Final Project

Process Description:

For my third interview I decided to use the same flow chart that was so beneficial to me while conducting the three previous interviews

1. Set objectives/goals for the interview
2. Get hold of a recorder to help conducting the interview
3. Inform the interviewee about the purpose of the interview
4. Make arrangements for meeting the interviewee( Work according to her schedule since he is helping me)
5. Conduct the interview, use the recorder as well
6. Go over the recorded interview at home and write the transcript of the interviews
7. Write my personal review about the interview
8. Thank the interviewee for his time
9. Revise the transcript
10. Revise citations
11. Post the interview on the blog before the due date.

My process turned out to be very convenient for me. I had enough time to set up the interview. Moreover, I also had enough time to transcribe the interview and compare it to my three previous interviews.

Personal Review of the Interview:

       From my interview of Neha Malla, I have to come understand that she is a very independent person. She likes to make her own decisions. She is not afraid to make it on her own in the real world. She has enhanced her capabilities by moving to the United States for educations

      I have also come to understand from the interview that although Nepali is the language in Nepal, most schools teach in English. As a result she and her friends who have come SCSU did not face any major difficulties.

      Neha provided me insights that the males in Nepal have the major responsibilities when it came to handling finances in the family. However, both of her parents have their own careers and she was brought up  in a family which encouraged both the gender to pursue a working career

Country Background.




Nepal is located in Southern Asia. I took advantage of the World Fact Book to find out information about Nepal. according to the article in the World Fact Book,the color red in Nepal's flag symbolizes the the National flower of the country, the Rhododendron, which also symbolizes victory and bravery. The article also tells us that the blue borders represent peace and harmony. Currently the two triangles represent the two major religions in Nepal, Hinduism and Buddhism. However, these two triangle used to be thought to symbolize the Himalayan mountains, and the families of the King and the prime Minister. The moos denotes the calmness of the people of Nepal and the cool weather of the Himalayan parts. In addition, the article tells us that the sun represents the southern regions of Nepal which has hotter climates.


Note: (Source World Fact Book (1))


From the book titled Nepal, written Tessa Feller, I have come to learn that Nepal is a landlocked country, sharing its borders with India and China/Bhutan. Moreover, Feller mentions that " Nepal runs approximately 500 miles (800 km) from northwest to southeast, and is between 56 and 143 miles wide (90 and 230 km), covering an area of 56,827 square miles ( 147,181 square km). It is home not only to the Mount Everest, at 29,029 feet ( 8.848 m) the world's highest mountain, but to eight of the world's ten highest peaks, and several several hundred more exceeding 20,000 feet ( 6,000 m)" ( Feller 12). From my interviewee, Neha Malla, who is from Nepal, I have learned that the highest point in Nepal in Mount Everest at approximately 8,850 m and the lowest point is Kanchan Kalan at approximately 70 m.

From another book, Nepal: Profile of a Himalayan Kingdom written by Leo E. Rose and John T. Scholz, I have learnt that Nepal separates the south Asian subcontinent from central and east Asia. Nepal is a county where concepts of Buddhism and Hinduism have collided. The authors also tell us that during the time of publication of this book, " Except for a small educated elite with a more assertive national consciousness, citizens of the kingdom usually still identify themselves in regional terms- e.g. Pahari (hill man), Madehshi, ( plains man)- or by their ethnic community- e.g,. Magar, Gurung, Limbu, Rai, Tamang, Sherpa, Tharu Newar, and so on- at least in their relationship with each other" ( Rose, Leo E. and Scholz, John T. 1-2).

Works Cited

(1) World Fact Book https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/np.html

 

 

Feller, Tessa. Nepal. London: Kuperard,2008.
        Print

Rose, Leo E. and Scholz, John T. Nepal: Profile of A Himalayan Kingdom.
       Boulder, Colo : Westview Press, 1980.
       Print.

