My Fourth Interview

My Fourth Interview

Preparations for the interview

            In preparation for this interview I decided to formulate a topic based on the cultural differences between countries. After much deliberation I settled on the country of China, because I believe there are some interesting facts and conclusions to extract from such a topic. In order to conduct the interview properly I acquired a tape recorder for my purposes from a good friend who borrowed it to me. I then formulated the questions that I would ask of my interviewee, and decided that they should all revolve around the cultural differences between China and the United States, since I found China to be a culturally attractive place. I decided to get in touch with a friend of mine called K whom I have known for several years now, and as we often find ourselves in the same company of friends I decided he would not be too apprehensive about helping me for the interview. I contacted him via Facebook and asked if he was free to meet for coffee and conduct the interview needed for my class. He gladly agreed and we scheduled the meeting for a Friday at noon at the Atwood at Saint Cloud State University. When we met at our appointed location we said our hellos, ordered coffees to go and took our seats on a nearby bench. After introducing him to my topic, we proceeded to casually discuss some of the questions which I had prepared, all the while recording our conversation for later transcription. I also carried a notebook with me, in order to write down additional important information that I thought would be necessary for the interview later on, such as peculiar facts and statistics which I could research and reference on the internet.   

            During the interview I was glad to see that K was enjoying the topic of our discussion. He really got involved in the discussion and shared a lot of insightful information with me. I was surprised at how he opened up about certain topics, considering we haven’t done much speaking before even though we’ve met and hung out many times. The whole interview and discussion lasted just a little over an hour, and we managed to discuss everything pertaining to the interview. Our conversation was very relaxed and we avoided any formalities just because we were recording. This resulted in us often straying from some topics which I later had to cut out of the recorded interview because they were of no use. Even though I was interviewing him, some of the questions were interesting enough for him to pose them to me as well, so our interview often turned two-way. All in all, I can say that the interview was successful and we both found it to be rewarding and insightful. When the tape recorded finally ran out of recording space we decided to conclude our interview. We had exhausted most of our topics and I just added a few more things in my notebook. I thanked K for his time and help in my assignment, to which he said that it was no problem at all and that he genuinely found it interesting. I vowed to return the favor if needed, after which we said our goodbyes.

Country Report – China

            China is a country situated in Eastern Asia, and it is one of the most populous countries in the world, with a population of an astounding 1.3 billion people. The area of China is almost ten million square meters which makes it the second largest country in the world by its territory, superseded only by Russia. China also has one of the largest economies in the world and it is an important player in international relations. The capital of China is Beijing, while the largest city is Shanghai. The Chinese government is made up of a one party system and has been controlled by the Communist Party for the past sixty years. As such, it is the only communist country in the world that rivals other larger superpowers and economies. The official language is Chinese, but there are also other languages in use such as Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur and others. The country is mostly homogenous in its ethnic composition, with about 91% of the population being Han, and the other 9% being composed of about 55 different minorities.

            The Chinese culture is influenced heavily by the Confucian doctrine and many other Eastern philosophies. The Chinese culture is very developed with heavy emphasis on all forms of art, which is shaped and heavily influenced by China’s long and rich history, dating all the way back to the Han Dynasty. Some say that the arrival of the Communist rule in 1949 has damaged China’s long standing cultural traditions by seeking to impose new communist values. However, despite this China remains a peculiar nation and culture which varies greatly from the Western lifestyles, and it is worth looking into some of the cultural differences that set the country apart.

The interview

Me: Thank you for doing this interview K, shall we begin?

K: Yes of course, I am glad to be here.

Me: As you know, there are many peculiar cultural differences between China and the West. Have you had firsthand experience with this?

K: Certainly. There are many striking differences in the way people behave here and in China, particularly among the younger people.

Me: Are there any differences in terms of communication? How do people communicate with each other in China?

K: Hmm, people in China tend to be a little more closed than people here in the West. Here, people are more open about certain topics and their private lives, while the Chinese are much more reserved in this regard.

Me: Would you say there is a big difference in the way people dress in China?

K: Well, the older generations tend to dress more conservatively, while the young people are very influenced by images from the West and they try to be more creative in their clothing habits. Here, everyone dresses very colorfully!

Me: I see. What about the relations between men and women? Are they treated differently?

K: There is certainly much less gender equality than here in the West. Men tend to much more dominating in Chinese culture, so they usually hold the higher power positions in society, unlike here where women more or less have the same position as men.

Me: How has your experience here helped you interpret and respect cultural differences?

K: My experience here has been very rewarding and it has helped me realize that there is an unbelievable variety in the way people live and behave, and that we should strive to learn about each other as much as possible.

Me: I am glad to hear that. Do you enjoy speaking with other exchange students.

K: I most certainly do. Even though it can be a little difficult to communicate with each other at times, it is still a rewarding experience every time.

Me: So how long have you been in the United States now?

K: I have been here for three years now, but I regularly visit my home country.

Me: Have you been able to visit any other parts of the United States?

K: Yes! Last year I visited New York which was one of my highlights during my stay here.

Me: Yes, it is a very interesting city. Now tell me, are people religious in China? What are the major religions?

K: Religion is not so widespread in China and many people are atheists because of the Communist rule. However, there are still many people who practice Buddhism or the Confucian doctrine in everyday life.

Me: What exactly influenced you to come to the United States? And more specifically, Saint Cloud State?

K: It has always been a dream of mine to visit America and experience the rich variety it has to offer and which I have seen in so many films. Saint Cloud University seemed like a good choice based on what I read, so here I am!

Me: Do you live with your family?

K: When I am in China, yes I do. Here I live alone with a roommate who is also from China. This makes it easier to help each other.

Me: How many people are there in your family?

K: My father, mother, and two brothers.

Me: Are you the youngest of them?

K: No, I am the oldest son in the family.

Me: What kind of transportation do you have here?

K: I mostly use public transportation so I don’t need a car. I also own a bike which helps me get to where I need to.

Me: How do you like the food here? What is your favorite cuisine?

K: I am fond of my home country’s cuisine, and sometimes I miss it. However, there is also an enormous choice of foods here, and I enjoy trying a little from everything. Sometimes I will visit Mexican, Thai, Indian and even Chinese restaurants just to spice up my menu.

Me: Interesting. Well, we are nearing the end of our interview. Do you have anything you would like to ask me?

K: Yes, as a matter of fact I do. Do you enjoy the United States? Do you plan to stay here forever or would you like to go someplace different?

Me: I really love this country and everything it has to offer, but I am not sure if I have my mind set on staying here. I would like to travel as much as possible and experience many different cultures while I am still young, and America is not the only place you can do this.

K: Yes I agree. I also plan to travel some more, especially Europe which can also be a fascinating place in terms of its culture.

Me: Definitely, it is a must-go destination. K, thank you very much for your time and for helping me out with this interview, I hope I have not inconvenienced you too much!

K: Absolutely no problem at all, it was my pleasure and I found it very enjoyable and insightful. I am glad I could help!

-End of interview -