Class Spreadsheet:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AoZZmRlEOsZqdEpyZ1ViNmN0dlc2MnYxSmpGQUVyaGc&hl=en&authkey=CI_olAU
3rd Interview Winners
1. Margaret Schwagel
2. Stephanie Van Houtan
3. Jordan Meyer
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
My Third Interview
1. Interview Preparations:
Since this is my third interview a lot of the preparations were already completed. The first thing I did to get ready for this interview was contact Susan Lu. She introduced me to another one of her friends that were willing to be interviewed. I contacted Fe Xue Gao to set a time and place for the interview.
The day before the interview, I charged my laptop and tested the recording program. I also needed to make another copy of the questions. Before this interview I did not feel that it was necessary to change any of my interview questions.
When I arrived at the interview, I turned on my laptop. When Fe Xue Gao arrived I introduced myself and explained why I was conducting the interview. I also asked if I could record the interview and after she agreed I made sure the microphone on the laptop was pointing towards her. I started the interview with small talk concerning how her day was going. I began asking my interview questions with questions concerning where she was from.
Following the interview I wrote the transcript. I would play the audio and type what was being said. After a few seconds I would replay what was previously said once or twice to make sure everything that was said was typed. This process was repeated many times throughout the interview. This was easier then the previous interviews.
2. Interview Report:
I also thought the part of the interview where we talked about how the United States is viewed in China was very interesting. Fe Xue explained how knowing another language will help her get a higher salary job in China. She also explained how difficult it was for her to learn another language besides English. Fe Xue started to learn Japanese but stopped because she felt it was too difficult.
3. Country Report:
China is located in eastern Asia and is home to 1,330,141,295 as of July 2010 according to the World Factbook. China has unique climates, an interesting form of government, a changing economy, and rich history.
Firstly, China is slightly smaller then the United States with concern to area. From the U.S. Department of State, China has 9,596,961 square kilometers which makes it the fourth largest country in the world. A few of the natural resources that China has include coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, lead and zinc. The climate varies between north, central, south, and northwest China. In northern China the winters can be extremely cold and the summers bring a lot of rain. In central China the summers are humid and the winters can become as cold as northern China. While the south receives typhoons in the summer and the winters tend to be short. Lastly, northwest China has hot, dry summers with little rain and the winters severely cold.
Next, the form of government for the People’s Republic of China is the Communist Party. China’s capital is Beijing. According to The World Factbook, China received their independence on October 1st, 1949. This day has become a national holiday in China.
Like almost every other country, China’s economy is constantly changing. “In 2010 China became the world’s largest exporter.” (The World Factbook) This shows that China is working to expand their economy, especially since they have changed their economy to be market-oriented. China has been striving to play a more major role in the global economy.
China is full of rich history and many traditions that have been passed on from generation to generation. Unlike the United States, China is an ancient civilization and country. They have thousands of years of history that has helped for the country China is today. They strive to remember and practice ancient Chinese myths and cultural traditions in their everyday lives.
Essentially, China has a very rich history that has been growing for thousands of years. They also have a booming economy and a Communist Party as government. China is also a fairly large country with many natural resources.
"CIA - The World Factbook." Welcome to the CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html
"China." U.S. Department of State. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. http://www.state.gov/p/eap/ci/ch/
"China's Climate." China Travel Tour Guide - China Travel Guide, Information & Tips. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. http://www.china-travel-tour-guide.com/about-china/index.shtml
4. Transcription:
N: What part of China are you from?
F: I'm from Shanghai.
N: What was the hardest part about transitioning to the United States?
F: Actually the people were the most different. The western people are out going and they express their feelings about Asian girls and Asian people. They are more shy. Sometimes when I stay with American guys they always feel i'm too shy and maybe don't want to talk to me because they feel maybe they will hurt me, actually I like to interact with them but just feel shy sometimes. Its hard to make friends with Americans.
N: How does the climate in your home country compare to here?
F: Shanghai is pretty warm in the winter. St. Cloud its not. Last week I thought spring was coming but its snow again. I feel, where is the spring? When will spring come? I feel its longer this year. I will live in Shanghai and maybe every winter just one or two times i can see snow, so when my father told me i can come to a place where there is always I felt, yeah good, but after I came here I just though too much. Indoors temperatures here are pretty good though.
N: Why did you decide to come to St Cloud State?
F: In China people like to go to other countries to have experience over seas. If I, like come here and get the experience, then when I go back to china its easier for me to find a job. The companies like the employee to have more experience. I came here to study English so it will be better. I can have a higher salary job then.
N: Whats your major?
F: MBA program Master of Business Administration. I went to school in China for four years before I came here.
N: What are some cultural differences between here and China?
F: Theres a lot, they're totally different. There are different dress styles and leisure times. I enjoy the life in America.
N: Who takes care of the finances in your family?
F: My father only in my family. Thats because my mom is ill so she can't work. But its normal in China, especially in Shanghai, that the man and the woman both work.
N: Who lives with you in your house?
F: Only my parents and a younger brother. My grandparents don't live with us.
N: At what age do people start to date?