Transcript of The Interview


Interviewer: Asif Hussain (AH)
Country: Bangladesh

Interviewee: Neha Malla (NM)
Country: Nepal


AH: Hello. My name is Asif Hussain.
NM: Hi. I am Neha Malla.
AH: Where are you from Neha?
NH: I am from Kathmandu, Neplal.
AH: And how was your day?
NM: Oh, it was fun.
AH: Really? Why is that?
NH: Because now I am done with finals and I don't have anything else to do besides just one presentation.
AH: How did you manage to be done with your finals already?
NM: I'm kind of an early doer. I do not procrastinate. Therefore, I got done with all my papers.
AH: That's great. I wish I was in your situation. So this interview is actually final project for my English 191 class. I would like to thank you for time.
NH: It's not a problem.
AH: Before we start, I wanted to ask you if you would mind if I record this interview.
NM: No. I don't.
AH: So this is the list of the questions that I will be asking you today.
NM: Thank you.
AH: The first question that I had for you is why did you decide to come to SCSU/ U.S instead of studying or working in your home country?
NM: When I was in high school, I always knew that I wanted to experience something new because I love to travel. I knew I wanted to get out of Nepal. Since a lot of my family members and friends from high school were in the United States, I decided to come here. I applied to applied to some universities and  I received scholarship offers as well. One of the reasons I came to SCSU is that there was a big enough crowd of International students here compared to other universities I applied to. Moreover, I received a scholarship here as well. Even without the scholarship, SCSU
AH: okay. Well the next question that I have for you is not on the list that I have given to you. You said a lot of your friends decided to come here,is there any particular reason why they decided to study abroad or in the U.S instead of studying in Nepal?
NM: I feel like everyone wants a bit of exposure. They want to get out of the small space that they have grown up in. Everybody wants to learn more about what is out there in the world. I thinks it has more to do about exposure and learning.
AH: What was the hardest thing about transitioning to life in the United States?
NM: I think it was knowing how to act and talk with the people here in certain ways. When you are from a different culture, you follow different customs. This was a little bit rough. It wasn't the hardest thing. the hardest thing would be not being with my family. Not having that support. On the other hand, it was also nice to be more independent.
AH: How is your life in the United States different from your life in Nepal?
NM: it's a lot different. I always wanted to be in dependant but I did not know what it would be like. I have learned to deal with things on my own not to depend on others. I think I am enjoying life. I have good friends and good people all around. And I really miss the food and the weather.
AH; was there any difficulties that you have faced here in school where English is now the dominant language?
NM: Not at all. Because I have been speaking in English from a very young age. I learned my native language, Nepali, at home but as soon as I got admitted to a school I started to learn English.
AH: Is this the same case for all or most students from Nepal?
NM: No, I don't think so. There are schools in Nepal where you get to choose the language in which you want to be taught in.  But most schools in Nepal teach in English.
AH:I know you touched on this earlier and I am sure you miss it a lot, how does the climate here differ from Nepal?
NM: The climate here is always extreme during every season. It's either too hot during summer or extremely cold during winter. But there are a few states in the U.S where the weather is perfect all year around. You feel blessed to be in those areas. In Nepal we never spoke or were concerned about the weather. It did not make a huge difference. However, I always have to update myself  regarding the weather here because it can  reach extreme conditions. I never did this during my stay in Nepal. I love the weather back home.
AH: You have also mentioned some of the social norms which are different in the U.S from Nepal, are there any cultural differences between the United States and Nepal?
NM: There are a lot of cultural differences. The biggest difference in the U.S has a very individualistic culture. You are taught to think about yourselves first, your successes and your failures Nepal has a more collectivist culture. Everything is related others, both successes and failures. You never give to yourself only. You give it to everyone.
AH: Do others play a role in your life? I mean do they get to have a say in what you should not do?
NM: Yes, they do. I like to make my own decisions. According to our culture, our family members have a say in what we should do and should not do.
AH: The next one is my favorite question. Who takes care of the finances in your family?
NM: When I was growing up, both of my parents worked. They had their individual careers. I hate to say this but it is mostly the males who take care of the finances.
AH: When you say the males take care of the finances, do you mean that they earn more or that they decide how to spend the finances?
NM: In my family it is a joint decision. There are some decisions in which even our grand parents have a big say in. However, there is more pressure on the males. I think this is because of the culture that we have back in Nepal.
AH: How is the education system different here to that of your home country?
NM: There are a lot of differences. We do not have categories such as high school and middle school. In the city where I am from in Nepal, there is more competition and pressure on students. the curriculum is harder and longer as well. Education is more book oriented in Nepal. in the United States, you have more practical and hands on learning. However, the education system is changing in Nepal.
AH: is the relationship between a professor and a student  different in Nepal.
NM: The relationship is a little more informal in Nepal. In SCSU, the relationship between a professor and a student is more formal, well at least for International students because some of us are not very comfortable talking in a different language.
AH: You don't have to answer the next question if you do not wan to. Have you experienced any form of racism here in the United States.?
NM: Yes. I have. I have disagreed with it but it is just the way it is. It will be like this for a while and there will not be any drastic change in the near future. International students like us, people of a different color, will always be looked at in a little different way. Yes, the students here will be your friends, but there is always a little difference in the way they look at you compared to their domestic friends. People who are not even friends with can treat and talk to you in a different way. I think has a lot to do with the stereotypes that many have of foreigners.
AH: What kind of foods did you eat in your country?
NM: We had a lot of fruits and had a lot of vegetables. I kept wondering why people, especially kids, here do not like to have vegetables. May be it is because of the way the way they cook it. We eat a lot of curry and a lot of rice. we do consume too much fast food. It might be once in a while that we may eat fast food.
AH: What do you miss the most about Nepal?
NM: The valley that I lived in. I miss waking up in a Neighbourhood with surrounding green  mountains. Sometimes, I miss the snow capped mountains too. I miss my family. I used to get sick of festivals when I was back in Nepal and all the places you had to go visit with you families, but sometimes now I miss those moments as well.
AH: How often and through what medium do you get to communicate with your parents?
NM:I met my father quite a lot of times because is currently in the United States. Other than that, I get to talk to them over the phone, and Skype too.
AH: Do you usually call them or do they call you?
NM: It is kind of a mutual thing.
AH: What are your plans after you graduate?
NM: This is a question that i do not know how to answer to (Laughs). I do not know for sure what I will do after I graduate. I will probably apply for a few jobs, work for a year and then go to Grad school.
AH: Do you have plans of staying or working here?
NM: I don't want to settle here but I do want to work here for a while.
AH: Is there any particular reason why you want to go to other countries?
NM: I think some of the other countries are more laid back. There is too much stress here. You do not get to much time to spend with your family.
AH: How would you summarize your stay so far in the United States?
NM: I think it has been a positive experience. There have been a few negatives but they have led to positive outcomes in the end. It was a little rough in the beginning with so many changes. The culture here has led me to think more about me as an individual.
AH: Would you say that you have integrated in to the U.S culture or  you have still  held on to your culture? Or is it a combination of both cultures now?
NM: The culture you grew up in will never go away. It will always be there. I think I also did integrate the culture which exists here but I have not forgotten my own culture as well.
AH: Well that is all the questions that I have for you today.
NM: Thank you for interviewing me.
AH: Do you have any questions for me?
NM: No. It's fine.
AH:  Thank you very much. My professor will really appreciate the inputs that you have provided to me. Thank you for your time.
NM: Thank you too.



Country and Interview Comparisons:

       Both Sri Lanka and Nepal are located in the southern regions of Asia. However, there are a few differences in the geography of the two countries. Nepal is a landlocked country; Nepal is surround by land all around. On the other hand, Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean. Nepal has many   hills and mountains all over the country. On the other hand, the majority of the areas in Sri Lanka are mostly low, flat to rolling plain. majority of the people in Nepal re Hindus. In contrast, Budhism is the major religion in Sri Lanka.


       From my previous interviews of three International students from Sri Lanka, I learned that a collectivistic culture and society exists in Sri Lanka. People are not individualistic. There is also a tendency in people to socialize with everyone around them. Children live with their parents and may not move out before the get married. In a lot of cases, children still live with their parents after marriage. The reason behind this is the culture that exists in Sri Lanka. It is a shared belief that it is the responsibility of children to look after their parents when they turn old. It is frowned upon in society when children send the old parents to nursing homes. These cases are also true when it comes to Nepal. The people of Nepal think about their families and not just for them. Children may even stay with their parents after the get married. The children are responsible for looking after their when they turn old just like the way their parents looked after them when they were growing up.

       From all the interviews that i have conducted for this English class, I have come to understand that both males and females work in Nepal and Sri Lanka. However, males are thought to be the primary providers for the family. Although this the shared belief in the two countries, my interviewees mentioned that females have a bigger say on how to spend the income on the families. Even if the father is the only financial provider for the family, the mother will still have a big say regarding how the father plans to spend his money.

      In conclusion, I can say that Nepal and Sri Lanka have similarities in their culture. What differentiates the two countries on a major scale are the geographic aspects of the two countries.

Book that I will use for my final project

                     Works Cited Page

Feller, Tessa. Nepal.  London: Kuperard,2008.
       Print.

Hagan, Toni ,et al. Nepal: The Kingdom in the Himalayas
       Chicago: Berne, Kümmerly & Frey, 1971.
       Print.

Rose, Leo E. and Scholz, John T. Nepal: Profile of A Himalayan Kingdom.
        Boulder, Colo : Westview Press, 1980.
        Print.

