Interview #2 Prep Report

     To prepare for my second interview I first needed to find someone to interview, so I asked Puspak if he knew anyone that would be willing. Puspak suggested that his roommate would be a willing participant. We exchanged phone numbers and Puspak contacted me with the phone number of his roommate.

     I contacted his roommate to find out when it would be most convenient for him to meet. He said that Thursdays from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm worked the best for him. Unfortunately, I am working at that time, so after rearranging my schedule I was able to clear some time to meet with him. Then I contacted him again to confirm the date and time. We agreed to meet on Thursday October 27 at 11:00 am in the Miller Center.

Then based on my experiences from the first interview I decided to reorder and reprint my interview questions.

On the day of the interview I reserved a group study room to provide us with a nice quite location to meet.

Interview #2 Transcription

I interviewed Sagar an international student from Nepal on Thursday October 27, 2011. The following is a transcription of the interview.

Interview #2

Date: October 27, 2011

Interviewer: Tim Coughlin

Interviewee: Sagar

(T) My name is Tim and I just wanted to make sure it was ok that I record this interview.

(S) Yeah sure.

(T) Alright, well I just have a short list of questions. Here is a copy if you’d like.

(S) Thanks

(T) So we’ll just work through them and hopefully it won’t be too brutal.

(S) Heh, yeah I taken the interview before.

(T) Oh you have?

(S) Yeah, last semester.

(T) Good. Ok, so what is your name and where are you from?

(S) My Name is Sagar and I’m from Nepal.

(T) How long have you been going to St. Cloud State?

(S) I’m a Sr. right now, so almost four years.

(T) So you’re almost done.

(S) Yeah, hopefully

(T) Alright, What is the name of your home town?

(S) Kathmandu. You know that place right?

(T) Yeah, it’s the capital, so how is the weather in Kathmandu?

(S) It’s moderate usually about 75 or 76 all the time, sometimes in the summer it can get up to 90.

(T) Does it get really humid there?

(S) Yeah, its gets humid. Were more than 1000 meters above sea level, so it’s pretty much moderate all the time.

(T) That’s nice.

(S) Yeah, We barely have snow.

(T) Ok, How many people are in your family?

(S) Four. My dad, mom, me, and brother.

(T) Does everyone still live at home?

(S) Yeah, other than me there over there. I have relatives over here, I came with them.

(T) Oh you did.

(S) Some of them live in Virginia, New York, and Canada.

(T) Wow, you have family all over the place. Do you ever get a chance to get together?

(S) Yeah, I’ve been Virginia and New York, but I haven’t gone to Canada yet.

(T) That’s cool. So, at what age do people usually get married?

(S) You never know, that’s a tough question. Some get married at 18 and some get married at 16, Most get married at 20 or 22, that’s the legal age.

(T) So early twenties?

(S)  Yeah.

(T) What is the role of women in the family after marriage?

(S) Most women end up as housewives if their husbands make good money, because back home you inherent their parent’s property. So they already have a house. But, some of women do work if they have jobs already, but not usually.

(T) So it’s ok for women to work, but it’s just not as common.

(S) Yeah.

(T) What are some traditional Nepalese foods?

(S) Rice, curry, and lentils, they’re kind of the national food. Sometime we eat meat, pudding made of corn flour. Then we eat soups like chicken chowder and something called Khole its not good.

(T) Ok good, what would be a type of sport in Nepal?

(S) Soccer would be popular, but these days cricket is gaining popularity, because our under age kids like 17 or 19 are beating teams from Africa, England, and Pakistan which are some of the best teams in the world. Now I don’t know what happens to the teams when they go to Sr. level, I think they just screw up.  Because back home you cannot make a career from cricket.

(T) So they not able to make cricket a career sport?

(S) Not any sport, here if your good in football you can, back home it’s not possible.

(T) Why is that?

