Interview Preparation
Interview Report
The interview went very well. Tiffany is a nice girl and easy to talk to. I did not feel restricted by asking questions. She was very open and kept the conversation going. We started by talking about the classes and weekend plans on the way to the room then we got into the interview. The information about the culture was pretty much the same with Tyler and Tiffany P. Which means that I had 3 reliable sources. Tiffany also share the interviewer part with me and ask couple questions which I find very nice of her to show some interest in the interview. Overall, I'm happy that my last interview went very well and it was the easiest for me cause I practiced with two before this one.
Country Report
Background:
United States of America has 50 states. It is located in North America between Mexico and Canada. The last population counted in July 2000. "It has a population of 275,562,673" (1). The capital of the United States is Washington D.C. The United States is a democracy country where people get to vote and elect for the president every 4 years. The legal age to vote for American residents is 18.
History:
"Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65), in which a northern Union of states defeated a secessionist Confederacy of 11 southern slave states, and the Great Depression of the 1930s, an economic downturn during which about a quarter of the labor force lost its jobs. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation state. Since the end of World War II, the economy has achieved relatively steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology." (2)
"English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Jewish 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, other or unspecified 2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4% (2007 est.)"(2)
Sites:
(1) http://www.50states.com/wisconsi.htm
(1) http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Americas/United-States-of-America.html
(2) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html
Transcript
Faisal A
Tiffany S
F: Hey Tiffany, how you doing today?
T: I am great, how are you?
F: I'm fantastic, thanks for coming!
T: Yeah, it was not a problem! Im glad to come,
F: So i have interviewed two americans before you, and they happen to be from the same state, Wisconsin
F: So where are you originally from?
T: I am from central Minnesota.
F: nice, how are you handling the crazy weather in Minnesota!
T: I love it! I was so happy when it was super warm. I love the warm weather, but since we didnt get much snow this year I didnt get to go snowmobiling alot. So that was a bummer, but it is still nice weather!
F: I'm glad it didn't snow a lot by the way! haha, I'm not use to something crazy like this im my country!
F: the weather in my country is really warm most of the year
T: Oh but snow is so pretty! I would miss the snow if I was somewhere else.
F: well, it is kind of cold in the winter in my country but defiantly not like minnesota!
T: I just dont like the cold. Haha
T: How low do the temps get in your country?
F: ummm, 32 if we are dying of cold! haha
T: Oh nice!
F: yea!
F: so can you tell me a little bit more about your childhood, growing up here in minnesota
T: I started going to daycare when I was about 4 years old. It was also kind of like a preschool. We did games and learned. We used songs to help us learn. At 6 years old I started kinder garden and then I started my 12 school years. I loved growing up and playing with friends, we always played outside in the woods, and played in the sandbox and such. I had a fun childhood. Most kids do.
F: That sounds like a lot of fun!
F: did you travel a lot when you were a kid?
T: Actually yes I did! My grandma has taken me on a trip every two years since I was about 7!
F: Cool, where did you go?
T: I have been to Florida twice, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Iowa, and Wisconsin, and Mexico. This summer we are going to North Dakota too.
F: your grandma most really love you hah! haha
T: Yes, and I was her only grandchild for about 12 years, so that helped too haha
F: yea tell me about it, when my first niece came, my mom totally forgot that she has me!
T: Oh no! Thats never fun, I felt that way a little when my siblings came too. Haha.
F: So most of those places you have been to are in the united states, did you ever travel out of the states?
T: yes, just Mexico with my grandma. Then I did a program with a company called ISE, it is kind of like a foreign exchange program, where I went to Costa Rica for two weeks and stayed with a host family for one week and traveled for one too with my school. It was amazing.
F: wow, you had such a great life! I envy you haha
T: Haha its not without lots of effort. I worked so much to pay for my trip to costa rica. It was very expensive and I gave up alot for it. but it was definitely worth it
F: yea!
F: do you think of traveling anywhere to the golf countries like Emirates or Saudi Arabia?
F: Dubai is in Emirates by the way
T: Yeah, I want to in the future! I would love to go and do a missions trip or something like that. Or just travel and have fun. I love seeing new cultures and new areas of the world. I love to travel, I hope to be able to afford it in the future after college!