 

Outline for Final Paper

For my final paper, I have decided to interview a an international student from Nepal. I have previously interviewed three students from Sri Lanka. Nepal and Sri Lnaka are located quite close to each other and I believe it will be quite interesting to see if the culture of these two countries are different or similar to each other.

I will use the same questions that I have used in my earlier interviews. The list of questions are :

1)Why did you decide to come to SCSU instead of studying or working in your own country?
2. What was the hardest thing about transitioning to the U.S.?

3.How is your life in the United States different from that in your home country?
4.Were there any difficulties that you faced in school where English is the dominant language?

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.How is the education system different here than your home country?

9. What are your personal experiences with racism since coming to the US?
10. What kind of foods did you eat in your country?
11.What do you miss the most about your country?12.How often and through what medium do you get to communicate with your parents?

13.What are your plans after you graduate?
14. How would you summarize your stay so far in the United States?


For my final project, I will have:

1. Preparation of the Interview
2. Country background of Nepal
3. My personal review of the interview
4. Transcript of the interview

After conducting the interview, I will do a comparative study of the two countries, Sri Lanka and Nepal. will look to identify the similarities and differences that exist between these two countries.

Interview 3 Winners

1) Zhao, Xiaoping ( 19 points)

http://zhaoxiaoping520.blogspot.com/

2) Siemsen, Kim-Mareike ( 19 points)

http://kimsiemsen-en191.blogspot.com/

3) Lu, Shan ( 19 points)

http://lush1001.blogspot.com/

Scorecard for The Third Interview

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0As6ghnr4lPZldFJVRUE0bVZuZEFuTE91M25ONnlNcUE&hl=en#gid=0

My Third Interview

Process Description:

For my third interview I decided to use the same flow chart that was so beneficial to me while conducting my second interview.

1. Set objectives/goals for the interview
2. Get hold of a recorder to help conducting the interview
3. Inform the interviewee about the purpose of the interview
4. Make arrangements for meeting the interviewee( Work according to her schedule since he is helping me)
5. Conduct the interview, use the recorder as well
6. Go over the recorded interview at home and write the transcript of the interviews
7. Write my personal review about the interview
8. Thank the interviewee for his time
9. Revise the transcript
10. Revise citations
11. Post the interview on the blog before the due date.

In my opinion, my process worked very well because I did not wait for the last minute to conduct the interview. I gave myself ample time to get the job done. The hardest part was arranging a time for the interview since both my interviewee and I had very busy schedules.Moreover, transcribing the interview was not as hard as it was during the first two interviews.

For my third interview, I have actually conducted two interviews. I thought my first interview went alright but when I started to transcribe, it did not feel too good for me. Hence, I ended up interviewing a second person, who I had kept as a back up. I thought the second interview went reasonable well.

Personal Review of the Interview:

I think the interview went pretty smoothly. We were not as comfortable as the first two interviews which I conducted, but I thought it was still very good. Moreover, Dilukshi ( my interviewee) has really helped me out since my original third interview was below par, in my opinion.

During the interview I though Dilukshi was a little hesitant about sharing her experiences with racism. She mentioned those instances but she did not go into much detail about them. Therefore, I decided to change the topic so that she does not feel uncomfortable. Moreover, my interview did not last as long as I would have loved it to be since Dilukshi had some prior obligations. At the end of the day, I was happy with the end result





Country Report:


       Sri Lanka is a small country in South-East Asia. I took advantage of the World Fact Book to find out information about Sri Lanka. From an article in the World Fact Book, I have learned the following things . It is believed that the first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka in the 6th century B.C. from northern India. Buddhism started to spread in Sri Lanka in the middle of the third century. A Tamil kingdom was established in Sri Lanka in the 14th century and coastal areas of the island where under the control in the 16th century. The Dutch came to control the coastal areas in the early 17th century. The country was under the rule of the British Empire during the late 17th century. The country was formerly known as Ceylon and became an independent country in 1948. The country was renamed as Sri Lanka in 1972. A war started to take shape between the Sinhalese, the majority of the population, and the Tamil separatists in 1983. Norway catalyzed peace negotiations and the two groups decided to give effect to a cease fire in 2002. However, war resumed in 2006 and the Sri Lankan military finally overthrew Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Liberation tigers of Tamil Eelam, in 2009.

       The article further goes on to mention that the capital city of Sri Lanka is Colombo. The country is also divided into nine different provinces: Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, and Western. The currency of Sri Lanka is Sri Lankan Rupee (SLP). Human trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation is a high profile issue in Sri Lanka. Most of the time young children are the victims of human trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor.

Note: ( Source World fact Book (1))

       I was also able to retrieve vital information on Sri Lanla from another website. This website mentioned that " Sri Lanka is about half the size of England and lies close to the southern tip of India and near the equator. From the coast, the land rises to a central massif more than 1500 m above sea level. The climate is hot and humid - monsoon from May to September and the north-east monsoon from November to March: rainfall, particularly in the south-west, is heavy.

       Sri Lanka was severely affected by the tsunami on 26 December 2004, which killed some 40,000 people and displaced 400 – 500 thousand people along two thirds of the north-east, south and south-west coastline. Half the fishing fleet was destroyed, and a quarter of hotels in the affected areas sustained serious damage." (2)



.        Volleyball is the national sport of Sri Lanka. However, cricket is by far the most popular sport in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s national team won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1996 which has certainly helped immensely in making it the most popular sport in the country. The national team also reached the finals of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup but only to lose to the defending World Champions Australia.

References:

(1) Information paraphrased from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ce.html accessed on February 28, 2011

(2)  Information retrieved from http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/asia-oceania/sri-lanka?profile=all accessed on February 28, 2011.

.

Transcript of The Interview:


Interviewer: Asif Hussain (AH)

Interviwee: Dilukshi Abeysundara (DA)
Country: Sri Lanka

AH: Hello. My name is Asif Hussain.

DA: Hi. I am Dilukshi Abeysundara .

AH: Where are you from Dilukshi?

DA: I am from Sri Lanka. What about you?

AH: I am from Bangladesh. Very close to Sri Lanka.

DA: Very close indeed.

AH: So how was your day?

DA: I had a very long day. Wednesdays are my longest days since I have to attend classes and then work.

AH: I see. Well at least the weekend is pretty near.

DA: I live for the weekends.

AH: Well Dilukshi, thank you for your time to help me out. This is actually a project fro my English class. Our assignment is to interview International students.

DA: OK.

AH: Is it okay if I record this interview?

DA: Yes. Sure.

AH: First off I would like to ask you why you decided to come to the United States  and to St. Cloud State University instead of studying or working in your home country?

DA: Well, I always wanted to study in the United States. As I was going over my options, I noticed that St. Cloud State University did not have that high of tuition and fees compared to other schools. Moreover, I was also eligible for an International student scholarship which further decreased the cost of school for me.

