My first interview
Interview preparations:
For my first interview was with Ahmed and he is from Saudi
Arabia, actually we know each other before and we good friends, so that was
kind of easy for me to prepare our interview.
So I just called him and told him that I need his help for this
interview, and then we met in Library last Friday afternoon. I bring two papers
that have all my 15 interview questions and one of my textbook went to the
meet, for these 15 interview questions, 10 questions we discussed in class and
5 are my own questions. So for tow papers I keep one and one for him to read,
because I want him know what kind of questions I will asked and do not him feel
uncomfortable. And for the textbook that was for me to take notes from our
interview, so after these paper we started our interview meet.
Interview report:
We have very good interview started, Ahmed he is my good
friend and old classmate, we spend two years with each other in IEC studied. So
as I said, we greetings and talked how things stand of each other, we have very
comfortable environment of this interview meet. Ahmed he is very funny guy, I have
asked him some questions about Arabia in IEC before, so his answers did not let
me feel very surprise. But his travel experience was let him very interesting,
he was traveled many place in US, like Michigan and Chicago or New York, he
told me how funny about these experience and let me yearn for.
Country Report:
The cultural setting of Saudi Arabia is Arab and Islam, and
features many elements from historical ritual and folk culture such as dance
and music. Traditional values and cultural mores are adapted into legal
prohibitions, even for non-Muslims who are forbidden by law from publicly
practicing their faith inside the kingdom, although they are free to do so in
the privacy of their own homes. For example, Christmas decorations are sold in
supermarkets, but you will not find Christmas parties advertised. Alcoholic
beverages are prohibited as are pork products. Women may not ride a bicycle,
drive a car, or even sell make-up to other women. Saudi Arabia is well known
for its unique way of life which, in its own way, preserves its centuries-old
heritage. (1)
Saudi Arabia has the world's 2nd largest oil reserves, which
are concentrated largely in the Eastern Province.Oil accounts for more than 95%
of exports and 70% of government revenue, although the share of the non-oil
economy has been growing recently. This has facilitated the transformation of
an underdeveloped desert kingdom into one of the world's wealthiest nations.
Vast oil revenues have permitted rapid modernisation, such as the creation of a
welfare state. It has also the world's sixth largest natural gas reserves.(2)
Saudi Arabia, officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, is the largest Arab state in Western Asia by land area (approximately
2,150,000 km2 (830,000 sq mi), constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula)
and the second-largest in the Arab world (after Algeria). It is bordered by
Jordan and Iraq to the north, Kuwait to the northeast, Qatar, Bahrain and the
United Arab Emirates to the east, Oman to the southeast, Yemen in the south,
the Red Sea to the west and Persian Gulf to the east. Its population is
estimated to consist of 16 million citizens and an additional 9 million
registered foreign expatriates and 2 million illegal immigrants.(2)
Our Interview
Questions and Answers:
F: Yu Fan (me)
A: Ahmed
F: Do you like the weather in St.Cloud? Please explain
A: Yes. I like it. At the beginning it was hard for me to
adapt because as you know I came from Saudi Arabia and the weather is too hot
there.
F: How often do you
communicate with your family back at home?
A: when I came here in 2010 I used to call my family once a
week because I used to use Skype, but now the technology has improved and I
call them every day by my iPhone.
F: What are your
goals for the future; after you graduate, what are you going to do?
A: I want to get my bachelor degree and then try to do my
master if I could, but If I couldn’t I will try to find a job and get marriage.
F: Do you get culture
shock when you first come here? And how do you deal with it?
A: Yes, it was in the bathroom. Because back home we use
water hose in the bathroom for washing, but here in the US they don’t.
F: Does your government provide compulsory education for
students? If Yes, how many years
A: 12 years in Saudi Arabia and then you decide if you want
to work or study at high education in Saudi Arabia or you study abroad. If you
chose to study abroad they gave you a scholarship to help you with your school
tuitions and other expenses.
F: How do you communicate with each other in your home
country?
A: Actually there are many ways to communicate with other
people. In my country calls over the phone is the most useful way. Now days the
technology has improved and we can communicate in easy way by using smart
phones.as long as you have internet you can just downloads apps or applications
and then start chatting. In our culture back home in Saudi Arabia we go out
with friends every day. Also, we meet with family in grandparent's house once
every week and it is usually Friday.
F: What is the clothing style for men and women?
A: Men and women in Saudi Arabia always wear traditional
clothing. For men Thob is the traditional costume which is a(white dress) and
for women Abayah is the common costume which is a( loose black robe from head
to toe).
F: How are women and men treated differently?
A: Because of Islamic rules women and men are treated
differently in Saudi Arabia. Mixing is forbidden thing for example public
places such as, Schools and Mosques they always have separated to two parts one
for men and the other for women because of religious purposes. Also, driving is
not allowed for women in Saudi Arabia and now women are trying to break the
rules and drive there, some did that perfectly and others became arrested by
the Saudi police. In addition, in the past women do not have right to work or
even vote, but now they became first in everything.
F: How has your
experience here helped you interpret and respect cultural differences?
A: Of course, when I first came here I didn’t know anything
about other cultures, but after a while I started discover and learned about
them. Also, here in Saint Cloud there are many ways help students to learn
about other cultures such as, culture meetings and culture nights.
F: Do you enjoy speaking with other exchange students?
A: I do yes
F: How long have you been in the United States?
A: I have been here four years. I have spent two of them in
the IEC which is the Intensive English Center and the other two at the
university.
F: Have you been able to visit any other parts of the United
States
A: Sure, my dream was to visit all the states when I came
here. I always like to take a road trip because it is cheap and nice to see the
US Cities and highways.
My first journey was in 2010. It was a road trip by two cars
with some of my friends. It was to Michigan and Chicago. The second one was in
Christmas 2011 and it was a long trip. I like to call it (my life trip) because
I started driving with three of my friends from Saint Cloud to Florida. Sense
it is a road trip we have passed throw many states including, Indiana, Alabama
and Tennessee. And of course we stopped there to take pictures, do shopping and
take some rest. After spending a good time in Orlando and Miami Beach we
decided to celebrate the New Year in New York and then we did drive from
Florida to there. New York was our last station we had a lot of fun in Times
Square and statues of liberty. After one week road trip we left New York to
Saint Cloud to start school again. My last trip was also in Christmas and New
Year in 2012, but this time we drove from Saint Cloud to California and then to
Las Vegas.
F: What are your home country’s major religions?
A: There is only one religion in Saudi Arabia which is
Islam.
F: Do you have any
questions for me? I have asked so many of you
A: No Thanks.
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