First interview: CHINA

Interviewee: Bingzhe
Interviewer:Loris

Although it is my first time interviewing someone, i had to be prepared. For that, we planned to meet  in Miller center on Sunday at 2pm; i chose in library because i didn't want to be in place very calm which will make me uncomfortable. The first ten minutes, i just spoke with my interviewee to know a litlle bit each other before to begin the interview. As i and Bingzhe were talking, i began to get into the interview by questioning him without to be suddenly out of the subject. It was not really long, we spent on each question about 5minutes.

Throughout the interview, i was impressed of how chinese live especially the education which are given to them because it can be really related to the education we received in my country.Therefore, during the interview, we were using sometimes google translate which help us a lot by explaining some words it was not easy to understand. Moreover, my interviewee gave me some examples throughout the interview which was interresting as it was actually really helpful.In general, we discussed with couples questions about the history of China, culture, region and religion.

Bingzhe is an international student from China in the city called Nanjing. Even though chinese have some best college, Bingzhe chose to come in Saint Cloud State from the help of a compagny which expose different colleges for students who want to go to study abroad, and because it is cheap. However,it is more about how it is hard to do the competition because everyone do hardwork to enter in those Nanjing's college. As something most important for chinese, Bingzhe planned to go back to China one done with school.

Proud of his country, Bingzhe has a big respect of China after all the stories his country has been through. About 400years, China had several war which was countries who want their lands such as Russia, but usually they were hitted back. This experience gave to the chinese a lot strengh by controling all their lands across the country, and making strict rules for avoid the penetration of the enemies. Due to many provinces, China has his own language but the accent differe by province. Nevertheless, their traditional food is called "Dumpling" and "Noodles". Mostly, noodles are eaten in north of China while in south of China they eat more rice. Chinese have a traditional festival which is their New Year, and it depends on what they called "calculator lumar". Farmers used the calculator date to determine when it will be the moon so that they can reap, and then celebrate;it is usually at the end of January or the begining or February, and they can have two birthday in one year!how they are lucky! As festival, chinese have five such as spring festival, mid-autumn festival, tomb-sweeping day, the double ninth festival and dragon boat festival. For the wedding celebration, chinese does that in three process when the husband go to take her wife where she lives with presents, the wedding day when everyone can give them money to help for the preparation, friends and families will go to visite them at their new house. Confucianism related to a culture, but it is more a religion which consist on saying what chinese can do or not. They mostly believe in what he said because chinese think it is true. As two others religions, chinese have Buddhism from India and Taoism from China which had an important idea on keeping balance between Human and Nature. Regarding to their political system, China has only one party called Communist party; the party control the entire country. During the election, whoever the chinese chose, there are 10 people in government who are charged to nominate who will be the president everytime from the communist party. At the end, Bingzhe added he doesn't really care who will be president in time the country will continue to grow up.

Transcript of my interview:

Loris:Goodafternoon!!i am loris
Bingzhe:Goodafternoon!!Bingzhe...nice to meet you
L:Nice to meet you too!!Where are you from?Could you please tell me a little bit about you?
B:Yeah!my name is Bingzhe, i am from China and i am really proud of to be chinese.China has a long history.
L:Which city of China are you from?
B:I am from Nanjing,it is kinda close to Shanghai
L:So I know you have some good university in China!Why did you choose to study to Saint Cloud State?
B:As me, with my grade, i can't enter in Nanjing's university because Nanjing has good university and all chinese want to go there.It is a hard competition.
L:What are planning to do after school?
B:It is a hard question!
L:Somehow!but yeah (both laugh)
B:I want to go back to China because we have two different culture.The culture chock is really hard.My parents advised me to get some experiences from America, and then go back.But after graduation, i want to go back because it is difficult to get a job here.We are not American, we don't have green card. I have a friend who didn't get an internship because they told him our system only accept America people.
L:Unbelievable,but it happen.I had a cousin also who get a job after 2 years looking for a job.Back to china, what kind of activities young people do?
B:Karaoke is really famous in China now. It is from Japan, and also it became famous in Corea.When we are free,basketball,but we like to have also launch outside.
L:What is your traditional food?
B:Dumpling and Noodles. In north of china, they eat more noodles and in south rice.We can eat it anytime, it is only during festival.
L:What is the important day in your country which you celebrate?
B:Hmm..we have five:spring festival, mid-autumn festival, tomb-sweeping day, the double ninth festival and dragon boat festival.
L:How about marriage?how do you celebrate?
B:Marriage also is celebrated.The husband go to take her wife where she lives with presents, the wedding day when everyone can give them money to help for the preparation, friends and families will go to visite them at their new house.
L:What are your country's major religion?
B:Actually, there are Confucianism which is seen more like a religion than a culture,Buddhism which is from India and Taoism.
L:How is the political system of your country structured?
B:I think i will try to explain to you.We have only one party which is called communist party.During the election, there are 10 people who will choose the president from the communist party.This party control all the country,but the time my country is developping our economie;i do not care.I know we need to make some change and i hope the president will make it.
L:Is there anything you would like to add or to ask me before we end the interview?
B:Back to the marriage preparation,it is really expensive especially the drink which cost almost $300,but people buy it because they think it can give them a high status!
L:Really! it is expensive.So Thank you for your time.It was interresting.
B:You are welcome.It was a pleasure.