AH: Was it difficult for you to adjust to life in the U.S?

DA: Actually it was. I was not used to living away from my parents. Moreover, I was also not used to cook for myself. When I first moved here, it was like a new world to me. Now I am a lot better off because I have learned how to cook.

AH: How long have you not seen your parents?

DA: Actually they came here during winter break. But this was the first time I saw them in over a couple of years.

AH: And before they came to visit, how were you able to keep in touch with them?

DA: Mostly through Skype and they would call me on my cell phone once in a while.

AH: So Dilukshi, can you please tell me what the education system is like in Sri Lanka?

DA: Well, in my high school we followed the British education system. I had to take " Ordinary Level" and " Advanced Level" exams. Most of the Universities in Sri Lanka are government owned. They are pretty good but it is very hard to get into them since they can only accommodate a limited number of students.

AH: Have you faced any difficulties in SCSU where English is the dominant language?

DA: To some extent yes. Back in Sri Lanka, we did learn English since we followed the British education system. However, the quality of my English is not up to the standards pf the domestics students here. Hence, especially in a English writing class, my assignments were not the best.

AH: Is this the same for all students who come to SCSU from Sri Lanka?

DA: More or less I suppose. Some of us have exceptionally good English.

AH: And how different is the climate here to that of Sri Lanka?

DA: Very different. We never get any snow. Moreover, it stays very hot for most parts of the year.

AH: Was it difficult for you to live in the cold?

DA: At first it was really difficult. But I was very interested in experience it. And sometimes a little change is good for you.

AH: What kind of foods did you eat in Sri Lanka?

DA: A lot of curry. As you may know, Sri Lanka is an island. Hence, there are a lot of coconut trees in Sri Lanka. We used coconut in most of our foods.

AH: How do you like the food here?

DA: It's okay. I mostly cook at home so I usually get to eat the kind of food I ate back home. They hardest part is cooking for yourself. I do go to some of the Chinese restaurants here and I absolutely love them.

AH: You have mentioned the food and climate of Sri Lanka, but what do you miss the most about your country?

DA: Definitely my parents. I was brought up in a culture where the family ties are very strong. My family was always involved in my life. I miss them the most.

AH: How would you describe the family ties in a typical American country?

DA: Strong to a certain extent. However, most children start doing their own thing when they are 18 years or so. They move out of their parents house and their parents are not always aware of what their children are up to. It is very different in Sri Lanka?

AH: How so?

DA: Well, children do not move out of their parents' houses until they get married. Sometimes they will still live with their parents after they get married.

AH: Would you  say that this a cultural difference between Sri Lanka and St. Cloud?

DA: Not only between Sri Lanka and St. Cloud but also between Sri Lanka and the United States in general. Here, some of my American friends have told me that that they started getting embarrassed living with their parents when they turned 18 or 19. They could not wait to rent their own and have their own car.

AH: Do you think other cultural differences exists between the two countries?

DA: Yes. The people of Sri Lanka are extremely social. I knew all of my neighbours back home. However, here in St. Cloud, this is not the case. I have not had the opportunity  to speak to the girl who lives in the next apartment. There is a more sense of community back in Sri Lanka.

AH: Did you experience any sort of racism in the United States?

DA: Yes  I did.

AH: Would you be willing to share some of your experiences?

DA: Well, in most cases it was in downtown St. Cloud. A few drunk people made stereotypical Indian jokes where as I am not from India. I try to avoid such circumstances.

AH: Well moving on, I really want to know who take care of the finances in your family in Sri Lanka?

DA: My father. He is the only one who works. My mother is a house-wife.

AH: Okay. Now on to my second financial question. Does your mother have a say in how your father spends his money?

DA: Actually, my father hands his pay check to my mother. She usually decides how to allocate these funds. My father trusts my mother a lot and feels she knows better how to spend the money to benefit the family.

AH: Wow! That is great. Dilukshi, how has your life changed after coming here?

DA: Immensely. I have grown as a person and have had to come out my shell. I am still a shy person but I feel more confident in my abilities and mental strength. I have learned how to interact with people from different culture but most importantly, I have learned how to live on my own. Although it has been a very tough experience, I am glad I decided to study in the United States. It has definitely made me a better person.

AH: Well thank you Dilukshi for your inputs. this interview has been a great educational experience for me. Is there anything that you would like ask me?

DA: Yes. When you transcribe, can you please send me a copy as well? I would like to see your finished work.

AH: Most certainly. I will make sure you get a copy. Thank you very much for your time. I hope we can still keep in touch.

DA: Definitely. Have a good day.

AH: You too.




 

Outline for Country Presentation

Group Members
Asif Hussain
Alexandra Holker
Maggie Schwagel
Kim Siemsen

  Outline

A.                  Culture

1.                   Government

a.       Development of government in Nepal

b.      Corruptive government in Sri Lanka

2.                   Religion

a.       Main religions in Nepal

b.      Main religions in Sri Lanka

B.                  Education

1.                   Reasons for studying in the U.S.

a.       Lack of facilities and free choice in Sri Lanka

b.      No hands-on learning and poor quality facilities in Nepal

2.                   Educational facilities in home country

a.       Two different types of schooling systems in Sri Lanka

b.      No government funding in Nepal

C.                  Social

1.                   Food

a.       More flavor and ingredients

b.      Preference of home countries’ food

2.                   Family life

a.       Strong family ties

b.      Keeping in contact with home

Winners of Interview 2

1) Vidura Wickramasinghe (18 points)

http://en191s11vidura.blogspot.com/

2) Stephanie Van Houtan ( 17 points)

http://stephvanhoutanen191s11.blogspot.com/

3) Cristopher Klaphake (17 points)

http://chrisklaphaken191s11.blogspot.com/

Interview 2 Score Card

https://spreadsheets0.google.com/ccc?hl=en&key=tZOBjIT10cY0GaAL_d-D9WQ&hl=en#gid=0

My Second Interview

Process Description


For my second interview, I used the following flow chart to prepare for my interview.

1. Make a flow chart of how to prepare for the interviews
2. Set objectives/goals for the interview
3. Get hold of a recorder to help conducting the interview
4. Come up with questions for the interview
5. Make a list of possible interviewees
6. Politely ask the interviewee if he is willing to participate in the interview
7. Inform the interviewee about the purpose of the interview
8. Make arrangements for meeting the interviewee( Work according to his schedule since he is helping me)
9. Write a country report of the interviewee's homeland
10. Conduct the interview, use the recorder as well
11. Go over the recorded interview at home and write the transcript of the interviews
12. Write my personal review about the interview
13. Thank the interviewee for his time
14. Revise the transcript
15. Revise citations
16. Post the interview on the blog before the due date.