F: well if you came I will host you for one week and travel for one too! haha
T: haha that would be awesome!!
F: So, Since you traveled among the states, did you notice any different typical greetings or cultural events from a state to another?
T: the way people greet each other, if they are open or not, I think that changes from state to state a little. Otherwise the typical handshake, or hug is the main greetings.
T: I love hugs, so that is my main greeting if I know someone. Other wise a handshake is more professional.
F: yea I noticed that, especially with young people, they use hey, or hi instead of shaking hands which I found little strange when I first came here, cause the main greetings in my culture is handshaking in both formal and informal events!
T: Yeah, a hey or hi is most common between kids
F: so moving along with culture, what kind of holidays do you have?
T: Christmas is a big one for my family, so is Easter! Thanksgiving we also get together and make a big meal. The main thing is celebrating Jesus in my family on Easter and Christmas. Also 4th of July when we have fireworks!
F: I kind of know enough about Christmas, but not much about Easter, can you tell me what is it and what do you guys do in that day?
T: We go to church, then have our family together for dying Easter eggs, which is always fun! Then the adults normally put on a Easter egg hunt, and us kids have to go and find them. Other than that, we play card games and just be together as a family.
F: I always loved the family gathering that Americans do, I appreciate family a lot!
T: Yes, I love my family. They will always be important no matter what.
F: that's right!
T: Yea!
F: so beside religious holidays, are there any daily ritual you do regarding to your religion?
T: I pray every night before bed. And throughout the day if I need strength or courage. Or just to give thanks.
F: interesting! and do you have to go to the church or is it your choice if you decided not to?
T: It is all my choice. I do like my religion, but not my church, so I am currently looking for a new one.
F: why what's wrong with your church?
T: I am not a fan of our pastor. He is kind of rude and I dont like it.
F: umm, he shouldn't be like that since he is the pastor!
T: I agree! Haha but oh well!
F: hahaha
F: So how's SCSU treating you? do you like it here?
T: I love it! I am still in high school, I am doing part time at state, and it is going well! I am meeting so many new people, its great.
F: Oh! how many classes are you taking then?
T: Just one, thats all I was able to take per try
F: yea you shouldn't stress yourself between high school and university classes. You have a plenty of time to be tired of classes here! haha
T: Oh yeah! but I am glad I started classes, and took a 4 credit class. It will help me out!
F: Absolutely!, Is there anything you would like SCSU to have before you become an official Husky!
T: Umm I am not sure, maybe help us get to know the music programs a bit better.
T: I want to join but I am not sure of how to do it.
F: do you play any musical instrument?
T: Yes! The flute is my main, and then I learned the Saxophone too
F: wow, that is awesome!!
F: do you play guitar?
T: Nope, I started to learn when i was little, but then i gave up haha
F: i would give anything just to learn how to play it, I find it sexy! haha
T: haha yeah!
F: tell me how would you feel sharing a secret!
T: Um id say my secret would have to be that I hide my feelings all the time. Especially if it will hurt someone or cause a conflict. It isnt always good to do, but I do it anyways. I always put others feelings before my own.
F: That is so kind of you! you look like that kind of girl by the way
T: Haha i am!
F: yea!
T: What about you?
F: Umm, there is a thing about me that I do not like, I'm not really communicative with people, especially with Americans, it's because I might be a little shy to get into people I do not know, but I'm working on it haha
T: Yeah, i can see that! You just have to go for it, thats what ive found out at the college. If i stay quiet I wont get as much out of things ive realized, but it can be hard to get out of a comfort zone.
F: that is right, especially my english isn't perfect, but it won't be unless I use it with natives right!
T: yes definitely!
F: So your going out of town this weekend?
T: Just tomorrow, I have a honor band concert in Willmar.
F: umm, what is that?
T: Where the best musicians in central minnesota get together and play a concert!
T: im pretty excited!
F: that is so great, wish you all the best!
T: thank you!
F: you must play in class ones! haha
T: hahah yeah
F: well thank you so much for coming tiffany
T: No problem!
F: and play well in that concert!
T: I will! Thanks!
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