1- Preparation.
We have written an objective in the class before I did the interview. This objective answered the questions (why, with whom, and how) referring the interview with our classmates. We also wrote ten questions together as a class. However
, I added five more questions of my own. So the total questions are 15.
How did I approach people?
I have been here is St. Cloud for 2 years. So I get know some people from different countries. However, I was talking with one of my friend, her name is Patrick Raitor. He is from United States and I was telling him about my project. Patrick Raitor is very respectful and helpful parson. We set up a meeting to do the interview. On Sunday, Patrick Raitor and I met in the library and we did the interview.
How did I conduct the interview?
I conducted the interview as I mention on Sunday, at St. Cloud library. We enjoyed some coffee and small talk. I was expanding to him why do I interview him. I gave him some basic information about my course, which is English 191. The big challenge was when I asked him to record the interview. He was a little nervous and he asked me if we could do the interview with out recording. I was giving him more information about my project. I was telling him that I have to record the interview and then I have to transcript it. Patrick Raitor allowed me to record. However, I took out my phone and we started the interview.
Who did I interview?
Patrick Raitor is student at St. Cloud state university and his major is advertising. Patrick Raitor is from United States buffalo Minnesota. Patrick Raitor has many reasons to choose St. Cloud state university. I will mention one of them. According to Patrick Raitor the main reason for her to choose St. Cloud state university is because it so close from him hometown.
2- Report interview.
I made sure to have good posture, so he would know I am interested in what he has to say and am also respectful. I also made sure I let him talk for as long as he wanted about a topic. Sometimes, I would ignore my question list for a little bit if we were becoming engaged in conversation from a previous question. The interview went very well because he was very open and willing to talk about both his personal experiences in United States and more of a generalized description of what he knew about United States. There were no topics that made him uncomfortable and not want to discuss. So the interview went very good for both of us and I was able to learn more from Patrick Raitor about United States. During the interview I was not surprised that much because I have been living in the United States for a while so I already know how the life is going but it was very good to me to know more details.
3- Country report.
Introduction and background:
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.
Location:
North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico.
Total: 9,826,675 sq. km
Country comparison to the world: 3
Land: 9,161,966 sq. km
Water: 664,709 sq. km
Note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; more than twice the size of the European Union.
Land boundaries:
Total: 12,034 km
Border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3,141 km
Note: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US and is part of Cuba; the base boundary is 28 km.
Natural resources:
Coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, rare earth elements, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, and timber
Note: the US has the world's largest coal reserves with 491 billion short tons accounting for 27% of the world's total.
Natural hazards:
Tsunamis; volcanoes; earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the Midwest and Southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a major impediment to development.
Volcanism: volcanic activity in the Hawaiian Islands, Western Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and in the Northern Mariana Islands; both Mauna Loa (elev. 4,170 m) in Hawaii and Mount Rainier (elev. 4,392 m) in Washington have been deemed "Decade Volcanoes" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Pavlov (elev. 2,519 m) is the most active volcano in Alaska's Aleutian Arc and poses a significant threat to air travel since the area constitutes a major flight path between North America and East Asia; St. Helens (elev. 2,549 m), famous for the devastating 1980 eruption, remains active today; numerous other historically active volcanoes exist, mostly concentrated in the Aleutian arc and Hawaii; they include: in Alaska: Aniakchak, Augustine, Chiginagak, Fourpeaked, Iliamna, Katmai, Kupreanof, Martin, Novarupta, Redoubt, Spurr, Wrangell; in Hawaii: Trident, Ugashik-Peulik, Ukinrek Maars, Veniaminof; in the Northern Mariana Islands: Anatahan; and in the Pacific Northwest: Mount Baker, Mount Hood.
People and society:
Languages: English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)
Note: the US has no official national language, but English has acquired official status in 28 of the 50 states; Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii.
Religion:
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.)
As my interviewees told me the proportion has been changed every year.
Usually through texting if the specified person is not in front of me, rarely do I use Facebook due to the ease of distraction it can create.
2 What is the clothing style for men and women?
New York and Los Angeles are the fashion hubs for the states Chicago coming in a close second. Personally I like to stay up on the latest trends within reason. For the Midwest people tend to stick to jeans and t-shirts. Nothing too fancy. Although on college campus’s you tend to see a fair amount of sweat pants due to the proximity of housing and lack of professionalism.
3 How are women and men treated differently?
Men and women for the most part have a pretty even keel, by this I mean they do not have an outstanding difference unless it is rather blatant. Sexism in the workplace is more common when it comes to retail and such, for example. Nail Solons and Victories secret would be prime examples. Chivalry is nearly dead which is a shame. There should be no reason that men cannot still be gentlemen in this day an age. There can still be equality with chivalry!
4 How has your experience here helped you interpret and respect cultural differences?
College is a great place for most people to start comingling with other cultures for the first time. I have been fortunate enough to travel more than most people will their entire life. For this I am extraordinarily lucky. College alone puts people in a position to be forced to interact with other cultures from group activities to professors or just passing in the hallways. Meeting new people from different cultures and talking about the differences we uphold is one of the best parts of college in my opinion the university atmosphere is something to cherish if used properly!
5 Do you enjoy speaking with other exchange students?
I greatly enjoy speaking with other travelers and students alike, sharing experiences and differences and beliefs is something that is very important to me and learning how to expand myself as a worldly individual.
6. How long have you been in the United States?
I am (regrettably) a member of the united states although I do not identify as such. So with that being said I will answer with 16 years. My traveling has been rather expansive which has lead to time out of the country for months at a time.
7. Have you been able to visit any other parts of the United States?
Nearly 35 states have been visited by myself, all very different and similar in contrast.
8. What are your home country’s major religions?
Christianity is the vast majority although the Muslim population is making a rather rapid expansion.
9. What influenced you to come to the United States? Especially, Saint Cloud State?
It was rather close to home and my family ties have led to me here.
10. Do you have any questions for me? I have asked so many of you!
What do you think of Americans? Are we rude? Out of shape? Arrogant?
Well I would say I have been here in united states “st.cloud” for almost 3 years. I met many people some of them were rude and arrogant but most of people here are very friendly specially the students.
11. What is your favorite food?
Whatever is on the table, someone out there is hungry and I aim not to take advantage of others generosity. But fresh mahi-mahi is pretty hard to beat, or perhaps any kind of fruit!
12. How many brothers
and sisters do you have?
One brother who is 3 years
younger than me.
13. Where did you grow up?
A very small town in rural
Minnesota is where my home is which is Buffalo . But I was raised all over the
world.
14. How many languages did you speak?
English is fluent (I think) and passable Spanish.
15. What are major holidays in your country?
Christmas, Hanukah, Ramadan, Thanksgiving,
14. How many languages did you speak?
English is fluent (I think) and passable Spanish.
15. What are major holidays in your country?
Christmas, Hanukah, Ramadan, Thanksgiving,
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