Interview # 3

Interview #3

Describe the preparations.

My preparations for this interview were good.  I used the same questions for my interviewee.  I went to the library to get a recorder and reserved a room for the interview.  I double checked to see if the recorder works well.  After I finished with all of this, I went and prepared myself by practicing the interview questions again.  I also practiced with some of my friends before this interview. 

How did you approach people?

After I met my second interview with Lia; she introduced me to Micky and some of his friends.  I told her that I wanted to interview a man instead of a woman.  I already interviewed two gals, so I wanted a guys perspective and view of things.  After I told her, she told me that Micky is a nice guy and will give me a good interview.  She gave me his phone number and I called him and told him about my English class.  He had agreed to meet with me.  It was on a Tuesday night when I met my interviewee.

When, where, and how did you conduct and record the interview?

I conducted the interview in Miller Center on a weekday when he and I were free.  I rented the study room in second floor couple days before I had to do my interview.  I made sure the place was quiet, so the recorder can record us well.  He came early for the interview. 

Whom did you interview?

I interview Micky Deges.  He’s an active member in St. Cloud State University.  He joins a lot of club and is the leader for the OPPA club.  He has family members that he misses a lot back in Ethiopia.  He will be graduating next year.  His major is computer science. 

2. Describe the interview. What did surprise you?

This interview was very nice.  I enjoyed it a lot.  Micky was such a wonderful person.  He knows many things about his culture.  I learned what kinds of food he likes eating and learning about all the clubs he’s in.  He’s so educated and loves learning about science.  He likes to joke a lot, which made me very comfortable to be around him.  He smiled a lot.  I didn’t think he was going to tell me as much information from the beginning, but he was honest and shared a lot of important information with me. 

3. Report on country/region and culture.

             “Ethiopia is the tenth largest country in Africa, with approximately 61 million people, covering 439,580 square miles” (Countries and Their Cultures, 2010). There are over eighty ethnic groups in Ethiopia. However, the Amhara, Tigreans, and Oromo have the largest population. They consist over 75 percent of the population.  The Sidamo, Somali, Welamo, Beja, Awi, Gurage, and Afar are the smaller ethnic groups in Ethiopia (Countries and Their Cultures, 2010). 

 “Ethiopia has been a country with religious freedom for centuries” (Countries and Their Cultures, 2010). Therefore, there are many religions that the Ethiopian practices. The most dominant religion in Ethiopia is the Orthodox Christianity. Other major religions are the Judaism, Islam, and Polytheistic religion. The Orthodox Christianity and Islam religion have about 85 to 90 percent of the population (Countries and Their Cultures, 2010).

There is a huge gap between the status of men and women in Ethiopia. The men are consider to be the head of the household.  They are free to socialize with anyone outside of the home.  However, women are restricted and are responsible for the household (Countries and Their Cultures, 2010).   It is not the norm for men to practice cooking and child rearing because they may become a social outcast by other men (Countries and Their Cultures, 2010). 

References:

Countries and Their Cultures, Initials. (2010). Ethiopia. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Ethiopia.html

4.  Transcript:

­­­­­­­­Micky’s Interview

Me:  Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your home?

Micky:  My name is Micky Deges.  I’m from Ethiopia.  I came here two years ago and I’m a international student.  My parents live in Ethiopia.  My sister and brother both live in Seattle, they go to school there.  My older brother lives in Ethiopia and he’s a pilot.  I’m involved in most of the activities in the school here.

Me:  Oh, like the clubs?

Micky:  Yes.

Me:  What are some religious or cultural customs in your country?

Micky:  Well, my parent, they are like most Ethiopian, they’re Orthodox Christian.  Religion is our core.  We share the same values, it’s similar with Indian.  We have to live with our parents until you get marry.  You have to support your family and your family will support you.  Religion plays a big role.  Sunday means you have to go to church.  Our belief is that there is one God.  Everybody has to celebrate.  

Me:  Thank you.  Do you have different rules of eye contact and body language in your country?   

Micky:  Yeah, body language.  I don’t know.  Especially when you talk with elders, you can’t look them in the eyes.  When they are sitting, we have to sit on the floor or that is considered disrespectful.  When I came here, I could never look at people in the eye.  I thought, what was wrong with the guy when he was looking at me.  We kiss people on the cheeks to greet them.  It doesn’t mean anything.  When two guys walk on the street, we hold each other’s hand, it doesn’t mean anything.  It shows brotherhood.  Body language is different. 