F: It depends, they start at like 18 years old. The marriage depends on the cities. Maybe in some bigger cities they will be older maybe they think about marriage around 26 to 28 years old. In some smaller cities they are 22 to 24. We can date whoever we want but if we consider about marriage, I will think about my parents advice a lot. It'll affect it a lot.
N: Have you had any experience with racism since you have been here?
F: Not really, I like Minnesota. The people here are much friendlier then other states. Like in spring break when I went to Chicago, we traveled to a big city with people from places all over.
N: Have you been to any other places besides Chicago?
F: Not yet but i'm thinking about it. I feel st. cloud has more peace and more quiet then Chicago which is better for me. Chicago is such a big city and more loud and the buildings are pretty tall and it sometimes feels stressful and a bit too much for me.
N: How is the media different from here and in China?
F: I don't feel a too much different. The internet is really easy for us to use.
N: What are some traditions that you grew up with?
F: Spring festival is the most important. During that time it is just like christmas where we prepare a lot of food and stay with family and we talk and visit people like friends and relatives.
N: What are popular types of communications between younger people?
F: Texting and something like Facebook in China but not Facebook. Its a copycat. It looks the same. Its actually not too different. Its only in China. Do you know we can't get Facebook in china?
N: Why not?
F: Thats because, I don't know maybe government. In china sometimes government can choose things like that, but thats ok.
N: How is the United Sates viewed in China?
F: In our minds the united states is the most powerful country in the world. Especially if I have a study experience here it will be much better then in another country. If a product is made in the USA it will be better. Before I came here I thought all the cities were like Chicago and New York, but after I came here I thought, wow nice. Its so peace and so quiet a place and I like it. Well because shanghai is like Chicago and I don't like that so much.
N: How are the houses different from here and shanghai?
F: They are totally different. I like them here.
N: How are the schools different here and in China?
F: I prefer here. Like, in china the population is so huge so maybe in one class room there are more then 100 students and one teacher in front of the class room lecturing. Its hard for me to focus on the professor. Sometimes students just do whatever they want to. Its not so efficient. Here there are small class rooms and I can drink and eat in the classroom if I did not eat breakfast but its not allowed in china. Theres more culture in the classrooms here.
N: What were the schools like when you were younger?
F: Well when I was learning english, I started when I was 13 years old in middle school, but now my younger brother has started to learn english when he was three or four years old. Every child has to learn, its not optional, its mandatory. its as important as the chinese own language and culture, but I don't like it. its hard for me to learn another language in my own country. After I came here I can feel like I can talk and listen and feel the other cultures. I'm not good at learning language. I was trying to learn Japanese also but I found that language is hard to me. In china parents and their teachers push you to learn. You have to learn and there maybe are only a few options. Before I go to a university there is an exam that is the biggest exam in our life and we only have one chance to take that, but its unfair because sometimes if you feel nervous the person will fail it. If you want to take it again you have to wait until next year. So before that parents and teachers always push you to study hard and do your homework. Its a tough time and a different experience.
N: Is it common for students to have jobs in high school?
F: No its not common to us to find a job at that age and even when we go to a university. We try to find a job after we are graduated. We can choose our career whenever we want but its also hard for the graduate students to find a job after graduation because china is a big population. Its really hard, thats why I came here.
N: What foods do you have in china that aren't popular here?
F: The foods are totally different. We might mix a lot of different kinds of food together and fire them. It was one of the hardest things about the culture shock I was eating here in my first semester here during that time my stomach did not feel good. They are totally different.
N: How are the sports compared to here and in china?
F: The people here like sports more then in china. I don't know how the guys feel but in china girls don't like sports but when I came here I thought, wow the girls go play soccer. One of my guy friends said "that in china if I ask a girl to to do some sports she will feel like you are trying to kill her." In china I do just a little bit of yoga. I don't like sports like football and soccer I never touch. I have no idea about guys and sports.
N: Were there sports in your High School?
F: We had some sports but I didn't join any.
N: What do you do for fun on the weekends in china?
F: I go out with my friends, sing karaoke, eat something, go to the gym sometimes, shopping, chatting with friends, watch a movie that kind of stuff.
N: What do you do for fun on the weekends here?
F: Stay at home, go to gym, watch a movie, go out with friends, its like the same, not too much different.
Since this is my third interview a lot of the preparations were already completed. The first thing I did to get ready for this interview was contact Susan Lu. She introduced me to another one of her friends that were willing to be interviewed. I contacted Fe Xue Gao to set a time and place for the interview.
The day before the interview, I charged my laptop and tested the recording program. I also needed to make another copy of the questions. Before this interview I did not feel that it was necessary to change any of my interview questions.
When I arrived at the interview, I turned on my laptop. When Fe Xue Gao arrived I introduced myself and explained why I was conducting the interview. I also asked if I could record the interview and after she agreed I made sure the microphone on the laptop was pointing towards her. I started the interview with small talk concerning how her day was going. I began asking my interview questions with questions concerning where she was from.
2. Interview Report:
On March 25, 2011, I interviewed Fe Xue Gao. She is an international student from Shanghai, China. This interview last approximately 35 minutes. I enjoyed the interview. Fe Xue seemed very comfortable being interviewed.
