’re doing good over here right?
C: Yes I am doing good but it could be better.
K: What is your major though?
C: It’s engineering.
K: See that is a tough one wherever you go! I think you’re doing alright or else you wouldn’t be here!
C: Thank you.
K: Not for that! Do you currently have a job over here?
C: Yes I am working as a tutor in the engineering building! It pays for my food.
K: That’s good! And what do you enjoy most about the U.S.?
C: Being away from home.
K: Do you really? I am not good at it at all. But then I guess I am a girl too so I miss my family.
C: Yeah for me it’s just nice to be on my own not under their control because I couldn’t drink in my country.
K: Is that only for you or for everyone in your country?
C: No it’s allowed to drink at social gatherings but for my family even that is not allowed so I like to be here.
K: Why is it that your family doesn’t allow it?
C: I don’t really know they just don’t want it.
K: Well I guess that’s only healthy!
C: Haha yes but it’s fun to drink sometimes!
K: Yeah if you don’t have too much… Anything else but drinking?
C: I like the discipline people have here while driving.
K: Explain that!
C: At home people don’t follow tracks. People are everywhere on the roads because it’s so narrow. It’s so nice and big here.
K: Yeah that’s true. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like without roads like this.
C: You have the autobahn in Germany right?
K: Yes we do! That’s why I couldn’t imagine!
C: I would love to drive on the autobahn sometimes!
K: Well feel free to visit me sometime!
C: Haha!
K: Ok this is personal favorite because I know what a hassle it is to get all the documents together to come to the U.S. What did you hav eto go trough to get all your immigration documents together?
C: We had to show them all our bank accounts. My parents and my own bank accounts. You basically have to show that you are wealthy.
K: Did you also have to personally go to the embassy to get your paperwork done?
C: Yes we had to drive there to make a date for the interview and then we had to go back there for the interview.
K: So you had to go twice?
C: Yes.
K: How many embassies are there in your country?
C: There is only one!
K: How far away is it from your place?
C: It’s about four hours from our place, so about 100km!
K: What?! Four hours for 100km??
C: Yeah remember I told you how bad the roads are over there. It takes forever. And then there is not a lot of roads so they are always full and it is just really annoying to drive over there.
K: That would be really frustrating.
C: Yeah but usually we don’t have to take long trips because everything we need is around us.
K: I suppose that makes sense. How often do you get home to see your family then?
C: Maybe next summer.
K: When was the last time you were home though?
C: Oh I haven’t been home since I came here.
K: And when was that?
C: In January 2009.
K: That is more than two years ago!!!
C: Yeah I know but it is too expensive to go home.
K: Really? How much is it for you to go home?
C: It’s around $2000.
K: Yeah that really is a lot, I only pay around $800 when I go home.
C: Lucky!
K: Yes but I suppose you stay in touch with your family then?
C:  I talk to them about once a week. I used to talk to them three or four times a week but now I don’t have time for that. My girlfriend talks to her parents every day.
K: Where is she from?
C: She is from Sri Lanka as well.
K: That’s cool! How long have you guys been together?
C: A little more than one year!
K: Nice, that’s exciting!
C: It is nice to have someone here.
K: Yeah I know what you mean. Are the two of you going back to your country after college together then?
C: We don’t know yet. What about you?
K: I don’t know yet either. I could see myself living in the U.S. just not in Minnesota it’s too cold for me here!
C: But it’s nice with the snow!
K: It’s alright! Too cold though! I am always cold especially at night when I lay down.
C: Haha.
K: Well I guess I don’t have any more questions for you. It was really interesting to find out about everything you have to say though!
C: Yeah no problem.
K: I always love to hear about other international students experiences!
C: Yeah everyone has so many different things to say.
K: Yes it’s true! But I think we got lucky with SCSU because they have such great programs for international students. Last spring I went to a Twins game with them it was a lot of fun!
C: Yeah I hear they do a lot. I am so busy I have never been able to check it out.
K: Well you should! It is really cheap too!
C: Maybe I will.
K: Good, well I don’t have anything else and I know you are busy with your school work. Thank you for letting me do this with you!
C: Yeah it was fun!
K: Have a good night! I will see you around!
C: Yeah see ya!