Me:  Oh okay, we kind of talked about this, but how are elders treated?

Micky:  Even when you don’t know a elder person and you’re going to a restaurant, you have to let them go first, open the door for them.  It shows that you respect them.  It’s believed that if you treat elders well, you’ll live longer.  They will bless you.

Me:  Thank you.  That’s interesting.  What are weddings like, for example, the traditions of weddings? 

Micky:  Weddings are…  Ethiopia, when we celebrate, it’s three day.  Well, longer than three days.  First, when you propose, you propose to the family first.  The night before the wedding, you have to go with two bags of clothes, perfume, and things to show you can take care of their daughter.  The wedding day, he has to respectful, ask the family to take her.  We don’t do church.  We have lunch or dinner later.  About two hundred or three hundred people are invited.  The third day, his parent are going to pay for the wedding if her parents pay for the wedding first.  When she’s going to the honeymoon, she’s supposed to be a virgin, so, on their honeymoon; they will show proof that she’s a virgin.  They will bring some kind of cloth that’s soak in blood.  If she’s not a virgin, they will bring a red flower to the parent’s house to show how much he respects her.  Looking at that, if the parents are proud, they will give gift to the husband like money or something.  

Me:  Oh wow, how interesting. 

Micky:  Yes (laughing)

Me:  In your country, what are the traditions of funerals?

Micky:  In my country, funeral last 40 days.  If a person dies tonight, he/she has to be buried by 3 p.m.  I remember when my grandpa died, my dad shaved his hair and you have to wear black.  Not only he, but my mom and everybody have to wear black.  You have to show how sad you are, for about 3 days.  When someone comes, you have to show them how sad you are.  After the funeral, we can’t watch T.V. or listen to music.  Your neighbors can’t do the same because it’s a sign of respect.   

Me: Okay.  What kinds of sports are played in your country?

Micky:  Well, it’s Africa!  So, we play soccer.

Me:  Yes.

Micky:  And volleyball.  It’s funny, we have a sport like hockey.  It’s only played in the winter.  It’s only for elders.  We have games for kids too. 

Me:  How does your culture celebrate New Year?  If so, can you explain what the tradition is like?

Micky:  Our New Year, I don’t know if you know.  But, our New Year is September 11.  I know it sounds weird.  Ethiopian system is different.  Everything in Ethiopia, school will start after that.  My mom will make this food for us that will clear everything.  You’ll have new clothes.  We will have to clean the house, every corner of the house.  We’ll have new shoes.  The foods are sour and it’ll clear your body.  The girls will dress white clothes and go around neighbor and sing music.  The kids will draw angels and give it to neighbors, stuff like that.

Me:  Oh, that’s so sweet. 

Micky:  Yes.

Me:  How is the education in your home country compared to the United States?

Micky: Education in my home country compare to the United States, it’s different.  Our high school starts from grade 9.  It’s tough, it’s tougher than college.  So you have to work so hard.  For example, we take all general classes that we are taking in college.  We have to take a lot of testes.  When you’re done, the government will send you to wherever, it depends on your grades.  They will send you to college.  University is free back home.

Me:  Oh, okay.

Micky:  The government will pay you and send you money monthly for pocket money, stuff like that.   

Me:  okay.

Micky:  If you graduate in your country, you’ll have to serve the country for 2 or 3 years for really cheap salary because you were taught for free.

Me:  Wow, that’s interesting.

Micky:  Yes.

Me:  Okay, are there any differences in how a man and a woman may contact each other?  Anything that is not considered proper?

Micky:  Not really.  There’s not much different.  Most of the time, when you greet women, you kiss her cheeks, yeah.  It’s just what I told you earlier.

Me:  Does it matter whom you date or marry?  If so, why?

Micky:  (laughing)  Does it matter whom I date?  No.  Does it matter whom I marry?  Yes, it does.  Like I told you, I’m here.  I could marry anybody I want.  Your parents will want and expect you to marry someone that’s in your culture.  They prefer you to marry someone that’s your ethnic group.  Dating, we don’t tell our parents.  You do that with your friends. 

Me:  Okay.

Micky:  Yes.

Me:  What do you have for your diet, for example, breakfast, lunch, dinner?

Micky:  Today? Or

Me:  Daily

Micky:  Yeah, I usually have stew.  Breakfast, I usually drink milk, something simple.  I will usually have culture food.

Me:  Okay, do you have any questions for me.

Micky:  umm.. no.

Me:  Thank you very much for your time.