All three interviews that I conducted were different even though the same questions were being asked. Many answers to the questions I asked surprised me because they were so different from the other responses I have received. One of the objectives I had for my interviews was to learn about a new culture. During the third interview, I gained a lot of information concerning education in China. I was surprised when Fe Xue told me that in order to go to college they need to take a test. This test is the most important in their whole lives because they only get on chance a year to pass it.
Another objective I had was to conduct a successful interview that obtains good information. I feel that I reached this objective, but there is always room for improvement. I am open to feedback that will help improvement my interviews.
I also thought the part of the interview where we talked about how the United States is viewed in China was very interesting. Fe Xue explained how knowing another language will help her get a higher salary job in China. She also explained how difficult it was for her to learn another language besides English. Fe Xue started to learn Japanese but stopped because she felt it was too difficult.
3. Country Report:
China is located in eastern Asia and is home to 1,330,141,295 as of July 2010 according to the World Factbook. China has unique climates, an interesting form of government, a changing economy, and rich history.
Firstly, China is slightly smaller then the United States with concern to area. From the U.S. Department of State, China has 9,596,961 square kilometers which makes it the fourth largest country in the world. A few of the natural resources that China has include coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, lead and zinc. The climate varies between north, central, south, and northwest China. In northern China the winters can be extremely cold and the summers bring a lot of rain. In central China the summers are humid and the winters can become as cold as northern China. While the south receives typhoons in the summer and the winters tend to be short. Lastly, northwest China has hot, dry summers with little rain and the winters severely cold.
Next, the form of government for the People’s Republic of China is the Communist Party. China’s capital is Beijing. According to The World Factbook, China received their independence on October 1st, 1949. This day has become a national holiday in China.
Like almost every other country, China’s economy is constantly changing. “In 2010 China became the world’s largest exporter.” (The World Factbook) This shows that China is working to expand their economy, especially since they have changed their economy to be market-oriented. China has been striving to play a more major role in the global economy.
China is full of rich history and many traditions that have been passed on from generation to generation. Unlike the United States, China is an ancient civilization and country. They have thousands of years of history that has helped for the country China is today. They strive to remember and practice ancient Chinese myths and cultural traditions in their everyday lives.
Essentially, China has a very rich history that has been growing for thousands of years. They also have a booming economy and a Communist Party as government. China is also a fairly large country with many natural resources.
"CIA - The World Factbook." Welcome to the CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html
"China." U.S. Department of State. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. http://www.state.gov/p/eap/ci/ch/
"China's Climate." China Travel Tour Guide - China Travel Guide, Information & Tips. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. http://www.china-travel-tour-guide.com/about-china/index.shtml
4. Transcription:
N: What part of China are you from?
F: I'm from Shanghai.
N: What was the hardest part about transitioning to the United States?
F: Actually the people were the most different. The western people are out going and they express their feelings about Asian girls and Asian people. They are more shy. Sometimes when I stay with American guys they always feel i'm too shy and maybe don't want to talk to me because they feel maybe they will hurt me, actually I like to interact with them but just feel shy sometimes. Its hard to make friends with Americans.
N: How does the climate in your home country compare to here?
F: Shanghai is pretty warm in the winter. St. Cloud its not. Last week I thought spring was coming but its snow again. I feel, where is the spring? When will spring come? I feel its longer this year. I will live in Shanghai and maybe every winter just one or two times i can see snow, so when my father told me i can come to a place where there is always I felt, yeah good, but after I came here I just though too much. Indoors temperatures here are pretty good though.
N: Why did you decide to come to St Cloud State?
F: In China people like to go to other countries to have experience over seas. If I, like come here and get the experience, then when I go back to china its easier for me to find a job. The companies like the employee to have more experience. I came here to study English so it will be better. I can have a higher salary job then.
N: Whats your major?
F: MBA program Master of Business Administration. I went to school in China for four years before I came here.
N: What are some cultural differences between here and China?
F: Theres a lot, they're totally different. There are different dress styles and leisure times. I enjoy the life in America.
N: Who takes care of the finances in your family?
F: My father only in my family. Thats because my mom is ill so she can't work. But its normal in China, especially in Shanghai, that the man and the woman both work.
N: Who lives with you in your house?
F: Only my parents and a younger brother. My grandparents don't live with us.
N: At what age do people start to date?
F: It depends, they start at like 18 years old. The marriage depends on the cities. Maybe in some bigger cities they will be older maybe they think about marriage around 26 to 28 years old. In some smaller cities they are 22 to 24. We can date whoever we want but if we consider about marriage, I will think about my parents advice a lot. It'll affect it a lot.
N: Have you had any experience with racism since you have been here?
F: Not really, I like Minnesota. The people here are much friendlier then other states. Like in spring break when I went to Chicago, we traveled to a big city with people from places all over.
N: Have you been to any other places besides Chicago?
F: Not yet but i'm thinking about it. I feel st. cloud has more peace and more quiet then Chicago which is better for me. Chicago is such a big city and more loud and the buildings are pretty tall and it sometimes feels stressful and a bit too much for me.
N: How is the media different from here and in China?
F: I don't feel a too much different. The internet is really easy for us to use.
N: What are some traditions that you grew up with?
F: Spring festival is the most important. During that time it is just like christmas where we prepare a lot of food and stay with family and we talk and visit people like friends and relatives.
