The third interview

Interview preparations

This is the 3^rd and the last interview of ENG 191. Due to the experience of the first two interviews, I think the 3^rd interview was the best. I invited Nicholas for three times but he was too busy. I was glad that he agreed to be my interviewee this time. We made an appointment with Nicholas in the class that we would have the interview on Wednesday afternoon. On that day, I made a phone call to Nicholas in the afternoon and we met at the library. When we wanted to order a study room, I was told the room is full. It’s my fault that I did not reserve a room. We went to the corner on the first floor. I took out my phone used as recorder and the notebook. Then we started our interview. Thanks for Nicholas again.

Interview report

The whole interview went very well. Since we sit next to each other in class, we already know a little about each other. Nicholas is a nice guy who is very patient and introvert. He is just a high school student. Due to his performance in high school, he earned the chance to study in university ahead of time. We talked a lot during the interview. I cherished the third interview because I could learn a lot from Nicholas about America. He helped me be more familiar aboutAmerica which really benefits me. He may select a similar major as mine, so we also discussed a lot about mathematics and engineering. I appreciated that I could interview Nicholas.

 
  

Country report

“The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America. At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km²) and with over 312 million people, the United States is the third or fourth largest country by total area, and the third largest by both land area and population.”[1]

USA, country in North America, consisting of 48 contiguous states and the noncontiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii. The 48 states are between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, south of Canada and north of Mexico. The country's total area is 9,629,047 sq km (3,717,796 sq mi). The capital is Washington, D.C.New York City is the largest city.[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_United_States_(Pantone).svg

“The west front of the United States Capitol, which houses the United States Congress

The United States is the world's oldest surviving federation. It is a constitutional republic and representative democracy, "in which majority rule is tempered by minority rights protected by law". The government is regulated by a system of checks and balances defined by the U.S. Constitution, which serves as the country's supreme legal document. In the American federalist system, citizens are usually subject to three levels of government, federal, state, and local.”[1]

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Capitol_Building_Full_View.jpg

“The United States has a capitalist mixed economy, which is fueled by abundant natural resources, a well-developed infrastructure, and high productivity. The United States is the largest importer of goods and third largest exporter, though exports per capita are relatively low. The United States has been a leader in scientific research and technological innovation since the late 19th century.”[1]

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wall-Street_Nueva_York6397.JPG

“American public education is operated by state and local governments, regulated by the United States Department of Education through restrictions on federal grants. The United States has many competitive private and public institutions of higher education. According to prominent international rankings, 13 or 15 American colleges and universities are ranked among the top 20 in the world.”[1]

“Mainstream American cuisine is similar to that in other Western countries. Wheat is the primary cereal grain. Traditional American cuisine uses indigenous ingredients, such as turkey, venison, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, squash, and maple syrup, which were consumed by Native Americans and early European settlers. Slow-cooked pork and beef barbecue, crab cakes, potato chips, and chocolate chip cookies are distinctively American foods.”[1]

 

http://www.xiaowei.cn/forum/viewthread.php?tid=9859 

“Baseball has been regarded as the national sport since the late 19th century, while American football is now by several measures the most popular spectator sport. Basketball and ice hockey are the country's next two leading professional team sports.”[1]

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shea_Smith-edit1.jpg

Resource:[1]:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States  
                  [2]:  http://kctu.kar.nic.in/intro_usa.htm

Transcription

Yi: Let’s get started. Thanks for being my interviewee. Where are you from, Nicholas?

N: I was born in United States, Minnesota, Coonrapids.

Yi: How to spell the city?

N: C-o-o-n –r-a-p-i-d-s. It’s kind of in the south of Minnesota.

Yi: So you are living on campus now?

N: Yep.

Yi: What kind of government is in charge of your home country, how did it affect your life and how has democracy in America been a change?

N: Do you know democracy in America?

Yi: I know something about it.

N: Ok. Well, Every American has right to select president. Democracy is about freedom and choice I think.

Yi: Did you vote for president two months ago?

N: Yes, we vote for president every four years.

Yi: At which age can you have right to vote?

N: You should be 18.

Yi: Ok. Can you describe a typical day for a child in your country?

N: Well. I will talk about a typical day for a six or seven child I think. They wake up about 8 a.m.. They usually eat breakfast with their parents and then they go to school. Most students take school bus to go to school. Parents can also drive them to school if they want to. Then they go for a day in school. Kindergarten doesn’t have much academic. Then they go back home and have several hours left to do other things. Usually, they don’t have much homework to do.

Yi: When do you start school and finish class.

N: When you are pretty young, school usually starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 4p.m..

Yi: Are a Christian?

N: Yes.

Yi: So, usually you celebrate Christmas?

N: Yes. We have several holidays. The main one is Christmas. We give presents. Now the main focus is the gift giving. We also celebrate Easter.

Yi: The gifts are just given from parents to children?

N: No. We give gifts to parents, friends, relatives and a lot of people. Depends how much you like them.

Yi:  Do you have any daily rituals in regards to your religious beliefs?

N: Yes, I pray every day.

Yi: Do you read Bible every day?

N: You don’t need to read Bible every day. I probably read once a week, not every day. You don’t really have to.

Yi: Do you go to church every Sunday?

N: Yes, every Sunday.

Yi: What are the typical greetings in your culture and what do they mean?

N: Typical greetings are usually shaking hands. Kiss is a wired greeting. I don’t really see people doing here.

Yi: Do you hug with people?

N: Not usually.

Yi: What different modes of transportation are used in USA?

N: The most common mode transportation is car. That’s for sure. The next one, it’s hard to say, probably bike. It’s a popular one.

Yi: Which country`s food do you like the most?

N: It’s a tough one. I think Chinese food, probably because I really like spicy food. It tastes really good. Once I took Indian food, it’s really really spicy. I think Chinese food has a good balance of spicy.

Yi: Do you like American food?

N: I guess I kind of like American food but Chinese food is better. Even if I like burgers, if I take burgers every day, it doesn’t taste good. You know what I mean?

Yi: Yes. Besides burgers and fast food, what other kinds of American food do you usually have?

N: Beside burgers and fast food, we have a lot of things we can cook at home like cheese, hot dogs.

Yi: Does your family usually cook at home?

N: Yes, my family definitely eat at home more often than. Fast food is not good for you. A lot of people know that and it cost much.

Yi:  How would you describe famous sports in USA?

N: I think most famous sport is football.

Yi: And basketball?

N: Yes, basketball is also popular. Do you know super bowl?

Yi: Yes.

N: Yes, millions and millions of people watch super bowl that night. Basketball is the second. Another one could be baseball.

Yi: What’s your favorite sport?

N: Umm. It’s a tough one. I think it’s football.

Yi: Do you watch football.

N: Yes, I am a big fan.

Yi:  At what age do you start school?

N: It kind of depends on person. Children usually start school at 6 or 7. We have pre-school for 3 and 4. You don’t need to go. For example, I skip the pre-school.

Yi: Do you have any requirement that you must go school at which age?

N: No, nothing like that.

Yi: What could SCSU do to make your stay on campus better?  

N: I live in my house and I just drive here when I have class. I think one thing could change may be the parking fees because they don’t really need this money to pay anything. It’s better free for parking.

Yi: Does every teenager have to go to work when they are 16?

N: They don’t have to. Some parents want their children to have a job and get money but you don’t have to. For example, I am 16 and I don’t have a job.

Yi: So, that’s it. Thank you so much.

N: No problem.

Yi: Do you go home right now.

N: I just go to restaurant and have dinner on campus.

Yi: Sure, Let’s go together.