       Since I had a predetermined flow chart, organizing the interview did not produce complications for me. I had to work around my interviewee's schedule since he has a very schedule. My interviewee told me he would be more comfortable if we met at a public place. Hence I suggested the Library at SCSU. I booked a room for us to conduct the interview and I think the interview went very smoothly.


       After conducting the interview, I transcribed the interview the day before the assignment was due to be uploaded on the blog. It was a very time consuming process but I managed to power through the process. Since my interviewee was from the same country as my first interviewee, I used the same country report for both of the interviews.


Personal Review of The Interview:

      
       I think my second interview went very smoothly. Both Nimesh ( my interviewee) and I were very comfortable and casual through out the interview. Nimesh some of the hardships he has faced in the United States in the form racism. He was not shy to keep his story about him being assaulted to himself. He is a person who has a philosophical outlook on life.

      After the interview, I have realized that Nimesh is not driven by the greed of money. He wants to lead a good life and would like to travel to other parts of the world to find out about the different cultures that exist all over the world. He has his own principles. some of which are very strong, and he is not afraid to share it with the rest of the world.

       After interviewing Nimesh, I have the view that Sri Lanka has a very social culture. Everyone is willing to get  to know others on a personal level. Moreover, although the culture is starting to change in Sri Lanka, people are very much aware of its change and are still trying t o hold on to their traditional culture.

       The thing that I found most surprising about Sri Lanka is that all education from high-school onwards is free for everyone. I come from a country very close to Sri Lanka but I regret to say that our education system is nothing like that of Sri Lanka's.






Country Report:


       Sri Lanka is a small country in South-East Asia. I took advantage of the World Fact Book to find out information about Sri Lanka. From the article in the World Fact Book, I have learned that the country is also an island in the Indian Ocean and is located south of India. It is believed that the first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka in the 6th century B.C. from northern India. Buddhism started to spread in Sri Lanka in the middle of the third century. A Tamil kingdom was established in Sri Lanka in the 14th century and coastal areas of the island where under the control in the 16th century. The Dutch came to control the coastal areas in the early 17th century. The country was under the rule of the British Empire during the late 17th century. The country was formerly known as Ceylon and became an independent country in 1948. The country was renamed as Sri Lanka in 1972. A war started to take shape between the Sinhalese, the majority of the population, and the Tamil separatists in 1983. Norway catalyzed peace negotiations and the two groups decided to give effect to a cease fire in 2002. However, war resumed in 2006 and the Sri Lankan military finally overthrew Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Liberation tigers of Tamil Eelam, in 2009.

       The article further goes on to mention that the capital city of Sri Lanka is Colombo. The country is also divided into nine different provinces: Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, and Western. The currency of Sri Lanka is Sri Lankan Rupee (SLP). Human trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation is a high profile issue in Sri Lanka. Most of the time young children are the victims of human trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor.

Note: ( Source World fact Book (1))

       I was also able to retrieve vital information on Sri Lanla from another website. This website mentioned that " Sri Lanka is about half the size of England and lies close to the southern tip of India and near the equator. From the coast, the land rises to a central massif more than 1500 m above sea level. The climate is hot and humid - monsoon from May to September and the north-east monsoon from November to March: rainfall, particularly in the south-west, is heavy.

       Sri Lanka was severely affected by the tsunami on 26 December 2004, which killed some 40,000 people and displaced 400 – 500 thousand people along two thirds of the north-east, south and south-west coastline. Half the fishing fleet was destroyed, and a quarter of hotels in the affected areas sustained serious damage." (2)

        Volleyball is the national sport of Sri Lanka. However, cricket is by far the most popular sport in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s national team won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1996 which has certainly helped immensely in making it the most popular sport in the country. The national team also reached the finals of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup but only to lose to the defending World Champions Australia.

References:

(1) Information paraphrased from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ce.html accessed on February 28, 2011

(2)  Information retrieved from http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/asia-oceania/sri-lanka?profile=all accessed on February 28, 2011.

Transcript of the Interview


Interviewer: Asif Hussain (AH)

Interviwee: Nimesh Wickramasinghe (NW)
Country: Sri Lanka

AH: Hi, my name is Asif Hussain.

NW:I'm Nimesh Wickramasinghe.

AH: Thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to help me out.
NW: No worries.

AH:This is actually a project for my English class. Our professor wants us to interview International students to know more about their culture and the many difficulties they may have faced while transitioning to the United States. Here is a list of questions that I would like to ask you today. Before we start may I get you something to drink. Tea, coffee, or water may be?

NW: No, thank you. I'm good.

AH: So how was your day today?

NW: It was alright. It is a Sunday so last  night, which was a Saturday night, we had fun.

AH: Busy week huh?

NW: Yes very busy.

AH: It is getting to that time of the semester right when you have a lot of quizzes?

NW: Yeah. I'm actually lagging behind like always. ( Chuckles)

AH: So what year are you in?

NW: This is actually my last year. I have been here for over three years now and I have only one semester to go.

AH: What is your major?

NW: My major is Aviation Management.

AH: I heard that SCSU is planning on cutting the Aviation department.

NW: Yes, they are. We are actually the last students who will graduate from SCSU in this field.

AH: If it's alright may I start with the questions?

NW: Yes, go ahead.

AH: First off I would like to ask you why you decided to come to the United States  and to St. Cloud State University instead of studying or working in your home country?

NW: Back home, I studied in a British high-school. I took the British high school exams which are the Ordinary level exams and the Advanced level exams. With these exams at hand, my options for higher education  were in either the United States, Australia, or the United Kingdom. The U.S was the cheapest choice for me and SCSU also offered me a scholarship which let me pay the in-state tuition amount rather than the out-of-state tuition. SCSU also had a Aviation program  which i wanted to study. hence, I chose SCSU.

AH: I actually came to SCSU for the reason since I also followed the British education system during my high-school. What was the hardest thing about transitioning to the United States from Sri Lanka?

NW: There is not a lot. Society is quite individualistic here which was kind of a cultural shock for me. Everybody is busy doing their own thing. There is not much of a community upbringing.

AH: How is your life in the United States different from your life in your home country?

NW: As I mentioned before. it's very individualistic. Back home life is structured in a way that even if you are on your own you still get support from everybody else around you. Life here is a lot stressful I would say. You always have to be on your toes and on the edge or else you lose out. It's  very competitive. I would say this is the difference.

AH: Would you say that the competition here is a healthy competition or a deconstructive one?

NW: Sometimes the competition is constructive, other times it is not. If a human being does not  have a healthy life style it is not good. You can see a lot depression in the United States. If you study the rates of how depression has increased over the past years, I think you would know they are heading in a bad direction.