N: What are popular types of communications between younger people?
F: Texting and something like Facebook in China but not Facebook. Its a copycat. It looks the same. Its actually not too different. Its only in China. Do you know we can't get Facebook in china?
N: Why not?
F: Thats because, I don't know maybe government. In china sometimes government can choose things like that, but thats ok.
N: How is the United Sates viewed in China?
F: In our minds the united states is the most powerful country in the world. Especially if I have a study experience here it will be much better then in another country. If a product is made in the USA it will be better. Before I came here I thought all the cities were like Chicago and New York, but after I came here I thought, wow nice. Its so peace and so quiet a place and I like it. Well because shanghai is like Chicago and I don't like that so much.
N: How are the houses different from here and shanghai?
F: They are totally different. I like them here.
N: How are the schools different here and in China?
F: I prefer here. Like, in china the population is so huge so maybe in one class room there are more then 100 students and one teacher in front of the class room lecturing. Its hard for me to focus on the professor. Sometimes students just do whatever they want to. Its not so efficient. Here there are small class rooms and I can drink and eat in the classroom if I did not eat breakfast but its not allowed in china. Theres more culture in the classrooms here.
N: What were the schools like when you were younger?
F: Well when I was learning english, I started when I was 13 years old in middle school, but now my younger brother has started to learn english when he was three or four years old. Every child has to learn, its not optional, its mandatory. its as important as the chinese own language and culture, but I don't like it. its hard for me to learn another language in my own country. After I came here I can feel like I can talk and listen and feel the other cultures. I'm not good at learning language. I was trying to learn Japanese also but I found that language is hard to me. In china parents and their teachers push you to learn. You have to learn and there maybe are only a few options. Before I go to a university there is an exam that is the biggest exam in our life and we only have one chance to take that, but its unfair because sometimes if you feel nervous the person will fail it. If you want to take it again you have to wait until next year. So before that parents and teachers always push you to study hard and do your homework. Its a tough time and a different experience.
N: Is it common for students to have jobs in high school?
F: No its not common to us to find a job at that age and even when we go to a university. We try to find a job after we are graduated. We can choose our career whenever we want but its also hard for the graduate students to find a job after graduation because china is a big population. Its really hard, thats why I came here.
N: What foods do you have in china that aren't popular here?
F: The foods are totally different. We might mix a lot of different kinds of food together and fire them. It was one of the hardest things about the culture shock I was eating here in my first semester here during that time my stomach did not feel good. They are totally different.
N: How are the sports compared to here and in china?
F: The people here like sports more then in china. I don't know how the guys feel but in china girls don't like sports but when I came here I thought, wow the girls go play soccer. One of my guy friends said "that in china if I ask a girl to to do some sports she will feel like you are trying to kill her." In china I do just a little bit of yoga. I don't like sports like football and soccer I never touch. I have no idea about guys and sports.
N: Were there sports in your High School?
F: We had some sports but I didn't join any.
N: What do you do for fun on the weekends in china?
F: I go out with my friends, sing karaoke, eat something, go to the gym sometimes, shopping, chatting with friends, watch a movie that kind of stuff.
N: What do you do for fun on the weekends here?
F: Stay at home, go to gym, watch a movie, go out with friends, its like the same, not too much different.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Cultural Report for China
Cultural Report for China
By: Stephanie Van Houtan, Natalie Sevenson, Chris Klaphake, Jordan Meyer, Thao Vo
China Report1) Brief Description of China- Jordan
a. One of oldest civilizations
i. Vast amount of history, culture, art- before 19th century
b. Located in Eastern Asia
i. Total area slightly smaller than the U.S.
ii. Highest population over any other country
iii. 94% of the population lives in the eastern third of country.
iv. Coastal areas most economically developed.
c. Government is the Chinese Communist Party.
d. Hans
i. Flourished China
ii. Due to military power and advancements at the time they created an amazing age of art, politics and technology. iii. Han Chinese consists of roughly 92% of the total country’s population.
2) Classes in English- Chris
a. Only take twelve credits
i. Intensive English classes year round.
ii. Never talked to a native speaker.
b. Spend a lot of time in the library.
i. Takes 4 hours for one class.
ii. Spends 3 times as much time in the library here.
iii. Come to the library on weekends
iv. Often has to look up definitions of words.
c. Came here to get a Masters Degree.
i. Better job opportunities. ii. Work here first.
3) Religion- Thao
a. Chinese government does not allow freedom of religion.
i. In China, all religious organizations have to be authorized by the government.
ii. They are run by a dictator or by government.
1. Tibetan Buddhism are against the Chinese government, so the Chinese government are fighting and want to destroy them
iii. China’s government are afraid that if they allow freedom of religion, it will destroy their progress.
iv. You are not allowed to demonstrate in public. People cannot have a rally in public.
