Preparations: I approached Min Jie after class and asked if she would be willing to let me interview her. She accepted, and we agreed to meet in the Library at her earliest convenience.
Interview report: The interview went well, we started by making light conversation, which made it a lot easier and more comfortable to talk with each other.
Country Report: Min Jie is from China, specifically Shanghai. China has the highest population of any country, holding over 1.35 billion people. China is a Communist nation (led by the Communist Party of China), with Beijing as it's capitol. Unfortunately, with China being so populous and industrial, air pollution has become a serious health concern, especially in urban areas. Being the second largest country by land area, China has a very diverse landscape. It ranges from forest steppes, deserts, woods, and a wetter southern area. They also have the fastest growing economy, being the largest exporters and importers of goods to the rest of the world. China also possesses the world's largest standing army, and is second in spending money on their defense. Shanghai, specifically, is their China's largest city by population. Shanghai is also the commercial and financial center of China, and has one of China's best educational systems.
Wikipedia Contributors. N.p.. Web. 27 Oct 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai>.
Wikipedia Contributors, . N.p.. Web. 27 Oct 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China>.
Interview Transcription:
V=Victoria
M=Min Jie
V: So how are you liking the weather in St. Cloud?
M: I don't like the weather. Yeah, it's so cold! My country is warm, so we have no chance to see the snow. When I first came to St. Cloud, I was suprised! So much snow!
V: Did you see the snow yesterday (Sunday)?
M: Oh, yeah. When I worked with my friend, he said "Oh, whats wrong with you? You're always falling down on the floor!" I don't know, it's so slippery! I don't like the winter, I don't like the wind.
V: I'm sorry! I don't have much fun then either. So what do you usually do for fun in your free time?
M: I listen to music, or surf something on the internet. But I never do homework, never do homework on my free time.
V:Could you tell me a little bit about yourself?
M: Okay! So my name is Min Jie, I am twenty years old, and this is my first year at the St. Cloud University. I am a freshman. Do you want to know something about my family?
V: Yeah, definitely!
M: Okay, I have a small size family. My family size includes my mom, my father, and me. I am the only one child in my family. Most Chinese families have only one child, because of the government policy.
V: How often do you talk to your family back in China?
M: Yeah, we Skype. I phone call my mom once a week. I have a friend, she phone calls every day to her mother. Yeah, every day, sometimes for hours.
V: My roommate does the same thing, she calls her mom every day when she lives about an hour away from her family.
M: *laughs*
V: So what's the biggest holiday in China?
M: It's the Spring Festival, kind of like the American Christmas. To celebrate we have lots of food. We just stick together and have food.
V: So the holiday celebrates eating together?
M: Yeah.
V: Do you practice any religion? And if you do, do you have any problems practicing it in America?
M: I don't have a religion. So no, it's no problem for me.
V: Could you tell me a little about China?
M: The interesting things or the boring things?
V: Whatever you would like to talk about.
M: Hmm...Culture...I think, uhm. It's not interesting. *laughs* It's true! I don't know, the education was kind of different.
V: How so?
M: The education is very different. The primary school students will take maybe eight hours class every day.
V: And is primary school like elementary school year? Like with 5 year olds and up.
M: Yeah! It's just the Chinese culture.
V: So do they start teaching English in China at a young age? I know some countries do that.
M: Yeah, it's tough though. The grammar is very different.
V: My little sister is trying to learn Japanese, she's having a really tough time with it because the structure is completely different.
M: Oh yes, it's very different.
V: Do you have any goals for your future?
M: I don't think about the goals too much. I just want to learn and get more English skills. After I graduate, I will go back to China maybe and get high pay. Yeah, that's the goal.
V: So you're just figuring out what you want to do for school right now?
M: Yeah, get past the winter.
V: Hopefully we can survive! Do you have any questions for me at all?
M: I wanted to ask you about your family.
V: I have one sister, she's 15. I really need to call my mom and my dad more though, I'm so bad at calling people! We don't come from a huge city like you, we live in more of a suburb. Our home is about twenty minutes away from the Twin Cities. Well thank you for talking with me!