AH: Have you personally faced any difficulties in school where English is now the dominant language?

NW: Personally, I have not. My mother is an English teacher back home and she was also teaching me to speak Singalese, which is the language of Sri Lanka. Hence it was not a problem for me at all.

AH: What would say about the other students from Sri Lanka face regarding English?

NW: Actually some of my friends, who did not grow up in an English spoken environment, faced some difficulties. However, they are catching on really good. Once you are put in an environment, you always adapt.

AH: What would say about the climate of Sri Lanka compared to the climate here?

NW: It is completely different. However,the summers are pretty much the same. I come form central Sri Lanka where it is not humid but the summers here are very humid.Sri Lanka has the monsoon season. Here, six moths of the year is completely frozen.

AH: Were you able to adjust to the cold here?

NW: Yes. Personally, I was very interested in it because I have never experienced snow. I loved my first winter here. Now I am kind of getting sick of it.

AH: Apart form the individualistic culture here that you have mentioned, what would you say are some of the other cultural differences?

NW: Culture here is very materialistic. It is driven my materialism. The U.S is a mixture of people from all over the world. You have to assimilate into one culture ans shed some of your own cultures. However, I see that the new culture is not made by the people. People did not get together to make their own culture but rather culture is more materialistic where it is more profit-based. Back home there is a lot of culture. However, as the world is becoming more globalized, there is a change coming into the Sri Lankan culture.

AH: The next question that I have for you is my favorite question from my list since it concerns my field of study. Who takes care of the finances in your family?

NW: When I was growing up my father was taking care of the finances. He has his own business. he is a video producer. He took care of all the finances. My mother is am English teacher but she does not make much since she is a public sector worker. She saves most of her pay check since my father takes care of the day to day costs. She saves her money for a rainy day such as when I have to pay for my tuition.

AH: Does you mother have a say in how your father spends his income while covering the day to day expenses?

NW: My mum lets him know whatever has to be done in the house and then he finances these tasks.

AH: How different is the education in Sri Lanka than the education system here in the United States?

NW: Over in Sri Lanka, all education form high-school to P.H.D is free of cost. The universities back home are very good but they only have a few slots open to students. The education system follows the British education system since we were colony of Britain. Back home you cannot pick all your classes in high-school. You pretty much have to study everything.

AH: Have you had any personal experiences with racism after coming here?

NW: Yeah a couple of the. I have heard of it and seen it in movies before but never really what it really was before experiencing it first hand. Nobody will know what racism is until they experience it, and to do that you have to be a minority. The past years anniversary of 9/11, some guys started calling my roommate and I names as we were walking back home. They followed us home and started urinating on our lawn. One of American roommates went down top stop them. he was physically assaulted and while I went to help him out, I faced the same consequences. 

AH: What kind of foods did you eat back at home?

NW: Rice is our main food. Then we have a lot dishes made out of coconut. We make a lot of curry. We also eat a lot of Garbanzo beans.

AH: Apart form the cultural food in Sri Lanka , are there any similarities between the food in the United States and Sri Lanka?

NW: Yes, we have the Chinese food and the popular food chains such as Pizza Hut and KFC.

AH: What do you miss the most about your country?

NW: I would like to say the freedom and the lightness of life. Life is light. I like that.

AH: Are teenagers allowed to work back in Sri Lanka where as in the United States teenagers start working very early?

NW: You are legally allowed to work in Sri Lanka when you turn fourteen. However, teenagers do not work. they start working when they are 22 years old or maybe 25.

AH: So do individuals start working after they graduate for University?

NW: Yes, that is when you start working.

AH: Now regarding your parents, how often do you get to talk to them or see them?

NW: I have not seen them for three and a half years but I do get to talk to them over the Internet.

AH: Is this a good substitute to spending time with them in person?

NW: It is never the same but it is the closest you can get.

AH: Have they ever thought of visiting you?

NW: Yes, my mother is planning on coming during next December when I graduate.

AH: What do you plan to do after graduation?

NW: After I graduate, I would  like to do an internship. I do not want to start work immediately. I would like to travel first. two of my room mates who are form here, want to go to Sri Lanka as they are film student and my father owns video company. They want to work for him and they want me to go along with them. I also want to do that since it is in me to make films. We want to make a a few documentaries about the recent wars in Sri Lanka.

AH: Was it easy for you to socialize with your room mates who are from the United States?

NW: Fortunately for me, I moved into the house with personally knowing them. We became good friends within a month. As long as people forget all the prejudices, you know that everyone is a human being.

AH: So how would you summarize your stay in the United States so far?

NW: A revolutionary experience.

AH: Could you elaborate on that a little?

NW: It has given me a whole different perspective and made me realize that there could be a billion other perspectives. It has totally revolutionized my mind and they way I think and look at things. It has also made my mind a lot more open. I think it is not only because of the United States. It is because I grew in one country and then moved to a whole different place. i think everyone should travel  and live in a place and culture that is different to theirs. That will be a good experience for them.

AH: I would really like to thank you for giving me time. I have also learned a lot from this interview itself. I am sure my professor will also appreciate that you have shared your insights and views about the culture that exists in both Sri Lanka and in the United States. Thanks a lot and hopefully I will see you again.

NW: I wish you good luck with your project.

AH: Thank you.

　

My Three Winners

1) BeiBei Wei ( 18 points)

Wei, Beibei

2) Kyle Louks ( 18 points)

Louks, Kyle

3) Shan Lu      (18 points)

Lu, Shan

Scorecard

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0As6ghnr4lPZldFF5dlJ5NjUxNkoxYTV1WC1LNjEzUkE&hl=en&pli=1#gid=0

My First Interview

Process Description:

       For the initial step in preparing for the interview, I came up with twenty questions on my own. These were the questions I wanted to ask the interviewee. This was actually part of the class assignment as well. In class, all the students were divided to into groups and we cumulatively decided on seven questions that everyone would ask their interviewee. The professor also asked us to come with our own seven questions in addition to the seven core questions. This was the process in which I came up with fourteen questions for my interviewee. The questions are as follows:

1.Why did you decide to come to SCSU instead of studying or working in your own country?
2. What was the hardest thing about transitioning to the U.S.?

3.How is your life in the United States different from that in your home country?
4.Were there any difficulties that you faced in school where English is the dominant language?

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.How is the education system different here than your home country?

9. What are your personal experiences with racism since coming to the US?
10. What kind of foods did you eat in your country?
11.What do you miss the most about your country?

12.How often and through what medium do you get to communicate with your parents?

13.What are your plans after you graduate?
14. How would you summarize your stay so far in the United States?

       Regarding finding an interviewee, I asked a couple of my friends if they could suggest a few of their friends. I decided not to choose my friends as I had a feeling that they would turn the interview process into a joke. Moreover, I thought it was a good idea to get out of my way and try to learn from person who was not an acquaintance of mine.