1. Catholics in China cannot communicate with the Pope. We rarely hear about the Pope visiting China.
4) Communication- Natalie
a. The different types of communication that is popular in China. i. Texting
ii. A form of facebook
b. Clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTBSeNQ7Nso&feature=player_detailpage
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg9mwn_facebook-reaches-upto-500-mn-users_news
5) Food- Stephanie
a. Authentic Chinese food is different from the American Chinese food.
i. Jay explained that it’s a whole different taste.
ii. Natalie’s experience in Chinatown.
iii. American Chinese cuisine refers to the style of food served by many Chinese restaurants in the United States. This type of cooking typically caters to western tastes, and differs significantly from the original Chinese cuisine.
iv. American Chinese food typically treats vegetables and garnish as while cuisines of China emphasize vegetables.
v. Native Chinese cuisine makes frequent use of Asian leafy vegetables like bok choy and kai-lan and puts a greater emphasis on fresh meat and seafood.
1. Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Chinese_cuisine visited 3/29/11
By: Stephanie Van Houtan, Natalie Sevenson, Chris Klaphake, Jordan Meyer, Thao Vo
China Report1) Brief Description of China- Jordan
a. One of oldest civilizations
i. Vast amount of history, culture, art- before 19th century
b. Located in Eastern Asia
i. Total area slightly smaller than the U.S.
ii. Highest population over any other country
iii. 94% of the population lives in the eastern third of country.
iv. Coastal areas most economically developed.
c. Government is the Chinese Communist Party.
d. Hans
i. Flourished China
ii. Due to military power and advancements at the time they created an amazing age of art, politics and technology. iii. Han Chinese consists of roughly 92% of the total country’s population.
2) Classes in English- Chris
a. Only take twelve credits
i. Intensive English classes year round.
ii. Never talked to a native speaker.
b. Spend a lot of time in the library.
i. Takes 4 hours for one class.
ii. Spends 3 times as much time in the library here.
iii. Come to the library on weekends
iv. Often has to look up definitions of words.
c. Came here to get a Masters Degree.
i. Better job opportunities. ii. Work here first.
3) Religion- Thao
a. Chinese government does not allow freedom of religion.
i. In China, all religious organizations have to be authorized by the government.
ii. They are run by a dictator or by government.
1. Tibetan Buddhism are against the Chinese government, so the Chinese government are fighting and want to destroy them
iii. China’s government are afraid that if they allow freedom of religion, it will destroy their progress.
iv. You are not allowed to demonstrate in public. People cannot have a rally in public.
1. Catholics in China cannot communicate with the Pope. We rarely hear about the Pope visiting China.
4) Communication- Natalie
a. The different types of communication that is popular in China. i. Texting
ii. A form of facebook
b. Clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTBSeNQ7Nso&feature=player_detailpage
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg9mwn_facebook-reaches-upto-500-mn-users_news
5) Food- Stephanie
a. Authentic Chinese food is different from the American Chinese food.
i. Jay explained that it’s a whole different taste.
ii. Natalie’s experience in Chinatown.
iii. American Chinese cuisine refers to the style of food served by many Chinese restaurants in the United States. This type of cooking typically caters to western tastes, and differs significantly from the original Chinese cuisine.
iv. American Chinese food typically treats vegetables and garnish as while cuisines of China emphasize vegetables.
v. Native Chinese cuisine makes frequent use of Asian leafy vegetables like bok choy and kai-lan and puts a greater emphasis on fresh meat and seafood.
1. Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Chinese_cuisine visited 3/29/11
Class Spreadsheet:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=tnAO3g8ktRIwY_U4x4gqsBQ&authkey=COyZqO4N#gid=0
2nd Interview Winners:
1. Stephanie Van Houtan
2. Jordan Meyer
3. Kyle Louks
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=tnAO3g8ktRIwY_U4x4gqsBQ&authkey=COyZqO4N#gid=0
2nd Interview Winners:
1. Stephanie Van Houtan
2. Jordan Meyer
3. Kyle Louks
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Second Interview
1. Interview Preparations:
There are many different aspects to an interview. Since this was my second interview I already had a list of questions that I wanted to ask. However, I changed a few of them because their wording was confusing. The majority of the questions remained the same. Susan Lu introduced me to another person she knew from China named De Jian Tao. This interview took place at the same place as my previous interview.
The day before the interview was to be conducted, I charged my laptop and tested the program that would record the interview. I also made copies of my revised questions and reviewed them.
When I arrived at the interview, I set up my laptop. De Jian Tao arrived and I introduced myself and again explained why I was conducting this interview. I made sure the microphone on the laptop was pointing towards him. We began to talk about his day. This opening was similar to my first interview After a few minutes I asked him where he was from. While asking the remainder of the questions, I tried to incorporate them in an order that made sense to where the previous question had left off.
Following the interview I wrote the transcript. The program I was using broke the audio into five minutes sections. I used the same process that I had used to write the transcript for my first interview. I began with the first section. While the audio was playing I typed what was being said. After a few seconds I would replay what was previously said once or twice to make sure everything that was said was typed. This process was repeated many times throughout each section of the interview.
2. Interview Report:
On February 18, 2010, I interviewed De Jian Tao. He is an international student from China. The interview lasted approximately 35 minutes. I feel that the interview went very well. De Jian Tao was very open. He answered every question openly and without hesitation.
