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:
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!
