Interview 3

An Interview with Yang Wu

Preparation Mode

I came up with eleven questions that would give me a grasp of leisure according to the Chinese perspective. The question initially has a personal touch for the purpose of obtaining and understanding of my interviewee’s background. I arranged the interview with a classmate called Yang Wu in a restaurant to create a relaxed atmosphere, one that goes with my topic of leisure. I brought with me a recorder and used it with the permission of my interviewee. I also explained to him the purpose of the gadget; that it was to help me analyze the interview later, and relax as I conducted the interview as I did not have to write down all the details. The interviewee was co-operative. The interview took place in a Chinese restaurant over tea. I was able to capture the interest of my interviewee by suggesting a place of his origin. He gave me all the answers I needed and elaborated whenever things were not clear.

About the interview

The interviewee comes from Beijing; a large city in China. Therefore, he is exposed to issues of entertainment. The Chinese people have rather passive ways of spending leisure. Traditionally, leisure involved drinking tea in a restaurant, playing majiang- a game that is very common in Sichuan; writing poetry, listening to inspirations, travelling places to see important structures and symbols such as the great wall in Beijing, and watching opera. This is in contrast with hype life in the US which includes hosting a lot of parties and vigorous sports. However, with the advancement in technology, things are changing. For example, the younger generation frequents the bar for drinks and are trying out sports. The most common is ping pong, but the main reason for this is status quo. The rich people are the ones who play tennis ball and golf. The idea of house parties is remotely considered in China solely because of the family structure. Many people live with their families rather than individually to make economic ends meet (Qi et al, 2013).

My interviewee’s name is Yang Wu. According to him, the name Yang comes from the philosophical idea that two opposing forces are interdependent and interconnected. For example, light cannot exist without darkness, nor can black without white. He comes from Beijing in a nuclear family where he is the only child. This is in accordance with China’s population law. He came to study in the US because the chances of studying in China in a good university are limited. The city is very large and busy. It is known for crazy traffic jams, and the interviewee claims that people spend their leisure on the roads. Another challenging factor about Beijing especially for foreigners is the diverse weather condition. The winter is cold and windy and the summer is hot and humid. On a positive note, the home conditions have helped him to adapt well in ST Clouds. Also Beijing is rather safe for its size compared to other cities in the world.

The Region and Culture of Beijing

The city is known for its numerous temples. These include the Buddhist and Taoist temples. There is also a temple dedicated to Confucius. In addition, Beijing has the oldest Catholic Church in China and the largest mosque. The interviewee is himself a Buddhist; a religion that is among the largest in the US. It comes in fourth place after Christianity, Judaism and pagans. Therefore, the interviewee has not had religious problems in U.S. The biggest festival held in China and most observed in Beijing, even though they have many held in the city, is the New Year Festival. It is also celebrated in numerous other countries like Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and many more. The festival is celebrated differently in different places and for different reasons (Burkitt & Fletcher, 2013). For example, in some it is celebrated because of the defeat of Nian, a beast in Mythological China.

The ancient people put food on the door steps, which scared off the beast that would eat the animals, and even people, in those times. They later discovered that the color red was even more effective in chasing off the creature. This is why the festivals involve lighting up fire crackers which are red in color. There are other people who celebrate the festival after the famous parade of the Chinese people in 1849. All in all the common factor about the festival is the use of the red color. For instance, other countries give gifts to the younger generation in red envelopes. The act is associated with good luck. There is also the dance of the dragon and lion common across countries; the festival is held on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar (Wei, 2013).

The Interview

Me: What is your name? And where are you from?

Yang Wu: I am Yang. I come from Beijing.

Me: What do you do for leisure?

Yang Wu: Watch movies and have a good time at the bar with my friends. I am new in spending leisure in this way.

Me: Could you please tell me about yourself?

Yang Wu: I am an only kid. I am excited to try out new things in America as the culture is very different from back at home. We Chinese are not sporty, and you Americans value history; we have plenty of that back at home

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

Yang Wu: As frequently as possible, the communication infrastructure has really come up and so I make good use of it.

Me: What is the biggest holiday in your country? Please explain about the holidays (Activities, Food, Date, Origin, and others).

Yang Wu: The New Year’s festival. It is very elaborate and it’s not celebrated in China alone. Other countries like Malaysia and Singapore. It has its origin in China’s mythology and the famous parade of 1849, it just depends where you are. However, the most common factor is the use of the color red in celebrating the festival.

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

Yang Wu: There is no hardship. We are a big religion. I am a Buddhist and we come fourth after Christianity, Judaism and pagans.

Me: Tell me some important things from your culture?

Yang Wu: It’s the festivals that bring people together and help preserve heritage.

Me: What’s the biggest difference between the American culture and your culture?

Yang Wu: China is populous; this has affected the way of life because people have limited opportunities to resources, therefore things are a bit smoother in the states as compared to China.

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

Yang Wu: I am planning to do further studies; maybe a second degree or masters.

Me: Do you have any questions for me? I have asked so many of you!

Yang Wu: Yeah would you like to visit be Beijing some day? Just make sure you see a little bit of China

Me: Yes I would. Do you like the weather in St.Cloud? Please explain.

Yang Wu: It does not affect me much. It’s not very different from China. The winter and summer can be both harsh.          

 

 

References

Burkitt, L., & Fletcher, O. (2013). No Crowds for China’s New Year. The Wall Street Journal,          45-48.

Qi, L., Kazer, W., & Silk, R. (2013). Beijing Endorses Market Role in Economy. The Wall Street Journal, 40-44.

Wei, D. (2013). Chinese New Year in China. Kung Fu Magazine, 23-27.