One of the questions I asked was about relationships. The response I got surprised me. My first objective was to learn about a new culture. In the interview, like the previous one, I learned a lot. However, in the next interview I would like to go more in depth. Another objective I had was to conduct a successful interview that obtains good information. I feel that I reached this objective, but there is always room for improvement. I am open to feedback that will help improvement my interviews. The next objective that I have was to learn types of experiences international students have had in the United States so far and whether of not they have been positive.
I also thought that the part of the interview where we talked about sports was very interesting. Some sports that are popular in China are not very popular in the United States. De Jian Tao's seemed very interested in talking about sports. I feel that I improved during this interview. However, the ending to this interview was not as good as the previous interview. I plan to improve this by thinking ahead of time for ways to end the interview.
3. Country Report:
China is located in eastern Asia and is home to 1,330,141,295 as of July 2010 according to the World Factbook. China has unique climates, an interesting form of government, a changing economy, and rich history.
Firstly, China is slightly smaller then the United States with concern to area. From the U.S. Department of State, China has 9,596,961 square kilometers which makes it the fourth largest country in the world. A few of the natural resources that China has include coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, lead and zinc. The climate varies between north, central, south, and northwest China. In northern China the winters can be extremely cold and the summers bring a lot of rain. In central China the summers are humid and the winters can become as cold as northern China. While the south receives typhoons in the summer and the winters tend to be short. Lastly, northwest China has hot, dry summers with little rain and the winters severely cold.
Next, the form of government for the People’s Republic of China is the Communist Party. China’s capital is Beijing. According to The World Factbook, China received their independence on October 1st, 1949. This day has become a national holiday in China.
Like almost every other country, China’s economy is constantly changing. “In 2010 China became the world’s largest exporter.” (The World Factbook) This shows that China is working to expand their economy, especially since they have changed their economy to be market-oriented. China has been striving to play a more major role in the global economy.
China is full of rich history and many traditions that have been passed on from generation to generation. Unlike the United States, China is an ancient civilization and country. They have thousands of years of history that has helped for the country China is today. They strive to remember and practice ancient Chinese myths and cultural traditions in their everyday lives.
Essentially, China has a very rich history that has been growing for thousands of years. They also have a booming economy and a Communist Party as government. China is also a fairly large country with many natural resources.
"CIA - The World Factbook." Welcome to the CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html
"China." U.S. Department of State. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. http://www.state.gov/p/eap/ci/ch/
"China's Climate." China Travel Tour Guide - China Travel Guide, Information & Tips. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. http://www.china-travel-tour-guide.com/about-china/index.shtml
4. Transcription
N: Where in China are you from?
D: I am from very south of China Kuangon just near Hong Kong.
N: Is it a big city?
D: No my city is small
N: What was the hardest thing about transitioning to the united States?
D: It was not that hard. I think the hardest thing was more economic.
N: Why did you decide to come to SCSU instead of staying at a college in China?
D: I think because of my major. My major is graphic design and compare US and China, here people study and learn here they can get more idea and new ideas in graphic design and i want to improve myself that way and also improve my English.
N: How does the climate in your home country compare to here?
D: Its totally in my city it is very hot and no winter and maybe sometimes just windy. No snow this is my favorite snow here.
N: Do you like the snow?
D: Yup i like the snow its just pretty cold then.
N: What have been some big cultural differences you have seen?
D: I think its the food. the food here is very different. i don't like it american food
N: What do you not like about it?
D: Everyday it is the same thing like pizza sandwiches and hamburgers. another thing is here is kind of a global family they are from different country and they have different skin and speak different language most of them
N: Who takes care of the finances in your family?
D: My father.
N: Is that common?
D: Its common cause maybe this type of thing is different from here between China. Normally until we are 20 or 22 the father will take care of the finances
N: At what age do men and women spend private time and at what age do they consider marriage?
D: I don't really know. for the men are around 27 and the women are around 22 to 23.
N: Are the men always older?
D: Ya its kind of a law.
N: Are your parents involved in who you date?
D: For my parents they don't care. my family is very opening and they can share idea about each other. if i want to date someone i can talk to my family and they will give me some ideas.
N: What experiences with racism have you had since have come to the United States?
D: No but I have in japan an England.
N: Like when you traveled there?
D: Ya I did like Japan and England and another part of China
N: Are they just not as open there?
D: Some of them they are just not as open. it is very different here.
N: What do you guys do for fun on the weekends in china?
D: For boys they boys play computer games and online. its the same as here. Sometimes chinese boys have broken up with their girlfriend. young boys say they don't have a mind to control. another thing that is more popular they go to KTV its kind of like a bar where they sit there with friends and can sing a song. its called karaoke. you can order a popular song and sing it with friends. Its very cheap and popular.
N: Have you been to a different state since you have been here?
D: I have been to Chicago. ya it is a big city really big. i went to big square the center part I think. I also went to the very tall building and the floor and a part of it is invisible.
N: Are the houses similar here to China?
D: They are very different. I know here the houses are built by wood. In China it is different. There the houses are tall and a lot of people live there. If you go there it may seem kind of crazy. Because of the big population we do not have room for one house then one house then one house. So we have to live in an apartment and tall buildings. But rich people prefer to live in house. Their houses are located in the suburbs. The tradition in China is to not have carpet. They don't really like it, but I like it. It isn't that good quality there. The wives don't really like to clean it and they like to be really clean.
