First International Interview

Interviewer: Longfei Ren

English 191

Interviewee: Chris (his American name)

Interviewee's country of origin: Japan

Interview date: 10/28/2010

First Interview

Me: Hello, my name is Longfei Ren, I am doing a project for class English 191. I need to interview at least three international students; do you want to become my fist interviewee?

Chris: Yes, of course.

Me: Thank you. Could you please tell me a little about yourself, for example: Where are you from?  How old are you? What is your mother language? How long have you been here?

Chris: OK, I come from Japan, not far away from your country. I am 21; I have been in Minnesota for about two years. My mother language is Japanese.

Me: What is your major?

Chris: My major is computer engineering.

Me: Can I know something about your family? Like how many people in your family, their jobs and how are your relations?

Chris: Sure, there are only four people in my family, my father, my mother, me and my younger sister. My father is an Internet engineer, he is a hero in my mind, it seems that he know everything about the computer. That is why I choice computer engineering to become my major. My mother is a housewife, you know, many women in Japan are housewives. She always cooks delicious food for us and make our house very clean. I have a young sister, she is studying in high school, her grade is good, and she also wants to study in America when she graduates from high school.

Me: Why you choice to study in America?

Chris: It is obvious that the education system is the best system in the world. In American university, it is easy for you to receive enough knowledge and improve your skill in different fields. I love the teaching method in America, in American class, the professors and the students have much communication with each other, in this way, and you will be interested in studying.

Me: Do you want to go back to Japan directly when you graduate from SCSU?

Chris: No, I want to find a job here and try to live here.

Me: Why, Why do you want to live here? You know, the winter here is very cold.

Chris: Because I like the environment in America, the air and the water here is very clean, there is little pollution here. What is more important, I can also learn a lot if I get a job here, I think America is the strongest country in the world, there are many things that I need to learn in America.

ME: Can you tell me something about your country, for example, what is the most important festival in your country?

Chris: Obon Festival is one of the most important festivals in our country. Almost all the Japanese celebrate on that day.

Me: Why Obon Festival is the one of the most important day in Japan?

Chris: Because Japanese people believe that the spirit of their ancestors will come back to their family during that day. Spirit is very important in Japan, so Japanese will pray for the spirits.

Me: Do you have some traditional customs to celebrate the Obon Festival?

Chris: Yes, of course. Every year, during Obon Festival, Japanese will clean their house and prepare some vegetable and fruits to the spirits in front of a special table. All the members of the family will get together in front of the special table and pray for the spirits of their ancestors to come back.

Me: Can you tell me the main religions in your country?

Chris: Sure, Shinto and Buddhism are main religions in Japan.

Me: How about you, do you have religion? Why or why not?

Chris: I don’t have any relation, because I think it is the custom of my family. Both my father and my mother do not have any relation. My father always tell me that only when you believe yourself and be confidence every day, the god can help you. If not, you can not realize your goal even if you have any religion.

Me: How about food, can you tell me some traditional food in your country?

Chris: The main food of Japan is rice and noodle; sushi is the traditional in Japan. Sushi is made by rice, meat, fish, sugar, vegetable and so on. Our noodle is made by wheat, most of us eat hot noodle but some Japanese like to eat cold noodle in summer. Our favorite meat is fish, because Japan is island country, so almost all the Japanese like to eat fish.

Me: Can you tell me the weather in Japan; it is also as cold as Minnesota in winter?

Chris: No, of course not. In our country, it is warmer in winter and much cooler in summer. Don’t forget that Japan is island country; there are also four seasons in Japan, but the temperature difference of different seasons are not so big as Minnesota.

Me: OK, another question, Can you tell me the meaning of eye contact in your country?

Chris: Sure, in my own country, the eye contact always means respect. If I speak to an adult, it is necessary for me to have the eye contact with him. It is the basic role I need to follow. As a young boy, you must keep the eye contact when you speak to someone who is older than you or who have more status than you. For example, it is important for you to keep eye contact when you speak to your boss or your manager in the future. However, in my mind, if a man always keep eye contact with a woman, it means that the man like the woman. In Japanese Culture, the eye can also speak to others. So keeping eye contact means you want to stay with him or her. So in Japan, as a young guy, if you don’t like a young girl, I want to remind you that don’t keep eye contact with her. If you keep eye contact with her for a long time, she will misunderstand you.

Me: It is funny. I want to ask that if you want to get marry with a girl, did your family’s attitude have play an important role in your options?

Chris: Sorry? What is your meaning?

Me: Oh, I am sorry. I mean if your family plays an important role for you to choice your wife in the future?

Chris: OK, I know. For me, I think marry is an important thing, so the suggestion of my family is very essential for my option. However, as long as the girl I choice is good enough, my family will not oppose me to choice her. You know, all the parents want their children to be happy, so most of them like to respect their children’s options. Even if my parents don’t like my girlfriend, I think I will try to explain to them that she is good enough. I believe that after our communication, they will agree with my choice.

Me: Do you have a girlfriend now?

Chris: Yes, she is in Japan, she is my classmate in my high school.

Me: How do you date in your daily life?

Chris: We always study together in our high school. My study is a little better than her, so I often explain some questions to her, but sometimes she also explain some questions to me. We always learn with each other and help with each other. We always eat together after school and do the homework together. We always go travelling in holiday, I feel very happy with her. Sometimes she goes to my home and cooks with my mother, my mother also like her.

Me: OK, that is the entire question I want to ask, thank you very much.

Chris: You are welcome.