(S) I don’t know, that’s why the under teams are really good. So like with soccer; say the kids here, like the 13 and 14 year olds played the team back home. The team back home would beat the US kids easily, but if you wait six or seven years say at 19 or 20, then the US team would win easily.

(T) So is that because the kids realize that they can’t make a career from it, so they begin to focus on their studies and career more?

(S) Yeah, their studies and everything.

(T) Alright, if you had to list one thing that made you proud of your country what would that be?

(S) Hmm, there is so many things, but let’s say the Nepalese Heart. We have a purest heart, we welcome anybody.

(T) Yeah I’ve noticed that the Nepalese students are very friendly and very nice.

(S) In my culture, like, here customers are god, but in my culture guests are god. That’s what makes me proud of my country. If you go to my country, as a foreigner, you will be respected more. Sometimes when guests come, they will give up their own bed and sleep on floor.

(T) Wow.

(S) It’s not like that in the cities much now, but more in the country, in the villages.

(T) So are the bigger cities becoming more westernized?

(S) Yeah

(T) That’s too bad. It’s kind of nice to have that “heart” like you said.

(S) Yeah.

(T) What places or sites would you recommend to tourists?

(S) That depends on how old the tourists are. If they are more culturally interested or naturally interested. If they are more naturally interested I like to tell them to go to more parts, because there are some places that have never been explored, never by anyone. Then there are the mountains, and base camps. If they are more culturally interested then I tell them to go to Kathmandu.

In Kathmandu if you want to learn about culture or to be lost in culture then it’s the best place in the world. We have so many temples in Kathmandu, lets just say we have more temples than houses.

(T) So Kathmandu is the cultural center of Nepal.

(S) Yeah

(T) Alright, so have you ever been to Mt. Everest?

(S) No.

(T) Is it just too far away?

(S) Its not far it’s pricey.

(T) Alright, so what festivals do you celebrate in Nepal?

(S) We celebrate Dashain Tihara.

(T) That was just recently

(S) Yeah, It’s still going on. Today is the fourth day of Tihar. Dashain is like 15 days long and Tihar is like 5 days, so let’s just say that like every 2 week there is a holiday.

(T) Wow that sounds fun.

(S) It really is.

(T) Are you still required to go to work during some of the holidays or is everything closed?

(S) Dashain is a 15 day holiday, but public service gets like a 5 or 6 day holiday, but for 6 or 7 days everything is closed. During that time, say if you wanted to call a cab during the first 7 days Dashain, it’s really hard because everything is closed.

Our festivals are designed, ok, so over here you have Thanksgiving and you eat dinner at the exact same time or within a 2 or 3 hour window of that time. Now with Dashain the first day you celebrate at home with your immediate family and then for four days you visit friends and family bringing blessings, and receiving blessings from them. So there is more than just one thing that’s done during the holiday. Another holiday we have is Holi. Have you heard about Holi?

(T) Yeah, that’s the one with the water balloons. You get to go around and throw colored water balloons at people.

(S) Right, it’s the festival of colors. It’s fun, really fun.

(T) So now that you’re here, do you still celebrate Holi?

(S) No, if you throw water balloons at girls they call the police.

(T) Heh, yeah I that's true.

(S) Back home I use to hide on the top floor and throw the balloons at the girls. It’s pretty fun.

(T) So what is the water colored with? Is it just food coloring or is it a special dye?

(S) Red, blue, Green, and Saffron colors. There is nothing harmful in them. They are the same colors we use in prayer. Yeah, so if you let them touch your skin it’s all the better.

(T) Which holiday or festival would be your favorite?

(S) When I was a kid I use to have Dashain Tihar as a favorite, because it’s like Christmas for you.  You know your parents go and buy gifts, new cloths and everything. So it’s like a real holiday.

(T) What about now as you’re getting older do you find yourself favoring another holiday?

(S) As I’m getting older I’m over here, so I’m not sure now. But I still like Dashain Tihar. I like Holi.