M: Yes, thank you
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013
Interview Review
Justin Rudd, Dong Lim, and Alzobaur Bugshan scored highest.
I enjoyed Justin Rudd's interview the most because it covered a wide expanse of information.
Link to my score card here
I enjoyed Justin Rudd's interview the most because it covered a wide expanse of information.
Link to my score card here
Monday, October 14, 2013
My Final Questions
a Do you like the weather in St.Cloud? Please explain.
b What do you do for leisure?
c Could you please tell me about yourself?
d How often do you communicate with your family back at home?
e What is the biggest holiday in your country? Please explain about the holidays (Activities, Food, Date, Origin, and etc,)
f In what ways might it be difficult to practice your religion here in the U.S?
g Tell me some important things from your culture ?
h Whats the biggest difference between the American culture and your culture?
i What are your goals for the future; after you graduate, what are you going to do?
j What is your favorite home cooked meal?
k What kind of area did you live in before coming to the U.S? How did you get around? (transportation)
l What do you like to do when you hang out with your friends and/or family?
m Do you have any questions for me? I have asked so many of you! (mandatory question at the end)
b What do you do for leisure?
c Could you please tell me about yourself?
d How often do you communicate with your family back at home?
e What is the biggest holiday in your country? Please explain about the holidays (Activities, Food, Date, Origin, and etc,)
f In what ways might it be difficult to practice your religion here in the U.S?
g Tell me some important things from your culture ?
h Whats the biggest difference between the American culture and your culture?
i What are your goals for the future; after you graduate, what are you going to do?
j What is your favorite home cooked meal?
k What kind of area did you live in before coming to the U.S? How did you get around? (transportation)
l What do you like to do when you hang out with your friends and/or family?
m Do you have any questions for me? I have asked so many of you! (mandatory question at the end)
My Objectives and Questions
Objectives:
To get a personal glimpse of another culture - What activities they participate in day-to-day, what their family and social lives are like, what kind of area they live in, and what they find to be the biggest differences from their country to ours.
Questions:
1.) What do you like to do in your free time?
2.) What is your favorite home cooked meal and how is it prepared?
3.) What do you and your friends like to do?
4.) How does the school system there differ from here?
5.) What are your favorite holidays?
6.) What kind of area did you live in? (city, country, etc.)
7.) What kind of weather did you experience back home?
8.) How did you get around from one place to another?
9.) What are a few main differences you noticed between your country and the United States upon arrival?
10.) Do you have any questions for me?
To get a personal glimpse of another culture - What activities they participate in day-to-day, what their family and social lives are like, what kind of area they live in, and what they find to be the biggest differences from their country to ours.
Questions:
1.) What do you like to do in your free time?
2.) What is your favorite home cooked meal and how is it prepared?
3.) What do you and your friends like to do?
4.) How does the school system there differ from here?
5.) What are your favorite holidays?
6.) What kind of area did you live in? (city, country, etc.)
7.) What kind of weather did you experience back home?
8.) How did you get around from one place to another?
9.) What are a few main differences you noticed between your country and the United States upon arrival?
10.) Do you have any questions for me?
Monday, October 7, 2013
I had summarized page fifteen of the book, The Mummy, by E.A Walis Budge. The book gave a large amount of information regarding Ancient Egyptian monuments, kings, and structures, but I am going to expand on that information with outside sources including two more books about Ancient Egypt, and two online sources.
The first book I chose to research was The Legacy of Egypt, edited by J.R Harris. This book helped expand more on how much monumental structures like the Sphinx and the pyramids were built with such limited technology. The Egyptians were generally regarded as "a most inventive and inquiring people". They had achieved such large building projects by working in a team, where each worker would have a small job to complete, which increased the rate of productivity and allowed for larger projects to be created. Generally there was one additional person in charge of overseeing the project and instructing the workers on what to do.
The second book I chose, Literature and Mythology of Ancient Egypt, written by Joseph Kaster, shed more light as to the general "why" of Egyptian architecture. The ancient society drew a lot of inspiration for its buildings from other Mediterranean societies (which explains why so many columns were used on their buildings). Egypt was a center of commerce, they drew influence from other cultures they came in contact with. They drew especially from classical Greece in methods of painting, sculpting, designing, and engineering.