Library Resource Assistent

Using Subject Guides to Research Information about Countries

Subject/Country/Student

African Studies/Guinea/Asif
Diversity Issues/Sri Lanka/Kim
Ethnic Studies (General)/Republic of South Korea/Luke
Popular Culture/Malaysia/Ying-Ying

Off of the Subject Guide Resource site from SCSU below
http://research.stcloudstate.edu/subjects.phtml?letter=E
you can research information by subject (in my case Ethnic Studies (General)) broken down by the following media sources:

• Find Articles, Journals, Magazines and Newspapers
• Find Facts, Definitions, Overviews
• Find Maps and Atlases
• Find Statistics
• Use Research Guides and Style Manuals
• Use Web Resources
• Library Information

After doing research on Sri Lanka using the subject guide I have to admit that it is quite useless for researching basic information. If one was to write a detailed essay on the political and historical background of a country there would be quite a bit of information on it. The articles I found were really detailed and didn’t provide me with information relevant to my country. My group member suggested to use https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html and I have found it quite informative. The information on countries on this site is divided up into nine categories (introduction, geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, transnational issues). It provides all the information you need to write a good country report.

Group Members
Kim
Yingying
Luke
Asif

Interview objectives for Kim Siemsen

With these interviews I would like to get to know different cultures better:

• Understand their behavior
• Understand their reasoning for coming to he U.S.
• Understand the cultural differences

Also I would like to:

• Learn about their future plans (as I know how hard it is to keep status in the U.S.)
• Learn about their fears and hopes for their future
• Compare my experience to the experience of people from another culture

Finalized questions for Kim Siemsen

Finalized questions for interview

1. Do you think it will be easy to find a job after college?
2. What was the hardest thing about transitioning to the U.S.? (Culture shock)
3. Why did you decide to come to SCSU instead of studying or working in your own country?
4. What is your opinion of the American diet? Kill it.  Delicious greasy pizza.
5. How does the  climate in your home country compare to here?
6. What are some cultural differences between your country and here?
7. Who takes care of the finances in your family?

8. Would you have been able to get the same education in your home country?
9. What is university in your country like?

10. Do you have a job in the U.S.?

11. What are the things you enjoy most about the U.S.?
12. What did you have to go through to get all your immigration documents to come to the U.S.?

13. How often do you visit home?

14. Do you keep in touch with your friends and family at home on a regular basis?

 

Group 2 Categorized Questions

Education

What is your major?

Do you think it will be easy to find a job in future?

What is university in your country like?

What are your plans for after graduation?

Why did you choose to study in St. Cloud?

How long have you been learning English?
How many languages can you speak?

Thoughts about USA

How do you think of people here?

How does your culture differ from the culture in the U.S.?

What are the things you enjoy most about the U.S.?

If you could visit any place in the U.S., where would it be?

What is something about the USA that surprised you?

Difficulties
Did you face any language barriers?

Did you face any cultural shock after coming to the USA?

Did you face any difficulty adjusting to the Minnesotan winter?

Do you think that learning English is difficult?

What was the hardest thing about transitioning to the U.S.?

Life at SCSU

Do you like SCSU?

How do you get along with your roommate/s?

Where do you live? Dorm/Apartment/House?

Have you made a lot of friends here?

What is the most interesting thing you have experienced during your time studying at SCSU?

General
When did you arrive in the USA?

Have you traveled to other states since you came to America?

Do you have a job in the U.S.?

What is your favorite American food?

How many countries have you visited?

 

Country information

What are the main religious groups in your country?

What are the major festivals in your country?

What is your country’s climate?

What are the main sources of transportation in your country?