GETTING READY FOR THE INTERVIEW
When thinking about who I was going to interview, I had no idea where to start. I didnt know any international students, so how was I going to find one that would sit and talk with me about who they are as a person and why they came to the U.S. I started out by asking Emily if she knew anyone that would be able to help me out. I was so lucky that she connected me with one of her friends right away.
When I was preparing for the interview, I connected with Quiwen on facebook first. I was able to get her number and I let her pick a day that worked with her schedule. Once we found a day that worked for both of us, I asked her what time would be best for her. She chose 4 o'clock on friday. We decided to meet at the library, a place that was common enough that she would feel comfortable.
I arrived at the interview 15 minutes early. I wanted to make sure that I beat Quiwen there, so she was not waiting around for me. She also arrived early. Once she got to the library, I asked her where she would like to have the interview in the library. She picked a place and on our way there I had small talk with her, just to have her open up enough so that she felt comfortable enough to have the interview and open up to me. We then sat down at the table and began the interview.
CULTURAL BACKGROUND PAPER AFTER THE INTERVIEW
Once the main questions of the interview were over, we had a little more small talk to end the interview, just so it was not so cut off. During this time, I asked her if she had any questions for me. She asked me a question that I had no idea how to answer. She asked what she could do to improve her english speaking ability. I never thought about how to do that. I told her just by reading and talking to native speakers would help her alot.
I thought that the interview went very nicley. It ended up being about 35 minutes and I felt that there never was any awkward pauses where there was nothing getting said. There were times where I found myself talking a little to much, which is something that I know I already have a problem with. I also found that I have to be clearer with my questions. They can be broad and Quiwen didn't know how to answer them. I also have to make sure that I am explaining them to her so that she can understand what I am asking her.
I think this was a good first interview, but I have alot of room for improvement. I think that by doing this, I was able to learn how to conduct myself in a situation that I had not ever been in before. Quiwen felt comfortable with me and I felt comfortable with her. We had some laughing going on which is what matters. I was able to talk to someone about important matters, but also make sure that I was not coming off to strong.
There are many different aspects of Chinese culture. Looking at some different background facts, I was able to see how different Chinese culture is from my own. While looking at the Chinese culture, I was able to look more in depth in to the holidays that are important, food, and some basic philosophy of the Chinese culture.
Chinese culture is one of the oldest cultures in existence. It has a recorded history as early as 1700 BC. Many of the traditions and beliefs in current Chinese culture have been shaped by their ancient history. This paper will explore some of the aspects of the traditional culture as well as the modern culture of China.
Though many parts of the Chinese culture are more modern today, there are still many aspects of the traditional culture present. They still hold traditional festivals to pay tribute to the ancient history. They have many original sounds in their current music and they still observe traditional art designs in many stores. Chinese culture is almost split into two subcultures. Some people still live a very simple and traditional style life with very little technology while other people have adopted a much more modern style of life that includes some of the world’s latest technology. However, even the more modern style of life still has a rich inheritance of the traditional culture.
The Chinese new year is the most important of all the traditional holidays. It is referred to as the Spring Festival. It is a fifteen day celebration that begins on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon fifteen days later. Since the Chinese calendar is based on solar and lunar movements, the Chinese new year falls on a different day each year. The dates can range from January 21 to February 20. The Chinese calendar is made up of five cycles that last twelve years. This creates a full sixty year cycle. Some other Chinese festivals include The Lantern Festival, The Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Traditional Chinese Festivals are one of the strongest bonds the make up the Chinese culture.
Chinese pharmacies are much different than those of the American culture. A typical Chinese pharmacy will have many plant, animal, and mineral products that are very neatly organized throughout the store in little drawers. Many different combinations can be blended to fill the prescription given by a doctor.
Food is also an important aspect of Chinese culture. They try to cook with three to five colors in one setting. They eat their food based on the aroma, texture, and color. They don’t just eat with their mouths, they eat with their eyes. When looking at China, it is easy to divide it into two parts, with them being the north and south. When doing so you can see that the north and south have different types of things that they eat.
Pastas are a big part of the northern part of China. They seem to have more oily products in their diets. While on the south side, they seem to have more spicy food. They like to use chili peppers in a lot of their dishes. This is where you will find something like rice being a main stable food for them. Along with what they eat for food being traditional, there is also a tradition for how you eat your food. They eat while sitting down. They also have a certain way that they sit down. The order is from oldest to youngest, and men to woman.
The mind is more important to the Chinese culture than materials are. Wealth is something that you do not benefit from. It is a nice thing to be wealthy, but it is not something that you value. Confucius is someone that had an important impact on the Chinese culture. He sought out to discover the nature of human beings. He thought that there should be one ruler over all of the people, and he was a strong believer in justice. Mencius, one of Confucius disciples, believed that all humans possessed a good nature at birth. He stated that the environment around them is what corrupted men.
The Yin-Yang is a symbolic symbol for the Chinese culture. Happiness is the balance between the yin and the yang. The yin is seen to be the symbol for feminism, earthy, and wet. While the yang is seen as a symbol for heavenly, men, dry, and light. When you have the right balance between the two you are seen to be happy.
