My Third Interview

My Third Interview with Tianxi Wang

1.      Preparations:

·         How did I approach people? When, where, and how did you conduct and record the interview?

                 I conducted the interview on Monday, November 4th at the library. This is my first time meeting with Tianxi Wang. I was walking inside the library looking for Chinese students to make an interview with one of them. I spent a long time looking for student who will let me record the interview. I did not find any student who will let me record the interview in the first and second floors. Then, I did as last time and I went to the third floor. I went to the third floor and I did not find any Chinese student there. After that, I decided to go home and come back next day to find any Chinese student. When I went home I told my roommate that I did not find anyone to make an interview with. Then, he told me that he has Chinese friend and he can call him right now if I want. I told him to call his friend if he has free time to do the interview. He called his friend and he said that he is free for the next day. I met him the day after and I did the interview.

·         Whom did you interview?

Tianxi Wang is a student from China studying in Saint Cloud State University. He is majoring in Computer Science and Art, double major. He came to St. Cloud one year ago. His parents are living in China and he does not have relatives here in the U.S as the other Chinese students. He likes the winter in St. Cloud, because he thought the cold weather helps him to calm down and relax and he does not like the summer here in St. Cloud because it is very hot, which is the best part of the year for me.

2.      Interview report:

·         Describe the interview. What did surprise you?

The interview was very good. He answered all questions perfectly. I really enjoyed doing this task again, and it was a good experience for me. The only thing that surprised me he talked about the same thing that surprised me in the two last interviews, and it was the families in China. They have the same what we have in Saudi Arabia; they are living with their parents in the same house. Also, the parents take care of their children even if they become over eighteen old years. Moreover, the children have to take care of their parents when they get older. So, this is the same what we have in our culture and what Heqiu and Sam Wa told me also. The second thing was surprising me when he asked me about the big new university in my country called King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and he needs some suggestions if he wants to go there.

3.      Country Report:

China is one of the largest country and its culture one of the oldest in the world. It is located in Eastern Asia and bordering the East China Sea, Yellow Sea, Korea Bay, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). There is a largest population in the world that is about 1,3 billion people. The area of the country is 9,5 to 9,8 million kilometers. The reason of discrepancy is debate of the border with India. Borders of the country are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Burma, India, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Vietnam. The highest place of China is Mt. Everest or Chomolungma that is 8,850 meters, and the lowest is Turpan Pendi, that is -154 meters (Szczepanski).

The Han Chinese is the largest ethnic group of China and whole world and it occupies 95 percent of Chinese population. There are a great number of dialects in China because of the variety of ethnic groups. The most widespread dialect is Mandarin, which is the official language in Taiwan and the People's Republic of China and it is spoken by 70 percent of Chinese. The main religious views are presented by Taoism and Confucianism. Taoism is the religion that highlights the importance of relations between people and nature. Confucianism is the religion that is about the harmony of soul that can be achieved through decent relations of two persons such as student to teacher etc. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). The significant part of the Chinese culture is the institute of family that is valued more than personal well-being. The social norms of this culture supposes the respectful attitude toward parents, control of emotions, and modesty (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). The Chinese have the great attention to the healthcare and believe that the correlation of health and illness that concentrates on body, mind, and spirit is expressed through yin and yang (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008).

The Chinese culture left the great footstep in the world culture. It is significant for its various kinds of art, language, martial arts, clothing, food etc. It is one of the most long-existed culture and the only one that conserved its original mediums. It has a respectful condition among other world cultures.  

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008). Promoting Cultural Sensitivity: A Practical Guide for Tuberculosis Programs That Provide Services to Persons from China. Atlanta, GA:U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/guidestoolkits/EthnographicGuides/China/chapters/china.pdf

Szczepanski, K. (n.d.). People's republic of china facts and history. Retrieved from http://asianhistory.about.com/od/china/p/ChinaProfile.htm

4.      Interview transcription with ‘’ Tianxi Wang’’

          M = Me

          T = Tianxi Wang

M: Hi, Tianxi. How long have you been in the United States?

T: I have been here in St. Cloud more than one year I began at 2012.

M: Did you enjoy here?

T: Yes, This is a really good place and Americans have a good stuff, so here is really good.

M: What is your major?

T: I am majoring in Computer Science and Art, double major.

M: Do you like the weather in St. Cloud?

T: Yes, I like the cold weather in St. Cloud because the cold weather and cold air make people calm down and relax, so I have clear weather which helps me to study. I like the cold weather because in my home town also cold in the winter and I believe the cold weather can extension your life because it is just make you clam down.  

M: Where are you living in China?

T: In the west part of China.

M: How about the summer here in St. Cloud?

T: Summer is really short but it is hot, I do not like the summer because of the hot weather, but in my country always cold in the winter and good weather in the summer not hot.

M: What do you do for leisure?

T: I think I just do not have too much time for leisure because I have two major a lot of courses, work, and I have my own company.

M: Is your company here or in China?

T: It is in China but now I am registering the company here because I want to move my business to here and extend business. 

M: What else for your leisure?

T: If I have time I just like to travel, but my work is also travel, because I am photographer and I need to take a lot of pictures, so my work lets me travel around the world, actually my work is leisure.

M: Could you please tell me about yourself?

T: I am Tianxi Wang from China, I am a photographer and I began to be a photographer five years ago. I offer pictures for modern street agency. So, I travel a lot, I traveled to Asia, Europe, Africa, America, and a lot of countries to take a lot of pictures, that's my life. More about myself I like to be alone, I like to travel alone because that makes me feel free, I can go anywhere, and I do not need to consider other people ideas.

M: How often do you communicate with your family back home?

T: It is weekly, but it is depends. For example, sometime when I travel to some Vermont area there are no phone services, so I cannot call them. Except that I call them every week.

M: How many holidays in your country?

T: We have a lot of holidays in my country. We have maybe over twenty holidays.

M: What is the biggest holiday in your country?

T: I think the biggest holiday in China is Spring Festival. Spring Festival is usually at each year in January or February in Chinese special calendar. In Spring Festival all people stop working and enjoy the festival. People come back to their families and sit with them and celebrate together. In that day we eat a lot of food and the older generation give some money to the younger and this is from our culture.

M: In what ways might it be difficult to practice your religion here in the U.S?

T: I think I do not have any problem with the religion because I am Christian and here are many Christians people.

M: Tell me some important things from your culture?

T: I think in China the most important thing is respect old people and people around, it different between China and America, Chinese people show more respect to their teachers, leader, and old generation, but America I think they deal like friends and that not a bad thing and make people feel easy. But, it China the traditional culture says that you have to respect people the position higher than you, teach, helping you. That is special thing in China.

M: What is the biggest difference between the American culture and your culture?

T: In general speaking I think American culture is not long enough to compare it with the Chinese culture. I think America only has 200 hundred years but China has more than 5 thousand years history. Chinese culture talking about the history and the old things, but the American culture is talking about fashion.

M: What are your goals for the future, after you graduate, what are you going to do?

T: For the future I think I need to finish my undergraduate bachelor degree, and then I think if it possible I will continue study for graduate or PHD whatever in Computer Sciences or Art, because I need to study, and I need this knowledge to create my business and support my business.

M: What is your favorite sport?

T:  Riding bicycle, last year I crossed China by the bicycle with my team and we ride more than three thousand Km in one month.

M: Do you have any question for me? I have asked so many of you!

T: Yes, Where are you from?

M: Saudi Arabia.

T: I heard about a University in your country called King Abdullah University, Do you now that?

M: Yes, it is the biggest University in Saudi Arabia.

T: Ok, I think we should stop here.

M: Thank you so much, I appreciate your help.