       I scheduled the interview according to the schedule of my interviewee. I also checked out a digital recorder for the Miller Center in order to record the interview.

       During the interview, I was very cautious not to exert too much pressure on my interviewee. I also let the interviewee talk about whatever he wanted to but I guided him slightly towards the questions I needed answers for. However, I was very grateful towards my interviewee since he shared a lot information, information that I was not initially looking for.

       Transcribing the interview was the hardest part of the assignment since it was time consuming. I wore headphones and started transcribing as I was hearing the conversation over and over again. I finally finished transcribing after working on it for approximately 3 and a half hours.

       For the country report I used two websites. I retrieved information from the following links:

• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ce.html
• http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/asia-oceania/sri-lanka?profile=all

Personal Review of the Interview:

       I was a little nervous while initializing the interview. However, my interviewee, Charith Rozario, actually made me more comfortable as the interview kept on proceeding. He was very helpful in the sense that he offered to share a lot of information.

       The thing that fascinated me the most about the most was when we discussed who takes care of the finances in his family. Rozario explained to me that the sole provider of the family was his father. However, when it came to deciding how to utilize the funds provided by the father, 60% of the decisions were made by the mother. He further added that it is part of his culture that mothers’ are mostly responsible for taking care of the family. This is quite different from the culture of the United States and even my home country, Bangladesh.

       I found a lot of similarities between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, thanks to Rozario. The foods in both the countries are very similar, consisting of a lot of spices and curry.

       I felt sorry for Charith when he shared that he was treated unfairly by one of his professors ( he decided not to reveal his professor’s identity ). He was not allowed to go inside the Air Tower in one of is class tours to the airport. He felt it was unfair since he pays for his own education just like the domestic students but was treated differently.

       My objectives were satisfied by the interview. I got to learn about the culture that exists in Sri Lanka and the best times to make a trip to the country. I got to know about a lot of the hardships he faces in life in the United States and I am convinced that he will be very prosperous in life since he has a lot of determination.

Country Report:


Begin Clip (1) :


       Sri Lanka is a small country in South-East Asia. The country is also an island in the Indian Ocean and is located south of India. It is believed that the first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka in the 6th century B.C. from northern India. Buddhism started to spread in Sri Lanka in the middle of the third century. A Tamil kingdom was established in Sri Lanka in the 14th century and coastal areas of the island where under the control in the 16th century. The Dutch came to control the coastal areas in the early 17th century. The country was under the rule of the British Empire during the late 17th century. The country was formerly known as Ceylon and became an independent country in 1948. The country was renamed as Sri Lanka in 1972. A war started to take shape between the Sinhalese, the majority of the population, and the Tamil separatists in 1983. Norway catalyzed peace negotiations and the two groups decided to give effect to a cease fire in 2002. However, war resumed in 2006 and the Sri Lankan military finally overthrew Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Liberation tigers of Tamil Eelam, in 2009.


       The capital city of Sri Lanka is Colombo. The country is also divided into nine different provinces: Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, and Western. The currency of Sri Lanka is Sri Lankan Rupee (SLP). Human trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation is a high profile issue in Sri Lanka. Most of the time young children are the victims of human trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor.


End Clip (1).

　

Begin Clip (2)       

        Sri Lanka is about half the size of England and lies close to the southern tip of India and near the equator. From the coast, the land rises to a central massif more than 1500 m above sea level. The climate is hot and humid - monsoon from May to September and the north-east monsoon from November to March: rainfall, particularly in the south-west, is heavy.


       Sri Lanka was severely affected by the tsunami on 26 December 2004, which killed some 40,000 people and displaced 400 – 500 thousand people along two thirds of the north-east, south and south-west coastline. Half the fishing fleet was destroyed, and a quarter of hotels in the affected areas sustained serious damage.

End Clip (2).

        Volleyball is the national sport of Sri Lanka. However, cricket is by far the most popular sport in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s national team won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1996 which has certainly helped immensely in making it the most popular sport in the country. The national team also reached the finals of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup but only to lose to the defending World Champions Australia.

References:

(1) Information paraphrased from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ce.html accessed on February 28, 2011

(2)  Information retrieved from http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/asia-oceania/sri-lanka?profile=all accessed on February 28, 2011.

 

Transcript of the Interview

Interviewer: Asif Hussain (AH)

Country: Bangladesh

Interviewee: Charith Rozario (CR)

Country: Sri Lanka

AH: Hello. My name is Asif Hussain.

CH: I’m Charith Rozario.

AH: Well first off I would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to help me out.

CH: Oh! That’s totally fine.

AH: So how was your day?

CH: It wasn’t too bad, classes and homework.

AH: Are you looking forward to the weekend?

CH: Yes! I’m planning on doing something fun.

AH: Any big plans?

CH: Work. (Chuckles)

AH: Sounds fun.

CH: Yeah it’s not too bad.

AH: So if you don’t mind me asking, where do you work?

CH: Oh that’s totally fine. I work for residential Life as a Night Security.

AH: I would like to explain what we are doing today. This is actually an assignment for my English Class. Our professor wanted us to interview three International students. Before we start, is it okay if I record this conversation?

CH: yeah it’s totally fine.

AH: Thanks. This would really help me in documenting our conversation. Before we start the questions can I offer you some tea or anything.

CH: Oh no. I am totally fine.

AH: So this is the list of questions I’ll be asking you today. First off, I would like to ask you why you decided to come to Saint Cloud State University instead of studying or working in your own country?

CH: Actually it’s a long story but I’ll make it short for you. After completing high school, I was looking for a higher education program. I joined a community college back home. We followed the American education system. I had to join a Community College because we have only five government universities at home. You have to have very high points to get admitted to those universities. After completing my Diploma, a couple of friends and I were looking for universities abroad. We identified five universities. One of these five was Saint Cloud State University. Fortunately for me, I had one of my high school mates studying in St. Cloud State University. He gave me information about the school and advised me that this is not a bad school to start your Undergraduate degree in. So this is why I came to this school rather than going somewhere else; they offered me a scholarship and hence the tuition and fees were not as high as other universities.

AH: Actually I also came to St. Cloud Stats since one of my high school buddies was going to school here.

CH: I guess that’s the most common reason for International student to come here. Everybody have somebody going to school her and they manage to get the information about the school from them somehow.

AH: Yes. That makes a lot of sense. Well when you came here, what was the hard thing in transitioning to the United States?

CH: Let’s see. There are a few things. First would be the language barrier. We studied English back home but it was our second language. Hence, I had to improve my listening, speaking, and understanding skills. Second reason would be the weather. The weather in Sri Lanka is like the summer over here. I came here during the Spring semester and it was 0 degrees outside. Hence it was very hard the first couple of months. The other reason would be staying away from family and friends and having to adapt to a whole new culture.