(T) Yeah, Holi sounds like a lot of fun.

(S) Holi is really fun. There are a lot of other things with Holi, there are processions throughout the city, it really is a cultural hub, and the whole city is soaked in the colored water. Then we have something called Gai Jatra where you go around the city making funny faces at people. You just go around the city and people give you food and drink, because you’ve been going around the city the whole day.

(T) So is it kind of like Halloween here?

(S) It’s not, but it’s kind of like Halloween.

(T) Ok,

(S) Well we don’t go door to door, but in Tihar we do. Like now we go around singing songs and dancing and they will give you blessings, money, and food.

(T) So how would you say that culture has influenced your family values?

(S) Influenced Me and my family a lot.  Then when I have kids I would like them to have that culture, because my culture is really good.

(T) That’s important especially if you want to pass on the Nepalese heart as you said.

(S) Yeah, because I’ve seen a lot of cultures that are not very good, here the parents kick you out or the kids leave when they’re 18.

(T) Do the Nepalese children show more respect toward their parents?

(S) Yeah, they are.

(T) Alright, good. Is some of your clothing culturally influenced?

(S) Oh yeah we have a trouser that kind of tapers down, shirt, and then the Nepalese hat. That’s the costume for the men. For the women it’s called a sari, it’s a really long cloth that they wrap around.

(T) So is that pinned then?

(S) Yeah, near the shoulder.

(T) Ok, Now is that something that’s worn every day?

(S) Like my mom, she will wear that whenever she is to go out. When she stays home, she wears a gown, or more loose cloths.

(T) What about the younger generations?

(S)The younger people wear more jeans and tee-shirts. Kathmandu is a real fashionable place. St. Cloud is not even close, like here you don’t see that many designer labels, but in Kathmandu you will see them there.

(T) So if you want something you can get it there.

(S) Yeah, the people in Kathmandu that own property are really rich. It’s like the New York of Nepal.

(T) So what are some cultural differences you’ve noticed since you been in the US.

(S) A lot.

(T) Any in particular that you can think of? Have you experienced culture shock?

(S) I’m really flexible, so I can adjust anywhere. I did not get much culture shock. Like back home we did not have LGBT.

(T) LGBT?

(S) Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender.

(T) Ok.

(S) So like my second semester here I had a Lesbian professor, and I had a job where my boss was gay.

(T) Was that more of a shock for you.

(S) No, not for me.

(T) What about in Nepal since that is not something that you see.

(S) Sometimes you see it, but they are not open to it.

(T) So it’s just not as common.

(S) Correct, but in Nepal same sex marriage is legal.

(T) It is?

(S) Yes it had been legal for awhile.

(T) Alright. So what is the education system like in Nepal?

(S) Our system is more based on theory not practical. They know a lot of information, but they cannot do it. They have a lack of instruments, so they will teach you everything, but not how to do it or how to use it.

(T) Alright, So what is the form of governments?

(S) They use to have a king until summer of 2008, but then they had a revolution. Now it’s a democratic country like here where there is a president.

(T) So now the Citizens get to vote?

(S) Well they’ve been able to vote for a while.

(T) Oh they have.

(S) Yeah, The government type has changed a lot in Nepal, but now they are a democratic republic.

(T) Alright. Well that was all of my questions so; do you have any questions for me?

(S) So what are you doing this for?

(T) For my English 191 class. We have to interview 3 international students and after talking with your roommate I thought Nepal sounded quite interesting.

(S) Yeah Nepal is very interesting.

(T) Well I just wanted to thank you again for helping me out with this interview.

(S) No problem

<End of interview>

Interview #2 Personal Review

Overall I think this interview went much smoother than the first. I felt I was more prepared, which made me more relaxed during the interview process. I think this made the interviewee feel more at ease also.