I think that the whole idea Chinese culture is a good one. I feel that if cultures looked more into what other cultures had to offer then maybe we would see the common ground that we share between the two, or if we just understood each other’s culture a little more we might be able to better understand each other. I think that the idea of them taking most of what they base their culture on from the past is a good idea. Just goes along with the saying, “If you don’t learn your history, you’re doomed to repeat it.”
I got my information for the above paper from three different websites:
2) http://library.thinkquest.org/20443/culture.html visited 2/23/11
3) http://www.chineseculture.net/ visited 2/23/11
INTERVIEW
Stephanie- What was the hardest thing about transitioning to the U.S.?
Quiwen- Expressions, the first time some people say to me how is it going, I wanted to tell something about what recently happened to me. Now I know it is just hello. The Weather is very horrible here.
Stephanie- Yes, I know the weather is very horrible here. Do you have snow at home?
Quiwen- A little bit.
Stephanie- Why did you decide to come to scsu instead of studying or working in China?
Quiwen- Because the Competition in China is very high. There are a Great amount of university students , but the opportunity to find a job is very low.
Stephanie- After you get a college education will you get a job there?
Quiwen- I think I first will try to find job here. If not I will go home.
Stephanie- So, what’s your major?
Quiwen- Graphic Design.
Stephanie- What’s your opinion of the American diet.
Quiwen- Oh its very Very fatty diet. I eat at home. I cook by myself.
Stephanie- So you still eat your Chinese diet?
Quiwen- Yeah. Only thing in the American diet I like is salad.
Stephanie- What were your preconceptions about the U.S. before coming here and how have they changed?
Quiwen- I thought that people were going to want to be friends. But It’s hard to be friends with native speakers because they have their own lives. It’s hard to speak to a non native speaker when you’re a native.
Stephanie- Since coming to the US have you had any racism problems or do people look down on you?
Quiwen- No, it’s very friendly and very equal.
Stephanie- What are some cultural differences between here and your home country?
Quiwen- Great amount of difference.
Stephanie- What’s the most different?
Quiwen- When we are on the road in my country the driver don’t wait. Here it’s the walker first, but there it’s the driver first.
Stephanie- Ok, what are some other differences?
Quiwen- In my country, the dorm we live separately. We don’t live in one building. It’s not just opposite levels of the buildings.
Stephanie- Who takes care of the finances in your family.
Quiwen- My father.
Stephanie- Does your mother have a job?
Quiwen- Yes.
Stephanie- What does your dad do?
Quiwen- He is an engineer.
Stephanie- What does your mom do?
Quiwen- Accounting. How do you say that?
Stephanie- Your mom is an accountant. Do you have any sibling?
Quiwen- No, we have the one child policy.
Stephanie- What’s customary in your family for dating? Are you allowed to date? Do you have to wait a certain time?
Quiwen- My parents tell me you shouldn’t have a boyfriend until you find the right person or until you turn 24. But actually I have boyfriend now for two weeks.
Stephanie- What do you miss the most about home?
Quiwen- My parents.
Stephanie- What do you miss about your culture at home?
Quiwen- The food and some entertainment like singing.
Stephanie- Does china have a lot of parades?
Quiwen- In some particular places we have them but most places don’t have it.
Stephanie- What do you like about being an international student?
Quiwen- We can meet different people and experience different culture. I think we can increase our own value.
Stephanie- Is learning English really difficult?
Quiwen- I don’t think it is more difficult when you compare English and Chinese. I think Chinese is harder. The Chinese vocabulary is hard to learn.
Stephanie- How long have you been studying English?
Quiwen- Since I was 8 years old.
Stephanie- Do you get to talk to your family a lot?
Quiwen- We usually chat online and through video.
Stephanie- How often do you talk with them?
Quiwen- Once a week and we have a fixed time.
Stephanie- When is that?
Quiwen- Usually on the weekend.
Stephanie- What do people in your country do for fun on the weekend?
Quiwen- Its different between men and women. Then women enjoy going shopping and chatting with each other and playing cards. Some of the men play cards and the younger men play computer games.
Stephanie- How do you say your name?
Quiwen- In Chinese?
Stephanie- Yeah.
Quiwen- Cho-wen
Stephanie- Does it mean something?
Quiwen- It means Fall and Good Education. My parents wanted me to have a good education.
Stephanie- Wow that is really neat. What are some things that are important for you to study?
Quiwen- The library is important some of my projects because I have to use the mac computers in the library because they have the software I need.
Stephanie- How long until you graduate?
Quiwen- This is my first semester. I am a transfer student and I have nearly 70 credits in china but only 18 will transfer here.
Stephanie- Do you think you would want to raise a family in the U.S. or would you rather raise a family in china?
Quiwen- I think I would prefer to find someone that is Chinese and where to raise a family I would have to discuss with him. It is not something that I can say we would do either way. It’s what we both would want to do that would matter.
No comments:
Post a Comment