N: What kind of floors do you have then?
D: Mostly we have wood or tile. People use expensive. In some times the wood is very expensive. They get it to show how much money they have in their family. Its different from in America. I think here people care about detail. Here it looks wow cool and very nice, but in China it is not like that.
N: Also the clothes made in China are different. The clothes sold are less quality but they are made from the same factory. the better quality sell in america and the second hand quality are sold in China.
D: Do you have a job here?
N: I want to have an on campus job, but my schedule is not fit for the requirement to work there. I'm not going to make money here i just want a social security number so i can get an iphone without a deposit. I don't have a credit card here. If I want a phone we need to pay more then 500 to get the iphone for a deposit. That cell phone is too expensive for me. One year you can get some money back. You can also use a phone from China but you have to buy a syme card.
N: What kind of sports are popular in China?
D: The NBA is really popular, but when you come America likes Football and Hockey and Lacrosse. When I was here I went to a baseball game but I only knew some of the rules but its not very clear. In my old school like high school we did not have baseball on campus.
N: Did you have any sports on campus?
D: Just basketball, soccer, volleyball, and ping pong. Baseball is not popular.
N: What sports are popular for people to play professionally?
D: Soccer but we watch a lot of NBA in China. When are athletes are in China they are really strong but when they come to play in the United States they are not the strongest one comported to other people.
N: Do you have pets in China?
D: I use to have one when I was here. I use to have a rabbit. The landlord said that you can't have rabbits so I brought my rabbit back to the pet store, it was really sad. But I don't have pets in China, My mother did not like pets. Also my father didn't. They think they make too much noise especially in the middle of the night.
N: What do you like to do here on the weekends for fun?
D: I have gone to a lot a places with friends such as the Mall of America and Valley Fair.
N: That sounds like fun I hope you get to do all of the stuff here that you would like too.
There are many different aspects to an interview. Since this was my second interview I already had a list of questions that I wanted to ask. However, I changed a few of them because their wording was confusing. The majority of the questions remained the same. Susan Lu introduced me to another person she knew from China named De Jian Tao. This interview took place at the same place as my previous interview.
The day before the interview was to be conducted, I charged my laptop and tested the program that would record the interview. I also made copies of my revised questions and reviewed them.
When I arrived at the interview, I set up my laptop. De Jian Tao arrived and I introduced myself and again explained why I was conducting this interview. I made sure the microphone on the laptop was pointing towards him. We began to talk about his day. This opening was similar to my first interview After a few minutes I asked him where he was from. While asking the remainder of the questions, I tried to incorporate them in an order that made sense to where the previous question had left off.
Following the interview I wrote the transcript. The program I was using broke the audio into five minutes sections. I used the same process that I had used to write the transcript for my first interview. I began with the first section. While the audio was playing I typed what was being said. After a few seconds I would replay what was previously said once or twice to make sure everything that was said was typed. This process was repeated many times throughout each section of the interview.
2. Interview Report:
On February 18, 2010, I interviewed De Jian Tao. He is an international student from China. The interview lasted approximately 35 minutes. I feel that the interview went very well. De Jian Tao was very open. He answered every question openly and without hesitation.
One of the questions I asked was about relationships. The response I got surprised me. My first objective was to learn about a new culture. In the interview, like the previous one, I learned a lot. However, in the next interview I would like to go more in depth. Another objective I had was to conduct a successful interview that obtains good information. I feel that I reached this objective, but there is always room for improvement. I am open to feedback that will help improvement my interviews. The next objective that I have was to learn types of experiences international students have had in the United States so far and whether of not they have been positive.
I also thought that the part of the interview where we talked about sports was very interesting. Some sports that are popular in China are not very popular in the United States. De Jian Tao's seemed very interested in talking about sports. I feel that I improved during this interview. However, the ending to this interview was not as good as the previous interview. I plan to improve this by thinking ahead of time for ways to end the interview.
3. Country Report:
China is located in eastern Asia and is home to 1,330,141,295 as of July 2010 according to the World Factbook. China has unique climates, an interesting form of government, a changing economy, and rich history.
Firstly, China is slightly smaller then the United States with concern to area. From the U.S. Department of State, China has 9,596,961 square kilometers which makes it the fourth largest country in the world. A few of the natural resources that China has include coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, lead and zinc. The climate varies between north, central, south, and northwest China. In northern China the winters can be extremely cold and the summers bring a lot of rain. In central China the summers are humid and the winters can become as cold as northern China. While the south receives typhoons in the summer and the winters tend to be short. Lastly, northwest China has hot, dry summers with little rain and the winters severely cold.
Next, the form of government for the People’s Republic of China is the Communist Party. China’s capital is Beijing. According to The World Factbook, China received their independence on October 1st, 1949. This day has become a national holiday in China.
Like almost every other country, China’s economy is constantly changing. “In 2010 China became the world’s largest exporter.” (The World Factbook) This shows that China is working to expand their economy, especially since they have changed their economy to be market-oriented. China has been striving to play a more major role in the global economy.
China is full of rich history and many traditions that have been passed on from generation to generation. Unlike the United States, China is an ancient civilization and country. They have thousands of years of history that has helped for the country China is today. They strive to remember and practice ancient Chinese myths and cultural traditions in their everyday lives.
