My Second Interview

China: China Restaurant in St. Cloud

Since I intended to find out more about Chinese culture and customs, I visited a nearby joint to interview the population around me. I chose the Chinese Restaurant in St. Cloud. My target was persons of roughly ages 20 to 30. I assumed that many young faces would fall within this category. The approach I used was simple. First, I chose Sunday October 27, 2013 afternoon when most people are in a relaxed mood. I also preferred customers who walked in in pairs so that they do not feel threatened. I conducted an audio interview, which I later transcribed. What surprised was the level of cooperation I received. The interview went very well with my subjects giving me a lot of information quite willingly.

 

 Report on Country and Culture

China has a rich social, economic, and political history. Politically, the country had various ancient civilizations. Most of the early civilizations in China existed in a period when China was ruled by various dynasties. During the Qin Dynasty, the country’s political foundation was laid through wars of conquest. When people rose together in resistance against the dynasties, they overthrew the last one in 1911. At some point, the Empire of Japan annexed the country but the rule ended with the defeat of Japan. Currently, the county is under communist Party rule. Politically, a lot has changed over the years.

Economically, China has witnessed significant growth nearly in all sectors. Even at the height of the global recession, China stood firm as far as trade and balance of trade is concerned. Economists have pointed out that there is an emerging class of rich middle-class. Consequently, this has boosted the economy with an increasing demand in leisure products and other necessities. One may also observe that China has also registered progressed in technological breakthrough. The result of this is Chinese products being competitive at the world market. One cannot talk about economic development without alluding to Mao’s economic reforms and the great leap forward. Even so, Mao’s economic policies were met grave human rights violations.  Currently, China’s economy is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. In the 21st Century, China is slowly replacing the west as Africa’s biggest donor and foreign trading partner. This has caused political ripples in Western Europe and the United States.

Culturally, China has a rich diversity of culture. Chinese culture as it is today is currently a product of Confucianism. Chinese culture is distinct through dance, music, poetry and cuisine. Much of what make up the modern culture are remnants of a cultural revolution that took place in the second half of the 20th Century. Cultural practices and customs are still evident through manner of dressing and gender relationships. Although the traditional male dominant culture is slowly being replaced with a moderately dominant culture, gender relations remain critical. Cultural interactions with other international communities have had influence on Chinese culture, but a lot has not yet changed yet.

 Interview Transcription of my Interview with “ZLH”

1. What is your name? and Where are
   you from? My name is ZLH, and I come from Shanghai.
2. What do you do for leisure?
   During my leisure time, I either read or play the piano. Sometime I go out with friends.
3. Could you please tell me about yourself?
   Probably there is not so much to know about me. I am simple person with an ambition for success. I am social and outgoing.
4. How often do you communicate with your family back at home?
   I communicate with my family back at home on a weekly basis. Sometimes I visit twice a week and sometimes once in a fortnight when I am busy.
5. What is the biggest holiday in your country? Please explain about the holidays
   (Activities, Food, Date, Origin, and etc,)
   We have many holidays. The most important one is probably the Chinese New Year. During this time, we visit family members and share a meal. My favorite meal is spaghetti. Chicken and pork is quite common during celebrations. The celebration originated in past where the society used to hold events for deities.
6. In what ways might it be difficult to practice your religion here in the
   U.S?
   It is not difficult to practice my religion here in the U.S, as I am a Christian.
7. Tell me some important things from your culture ?
   One of the most important things about Chinese culture is that humility is emphasized. Elders and guess are treated with respect.
8. Whats the biggest difference between the American culture and your culture?
   The biggest difference between Chinese culture and American culture is that Chinese is conservative. American culture is liberal.
9. What are your goals for the future; after you graduate, what are you going to
   do?
   After graduating, I want to establish a business. I will also volunteer part of my free time to help the less fortunate.
10. Do you have any questions for me? I have asked so many of you! (mandatory
    question at the end)Yes, I have a question for you. What do you like about your culture?
11.  Do you like the weather in St.Cloud? Please explain.Yes, I like the weather in St. Cloud. It is moderately warm.