I really liked using the group study rooms. They offered some privacy that gave the interviewee a sense of security, allowing us to talk freely. They also eliminated distractions allowing both of us to focus our attention on the interview and not the environment. I will defiantly use them again.

During the interview I noticed that some of Sagar responses were difficult to understand. Unfortunately I did not ask him to repeat his responses, because I feared that I would offend him. After reviewing the recording in slow-speed, a very useful feature, I noticed a few topics that I would have liked to discuss.

For my next interview I will try to expand more on some of the topics the interviewee offers rather than trying to work through my list.

Interview #2 Nepal Country Report

Nepal Country Report

Despite being considered one of the world’s poorest countries, Nepal is a country rich in beautiful landscapes and diverse cultures.

Map of Nepal (4)

Nepal is a small country, slightly larger than Arkansas, covering a total area of 147,181 sq/km.  Nepal shares its borders with China to the north and India to its south. Even though Nepal is a relatively small country, its population density is larger than the most populated country in the world; China. In July 2011 the estimated population of Nepal was 29,391,883. The Capital of Nepal is Kathmandu which is also the largest city in Nepal, its population in 2009 was 990,000. The current government system is Federal Democratic Republic which was adopted in 2008.  The official language of Nepal is Nepalese. Nepal is the only country in the world whose flag is not rectangular. (1)

     The highest point of the country is the peak of Mt. Everest at 29,029 ft (6), which is also the highest point in the world. Because most of Nepal is covered by the Himalayan Mountains its climate varies greatly from region to region. In the southern part of the country the summers tend to be hot and humid while the winters tend to be milder. In the northern part of the country the summers tend to be milder and the winters more harsh. 

The majority of the country’s workforce is involved in agriculture which accounts for about 30% of the country’s GDP.  The main exports of Nepal are textiles, grain and herbal remedies.  The majority of Nepal’s exports are traded with India. The currency in Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee its current value in US dollars is $0.01.

Nepal's most popular sport is soccer, with cricket gaining popularity among the youth. According to Sagar, the junior cricket teams are quite good. They have beaten some of the best teams from Africa, England, and Pakistan.

Nepalese festival (3)

Nepal has over 100 different ethnic groups, and more than 90 different languages and dialects (2); Nepal is a country with an extremely diverse and celebrated culture.  Nepal’s two main religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, greatly impact the lives of the people. In Nepal religion influences the art, clothing, food, and daily rituals of the Nepalese people. Each year they celebrate over 50 festivals. The longest and most widely celebrated festival is called Dashain. This is a celebration of the destruction of evil. The Dashain festival lasts 15 days, during this time the Nepalese people generally take vacations with their families. (5) Another popular festival is called Holi, or the festevals of color. Durring Holi the Nepelese people toss baloons filled with colored water at each other, to celebrate the arrival of spring.
Nepal, despite its small size, has a lot to offer. One day I hope to experience the breathtaking landscapes and diverse culture Nepal has to offer.

Works Cited

(1) "CIA - The World Factbook." Welcome to the CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/np.html>.

(2) Diwasa, Tulasi, Chura Bandhu, and Bhim Nepal. "The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Nepal." The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Nepal: Future Directions. Kathmandu: UNESCO Office in Kathmandu, 2007. Print.

(3)Festivals of Nepal. Digital image. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. <http://unitedweblog.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/tihar_deusi_bhaili_03.jpg>.
(4) Map of Nepal. Photograph. The World Factbook. CIA.gov. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.
(5) "Nepal Festivals and Information about Dashain, Tihar, Lhosar, Teej, Indra Jatra - VisitNepal.com." Nepal Travel, Trekking, Tours Information and Provides Tips on Traveling through Bhutan and Tibet. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. <http://www.visitnepal.com/nepal_information/nepal_festivals.php>.

(6) "Tallest Mountains in the World - A Listing of the World's Tallest Mountains." Geography Home Page - Geography at About.com. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://geography.about.com/od/lists/a/tallestmountain.htm>.