I also found a website entitled "Art History Resources" which provided more information about the King Menkaure (who had the third Giza pyramid built). I was surprised to find that he also had a statue carved out of slate of he and his Queen that I recognized from art history classes. This work was found in his tomb as well, along with the previously mentioned bodily remains, coffin, and whatever was left of his sarcophagus.
I wanted to look further into how these works were actually made, given the limited technologies, and found an online article entitled "Egypt: Construction in Ancient Egypt". Stone blocks were made with stone, copper, or bronze tools. Blocks were moved using mainly earth and mud ramps to achieve the monumental heights commonly associated with Ancient Egyptian structures. The main reason their arts and architecture were so great was because of their large work force. Were it not for this, the same output would not be achieved.
Reading just one page of The Mummy led me to inquire more about the Ancient Egyptian cultural achievements and of those who ruled it. Further investigation with multiple sources answered these questions and raised even more.
The first book I chose to research was The Legacy of Egypt, edited by J.R Harris. This book helped expand more on how much monumental structures like the Sphinx and the pyramids were built with such limited technology. The Egyptians were generally regarded as "a most inventive and inquiring people". They had achieved such large building projects by working in a team, where each worker would have a small job to complete, which increased the rate of productivity and allowed for larger projects to be created. Generally there was one additional person in charge of overseeing the project and instructing the workers on what to do.
The second book I chose, Literature and Mythology of Ancient Egypt, written by Joseph Kaster, shed more light as to the general "why" of Egyptian architecture. The ancient society drew a lot of inspiration for its buildings from other Mediterranean societies (which explains why so many columns were used on their buildings). Egypt was a center of commerce, they drew influence from other cultures they came in contact with. They drew especially from classical Greece in methods of painting, sculpting, designing, and engineering.
I also found a website entitled "Art History Resources" which provided more information about the King Menkaure (who had the third Giza pyramid built). I was surprised to find that he also had a statue carved out of slate of he and his Queen that I recognized from art history classes. This work was found in his tomb as well, along with the previously mentioned bodily remains, coffin, and whatever was left of his sarcophagus.
I wanted to look further into how these works were actually made, given the limited technologies, and found an online article entitled "Egypt: Construction in Ancient Egypt". Stone blocks were made with stone, copper, or bronze tools. Blocks were moved using mainly earth and mud ramps to achieve the monumental heights commonly associated with Ancient Egyptian structures. The main reason their arts and architecture were so great was because of their large work force. Were it not for this, the same output would not be achieved.
Reading just one page of The Mummy led me to inquire more about the Ancient Egyptian cultural achievements and of those who ruled it. Further investigation with multiple sources answered these questions and raised even more.
Works Cited
Budge, E.A. Wallis. The Mummy. United States of America: Random House, 1989. Print.
Harris, J.R. The Legacy of Egypt. United States of America: Penguin Press, 1970. Print.
Kaster, Joseph. Literature and Mythology of Ancient Egypt. London: Oxford University Press, 1971. Print.
Whitcombe, Christopher. "Menkaure and His Queen". Art History Resources. N.P. 2000. Web. 7 October 2013. <http://arthistoryresources.net/menkaure/menkaurediscovery.html>.
"Egypt: Construction in Ancient Egypt, Egypt." Tour Egypt. Tour Egypt, n.d. Web. 7 Oct. 2013. <http://arthistoryresources.net/menkaure/menkaurediscovery.html>.
Page 15 Summary
The Mummy, written by E.A Wallis Budge, is an extremely informative book about ancient Egyptian culture. Although the book covers a great expanse of information regarding the culture, lifestyles, rituals, and architecture, page fifteen talks specifically about a few particular monuments, tombs, and rulers. These pages cover why these monumental structures were built, what they were made from, how they originally appeared, and for whom they were made.
The Sphinx is the first structure that is mentioned, and is one of the most famous monuments from ancient Egypt. It was built at a very large scale, the highest point is about seventy feet up. Originally it was coated with limestone, the head was adorned with ornaments, and the face was painted a rich red. Unfortunately it does not look like this anymore, because of "the savage destruction of its features by the Muhammadan rulers of Egypt, some of whom caused it to be used for a target". Not much is known about the Sphinx, but we do know that it was made in the likeness of Ra-Harmachis and was made at least during 3700 B.C.