AH: Where there any difficulties in school were English now is the dominant language?

CH: In the beginning it was a little tough. Some professors speak very fast so it took sometime to understand their speeches. In contrast, it was easy for the domestic students to understand since they were used to the accent. Other than this, there were not too many problems since I studied English back in Sri Lanka. However, I have a few Chinese friends for whom it was very difficult. They had to take the help translators very often. For some students it’s really hard and for other International students the difficulty level is moderate.

AH: And regarding your family, how often do you get to talk to them and through what medium?

CH: Through online chatting and Skype. I talk to them three to four times a week. Communicating is not too tough but the thing is you don’t get to experience their presence.

AH: I understand that. I face the same difficulties. And the climate, how different is it form the climate in Minnesota?

CH: Back in Sri Lanka, we don’t have only the four seasons experienced here. We have a dry season and a rainy season. Let’s say from February to August it rains and the rest of the months it’s sunny. It’s not the same in Minnesota. We have summer, spring, autumn, and winter. We get freezing temperatures here but back in Sri Lanka the temperature range in 65 degrees to 8o degrees. It’s pretty warm back home.

AH: I have faced a lot of difficulties in transitioning to Minnesota so I want to ask you how different has your life been here from your life back home

CH: To be honest life back home was very easy. It might have been easier because I was younger. Since I was around my parents, I did not have much responsibilities or duties that I need to complete by the end of the day. My parents did most of the work for me. Here it’s the other way around. You do not have anybody to finish your tasks. Life here has been challenging since I don’t have my friends around me anymore.

AH: Do you prefer the life here or the life you had back in Sri Lanka.

CH: It’s a 50-50 call. Life here has made me grow up a lot. Life back home is very good to chill out. I had more freedom back in Sri Lanka in the sense that I did not have so many obligations.

AH: That’s true. So what are some of the cultural difference between Sri Lanka and the United States?

CH: Probably everything. (Smiles). Food and the culture itself. We use a lot of spices in our food and we have a very old history. My countries history and culture actually originated from India. The culture is totally different. It is hard to explain.

AH: Yes , I understand that.

CH: We don’t have a very westernized culture back home.

AH: Can you please elaborate a little bit on the type of food you ate in Sri Lanka?

CH: The main dish is rice. We have three of four curry side dishes. Most of them contain a lot of coconut. Sri Lanka is famous for exporting coconuts and spices. Recently we have had some western food in Sri Lanka.

AH: Now that you eat American food here, do you miss the food found in Sri Lanka?

CH: I do miss it but I also cook here but it is very time consuming. It's not too bad I guess. There are a few places in St. Cloud where you can get some Asian Food.

AH: Oh really. Where?

CH: We have the Star of India on Division Street and several Chinese restaurants.

AH: Yes I have been to a few Chinese restaurants but I am yet to try out the Indian restaurant. May be I will some time soon.

CH: Yes that place is not bad. It’s always crowded during the weekends.

AH: How is the education system different here than the one in Sri Lanka?

CH: It is actually easier here. The syllabus is longer back home. Moreover, exams are cumulative. One you finish taking an exam you are not done with the materials the exam contained. You will be asked questions in addition to newer questions in the next exam. At the end of my high school, I was asked questions on materials which took me two years to finish. Moreover, the exam was only two and a half hours long. Education was more challenging back home.

AH: Have you had any experiences with racism here?

CH: I don’t like to mention names but I experienced a couple of racism issues with my professors. At certain times we were ignored during tours and etc. I am majoring in Aviation. I had to take an Airport Tower Control course in one of my semesters. On a tour of a tour, International students were prohibited to enter the tower. I feel bad because they grant us the opportunity to spend on college here but we are at times treated differently from the domestic students.

AH: Was this a general issue or was that issue regarding only a few professors?

CH: Some people are really friendly and very willing to help and some are the opposite.

AH: So what are your plans after graduation?

CH: I have a year left here. I’m thinking of doing my Masters. Most probably I will go to Canada. I am yet to make a final decision.

AH: If you don’t mind if I ask, why do you want to move across the border to Canada?

CH: The thing is that I am a student of Aviation Management and ever since the 9/11 incident, it is very hard for an International student to land a job in my field of study. Moreover, the U.S economy is also not very stable at the moment. In addition, I also have some friends and family members in Canada. These are the main reasons why I am thinking of Canada.

AH: Yes, Canada is by no means a bad choice.

CH: Yeah but it is also very cold there. (Haha)

AH: Pretty similar to St. Cloud huh?

CH: I think it is even more colder there.

AH: So what do you miss the most about your country?

CH: My parents! I am a family person. Since my relatives lived far away from our house, I spent a lot of time with my parents and also my sister. So yeah that has to be what I miss the most.

AH: Have they ever visited you?

CH: Not yet. They are actually planning to do so during my graduation ceremony. They also haven’t been able to visit since a two way ticket from Sri Lanka to the United States is very expensive.

AH: How would you summarize your stay in the United States so far?

CR: Coming here has given me a better opportunity to study, experience the real meaning of life, and to experience more cultures. I wasn’t able to experience the life I have here when I was in Sri Lanka. I have been here for two and a half years and I have grown a lot as a person. I have learnt how to live away from your family as well.

AH: Did you work back home?

CR: No. No.

AH: Is your current job your first ever job?

CR: Yes.

AH: Who takes care of financial matters back home?

CR: My father is the sole provider for the family and my mother is a house wife.

AH: When it comes to making decisions on how to spend the money, which parent makes the decisions? The father, the mother, or is a combination of both the parents?

CR: Actually 60 % of such decisions are made by my mother. Most of the thoughts and ideas come from my mother. I guess this is one of the cultural differences between Sri Lanka and the United States. Family matters are mostly handled by the wives in Sri Lanka.

AH: I think that says a lot about the culture as well.

CR: Yes. It is actually quite different here in America.

AH: I have been very interested about Sri Lanka after hearing what you have had to say. May be I will visit the country someday and try out the spicy foods that you have spoken about.

CR: The best time to visit Sri Lanka is between June and August. We have a festivals taking place during these months. Most tourists visit Sri Lanka during these months. It will be definitely nice.

AH: I would really like to thank again for taking time out of your busy schedule to help me out .

CR: No, thank you. It was my pleasure to offer a helping hand.

AH: I have learned a lot of things from you which will definitely help me to adjust to life in the United States as I am also an International student. Thank you for you time and sharing your knowledge and your experiences. Hope I get to talk to you again soon.

CR: Yup! We sure will someday.

AH: Have a nice day.

CR: You too!