 

1. Who scored highest?

Ruud, Justin D

2. Whose interview did you like best? Why?
interview part because he has a good way to atract the audince

3. Link to your evaluation score card (Evaluation )

Interview

My target respondents were international students from china. I met Chen L over lunch at the college cafeteria and began by telling him all that I knew about China and whether he would be comfortable if I asked him questions about his country. This was aimed at creating a rapport with him.

Report on country and culture

China is the most populous country in East Asia with a population of more than 1 billion people. Its capital city is Beijing and a communist government governs it. The authorized language of the country is standard Mandarin. Other than its population and its strength in the economic sector, China has other points of interest such as the Great Wall, Terracotta army, the Forbidden City, Hong Kong Disneyland and K2, the second highest mountain on earth. The Chinese society emphasizes a family centered communitarianism at the core of its culture. This makes a clear distinction between China and most Anglo- Saxon states. There are key words essential in understanding the Chinese culture. They include Guanxi, Requing, Li, Keqi and Lian (Giskin, 2001).

Guanxi, a Chinese word meaning relations, is the most imperative cultural characteristic of the Chinese people. It is understood as reciprocal obligation, which necessitates a special relationship between an individual with the other members of the society such that everyone and anyone can make unlimited demands on each other. Reign is an essential trait in Chinese social interactions. It covers the area of social expressions such as the provision of complements or condolences and giving of gifted in appropriate occasions. Li focuses on the rule of conduct in any situation. It stresses the importance of basing every mode of conduct on certain Chinese principles. These principles necessitate the essence of doing proper things with the right individuals in the appropriate relationships. Keqi emphasizes the need for courtesy as a basic norm perceived by the Chinese in their daily interactions. Lian can be interpreted to mean face. This is a trait unique only to the Chinese culture. In this culture when an individual loses face, he loses his reputation. This trait is even evident in the Chinese way of conducting business. During their negotiations, they act cautiously and slowly from the notion of face. It is always difficult for any Chinese negotiator to create reductions due to face consciousness. These cultural traits help define Chinese ways of association. They are also essential in the definition of the way their relationships with other states are governed (Giskin, 2001).

Interview transcription of my interview with Chen L

1-     What is your name and where are you from?

Chen L from Jiangsu province in Eastern China

2-     What do you do for leisure?

Playing badminton

3-     Could you please tell me about yourself?

I am a 21-year-old man from China. I love playing badminton for leisure. Currently I am an international student in the United States studying literature at St. Cloud State University.

4-     How often do you communicate with your family back at home?

I maintain a weekly telephone communication with my parents. My siblings and I interact on a daily basis through the social media.

5-     What is the biggest holiday in your country? Please explain about the holidays (Activities, Food, Date, Origin, and etc.,)

Lunar New Year also known as Frostiest Spring is the biggest holiday in China. The double seventh festival also known as the Chinese Valentine’s day meant to celebrate the meeting of loved ones.

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

I am a Buddhist and it is relatively difficult to practice this religion in the US because there are very few temples and the idolatry perspective that the national have on my religion.

7-     Tell me some important things from your culture?

It is concerned with maintaining harmony with face and cherishes friendships. The man (husband) is the head and ruler of the house.

8-     What is the biggest difference between the American culture and your culture?

American culture is dominated by self-reliance and individualism. Chinese culture places high value on group cooperation. In China, ascribed status defines a person’s worth but in America; an individual achievement such as level of education defines a person’s status.

9-     What are your goals for the future; after you graduate, what are you going to do?

I would like to initiate a literacy campaign in my rural home and empower my society with literacy skills before seeking postgraduate studies.

10-  Do you have any questions for me? I have asked so many of you! (mandatory question at the end)

What do you love about your country?

11-  Do you like the weather in St.Cloud? Please explain.

Yes, because it has relatively low temperatures that allows me to dress in light and trending clothes.

12- Do you have any quistion ?

      No thank you and good luck for your class .