Essentially, China has a very rich history that has been growing for thousands of years. They also have a booming economy and a Communist Party as government. China is also a fairly large country with many natural resources.
"CIA - The World Factbook." Welcome to the CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html
"China." U.S. Department of State. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. http://www.state.gov/p/eap/ci/ch/
"China's Climate." China Travel Tour Guide - China Travel Guide, Information & Tips. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. http://www.china-travel-tour-guide.com/about-china/index.shtml
4. Transcription
N: Where in China are you from?
D: I am from very south of China Kuangon just near Hong Kong.
N: Is it a big city?
D: No my city is small
N: What was the hardest thing about transitioning to the united States?
D: It was not that hard. I think the hardest thing was more economic.
N: Why did you decide to come to SCSU instead of staying at a college in China?
D: I think because of my major. My major is graphic design and compare US and China, here people study and learn here they can get more idea and new ideas in graphic design and i want to improve myself that way and also improve my English.
N: How does the climate in your home country compare to here?
D: Its totally in my city it is very hot and no winter and maybe sometimes just windy. No snow this is my favorite snow here.
N: Do you like the snow?
D: Yup i like the snow its just pretty cold then.
N: What have been some big cultural differences you have seen?
D: I think its the food. the food here is very different. i don't like it american food
N: What do you not like about it?
D: Everyday it is the same thing like pizza sandwiches and hamburgers. another thing is here is kind of a global family they are from different country and they have different skin and speak different language most of them
N: Who takes care of the finances in your family?
D: My father.
N: Is that common?
D: Its common cause maybe this type of thing is different from here between China. Normally until we are 20 or 22 the father will take care of the finances
N: At what age do men and women spend private time and at what age do they consider marriage?
D: I don't really know. for the men are around 27 and the women are around 22 to 23.
N: Are the men always older?
D: Ya its kind of a law.
N: Are your parents involved in who you date?
D: For my parents they don't care. my family is very opening and they can share idea about each other. if i want to date someone i can talk to my family and they will give me some ideas.
N: What experiences with racism have you had since have come to the United States?
D: No but I have in japan an England.
N: Like when you traveled there?
D: Ya I did like Japan and England and another part of China
N: Are they just not as open there?
D: Some of them they are just not as open. it is very different here.
N: What do you guys do for fun on the weekends in china?
D: For boys they boys play computer games and online. its the same as here. Sometimes chinese boys have broken up with their girlfriend. young boys say they don't have a mind to control. another thing that is more popular they go to KTV its kind of like a bar where they sit there with friends and can sing a song. its called karaoke. you can order a popular song and sing it with friends. Its very cheap and popular.
N: Have you been to a different state since you have been here?
D: I have been to Chicago. ya it is a big city really big. i went to big square the center part I think. I also went to the very tall building and the floor and a part of it is invisible.
N: Are the houses similar here to China?
D: They are very different. I know here the houses are built by wood. In China it is different. There the houses are tall and a lot of people live there. If you go there it may seem kind of crazy. Because of the big population we do not have room for one house then one house then one house. So we have to live in an apartment and tall buildings. But rich people prefer to live in house. Their houses are located in the suburbs. The tradition in China is to not have carpet. They don't really like it, but I like it. It isn't that good quality there. The wives don't really like to clean it and they like to be really clean.
N: What kind of floors do you have then?
D: Mostly we have wood or tile. People use expensive. In some times the wood is very expensive. They get it to show how much money they have in their family. Its different from in America. I think here people care about detail. Here it looks wow cool and very nice, but in China it is not like that.
N: Also the clothes made in China are different. The clothes sold are less quality but they are made from the same factory. the better quality sell in america and the second hand quality are sold in China.
D: Do you have a job here?
N: I want to have an on campus job, but my schedule is not fit for the requirement to work there. I'm not going to make money here i just want a social security number so i can get an iphone without a deposit. I don't have a credit card here. If I want a phone we need to pay more then 500 to get the iphone for a deposit. That cell phone is too expensive for me. One year you can get some money back. You can also use a phone from China but you have to buy a syme card.
N: What kind of sports are popular in China?
D: The NBA is really popular, but when you come America likes Football and Hockey and Lacrosse. When I was here I went to a baseball game but I only knew some of the rules but its not very clear. In my old school like high school we did not have baseball on campus.
N: Did you have any sports on campus?
D: Just basketball, soccer, volleyball, and ping pong. Baseball is not popular.
N: What sports are popular for people to play professionally?
D: Soccer but we watch a lot of NBA in China. When are athletes are in China they are really strong but when they come to play in the United States they are not the strongest one comported to other people.
N: Do you have pets in China?
D: I use to have one when I was here. I use to have a rabbit. The landlord said that you can't have rabbits so I brought my rabbit back to the pet store, it was really sad. But I don't have pets in China, My mother did not like pets. Also my father didn't. They think they make too much noise especially in the middle of the night.
N: What do you like to do here on the weekends for fun?
D: I have gone to a lot a places with friends such as the Mall of America and Valley Fair.
N: That sounds like fun I hope you get to do all of the stuff here that you would like too.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
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