The Mummy briefly mentioned Menkaura (Mykerinos) as the "good and just" Egyptian King who had the third Giza pyramid built. The British Museum is in possession of his coffin as well as what remains of his sarcophagus and of his body.
The last section of page fifteen talks about a few Egyptian rulers of the Vth dynasty that were more known for building monuments instead of waging wars. Userkaf, Sahura, An, Heru-men-kau, and Tet-ka-ra suppressed riots, made towns and expeditions, and had reliefs cut from rock.
Even in just one page from the book, The Mummy, there was a large amount of information to be found on the subject of Ancient Egypt. It expanded on monuments such as The Sphinx, who built a specific pyramid of Giza, and what Egyptian rulers were responsible for building things like towns and stone reliefs rather than conquering other nations.
The Sphinx is the first structure that is mentioned, and is one of the most famous monuments from ancient Egypt. It was built at a very large scale, the highest point is about seventy feet up. Originally it was coated with limestone, the head was adorned with ornaments, and the face was painted a rich red. Unfortunately it does not look like this anymore, because of "the savage destruction of its features by the Muhammadan rulers of Egypt, some of whom caused it to be used for a target". Not much is known about the Sphinx, but we do know that it was made in the likeness of Ra-Harmachis and was made at least during 3700 B.C.
The Mummy briefly mentioned Menkaura (Mykerinos) as the "good and just" Egyptian King who had the third Giza pyramid built. The British Museum is in possession of his coffin as well as what remains of his sarcophagus and of his body.
The last section of page fifteen talks about a few Egyptian rulers of the Vth dynasty that were more known for building monuments instead of waging wars. Userkaf, Sahura, An, Heru-men-kau, and Tet-ka-ra suppressed riots, made towns and expeditions, and had reliefs cut from rock.
Even in just one page from the book, The Mummy, there was a large amount of information to be found on the subject of Ancient Egypt. It expanded on monuments such as The Sphinx, who built a specific pyramid of Giza, and what Egyptian rulers were responsible for building things like towns and stone reliefs rather than conquering other nations.
Hassan Almukhtar chose a book from the library entitled "Speeches and Documents on New Zealand Histrory" because he had visited New Zealand a few years ago and was interested in learning more about the country. The book was written by both W. David McIntyre and W.J. Gardner, and printed in 1971 in Great Britain.
Faisal Alhajri wrote about the famous book "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway. He chose this book because he had read it previously and found the fictional story about the old fisherman very enjoyable. The book was published in 1952 in New York.
Brandon Doege picked the book "Vietnam: The (Last) War the U.S. Lost" from the library because the illustrated cover stood out from the rest of the books in that section, and he was curious to know more about it. The book was written by Joe Allen and was printed in Chicago in 2008.
Zaid Bug had written about the book "Dubai Gilded Cage". He chose this subject because Dubai is a very famous and well-known city, especially in the Middle East. It was written by Syed Ali and printed in New Haven and London in 2010.
Minjie Zhu chose "The West and China Since 1500" because she is from China and was curious to know about more about the relationship between the West and the Chinese. This book was written by John S. Gregory and printed in New York in 2003.
Faisal Alhajri wrote about the famous book "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway. He chose this book because he had read it previously and found the fictional story about the old fisherman very enjoyable. The book was published in 1952 in New York.
Brandon Doege picked the book "Vietnam: The (Last) War the U.S. Lost" from the library because the illustrated cover stood out from the rest of the books in that section, and he was curious to know more about it. The book was written by Joe Allen and was printed in Chicago in 2008.
Zaid Bug had written about the book "Dubai Gilded Cage". He chose this subject because Dubai is a very famous and well-known city, especially in the Middle East. It was written by Syed Ali and printed in New Haven and London in 2010.
Minjie Zhu chose "The West and China Since 1500" because she is from China and was curious to know about more about the relationship between the West and the Chinese. This book was written by John S. Gregory and printed in New York in 2003.
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