Thanks my dear for your time .

 

 

 

References

Giskin, H. (2001). An introduction to Chinese culture through the family. Albany, NY: State

Univ. of New York Press.

Objective:

 

I would like to interview three international students to know about their countries and what different between other countries. I want to learn more about them country for example: people, culture food, life style, family and education.

 

What I want to ask:

 

1-

1-What is your name? and Where are you from?

2- What do you do for leisure?
3- Could you please tell me about yourself?
4- How often do you communicate with your family back at home?
5- What is the biggest holiday in your country? Please explain about the holidays (Activities, Food, Date, Origin, and etc,)
6- In what ways might it be difficult to practice your religion here in the U.S?
7- Tell me some important things from your culture ?
8- Whats the biggest difference between the American culture and your culture?
9- What are your goals for the future; after you graduate, what are you going to do?
10- Do you have any questions for me? I have asked so many of you! (mandatory question at the end)11- Do you like the weather in St.Cloud? Please explain.

Japan its history and culture

Japan its history and culture #15

 

           While I only summarized the topic of culture and industrial growth above, I expanded
on the concept with some additional research. I found the following book “japan its history
and culture” by W.Scott that deals with the history and culture of the
Japanese people and its economic development. The book narrates about the social changes
that have happened in the recent years. It takes into account the social events and political
changes that have occurred in japan since the post war industrial growth and development.

Furthermore, I found the book “ The Japanese Experience” by W.G. Beasley that deals with
the same content. This book also talks about the culture of the Japanese people and how they
have changed in recent years. This book takes into account how technology and the culture of
the Japanese people has shaped their culture. I found out that there is a significant relationship
between culture and development as witnessed by the culture of the Japanese people which
has propelled them to economic development.

In these books, I found out that there are several factors that enhance the culture of people.
Through language many people like the Japanese people, have enhanced their culture. While
researching on this topic I also noted that development and culture are influenced by ideas
and institutions which help to propel the contents of the peoples’ culture. The changing
society and culture of the modern world is greatly depended on the history of the people.i will
summarize this research nothing that although culture is a complicated issue, there are several
distinct characteristics which are only found in a given group of people like the Japanese.


#References
Beasley, W. G. (1999). The Japanese experience: A short history of Japan. Berkeley: University of
California Press.
Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers, "The Bedford Handbook" 8th edition 2010, Bedford/St. Martin,
Boston, New York, page 75
Morton, W. S., & Olenik, J. K. (2005). Japan: Its history and culture. New York [u.a.:
McGraw-Hill.




 

Library Book Review of Five Classmates

 

1. Hassan Almukhtar selected the 'Speeches and Documents on New Zealand History.' The reason he chose this book was because of his past traveling experience in New Zealand in 2009. He wanted to know more about New Zealand history. The book has one author, W. David McIntyre and W. J. Gardner. The book was printed by Oxford University Press in 1971 in Great Britain.

2. Hussain Alsufair  selected the “Modern Egypt” The reason he chose this book Because he knew some information about Egypt and he wanted to know more about it because there is a big different between the old Egypt and the new Egypt. The book has one author, His name is Arthur Goldschmidt.JR. The book was printed by West view Press in Boulder, Colorado.1988.

3. Hazza Alhajri selected the 'How to improve your Reading.' The reason he chose this book was because he wants to improve his English. The book has one author, Paul Witty. The book was printed by Science Research Associates, Inc. in 1963.

 

4. Mengzhen shi chose the “China Its History and Culture Fourth Edition” The book have two authors, name is W. Scott Morton and Charlton M. LEWIS. The reason she selected this book was because after she teach the Chinese history and culture class in china, it just Chinese teacher teach Chinese students. She wants to stand on different way to see this history and culture. She want know what the foreigner think china.

5. Peterson Victoria chose the 'The Mummy.' The reason she selected this book was because of her interest about the ancient Egyptian society. The book was printed in New York, Toronto, London, Sydney, and Auckland by Random House in 1989. The book has one author, E.A. Wallis Budge.