First interview

My first interview

Interview preparation

      I began my first interview right after I came back from Lutens. There were only 3 days left before the due time of first interview. I was a little worried. I sent emails to several people to check whether they have time to be my interviewee. Finally, Janvier Byiringiro agreed to be my interviewee. We decided the time and place for the interview. Before the interview, I download a software to my phone for recording. I brought a note book, pens, computer and my phone to the library when we meet. We started our interview at 2:10 p.m. on Monday.

How did you approach people?

Since Janvier and I were classmates in ESL lesson last semester, our conversation was just like a normal chat.

When, where, and how did you Conduct the Interview?

We started our interview at 4:10 p.m. on Monday, at my apartment.

Interview report

      The whole interview went very well. We talked a lot about Africa. I just know about Africa very little before. Africa is a mysterious area to me. After the interview, I knew a lot about Africa and the interview corrected some of my misunderstandings about Africa. I am so interested in African culture. I may go to Africa for travelling if I have chance. Janvier is a nice person. He answered each questions patiently. It was a pity that the interview had to be stopped after 30 minutes because Janvier had a work to do.

Country report

Rwanda is a country in central and eastern Africa. The population is about 11.4 million. Rwanda is a very small country. It’s more peaceful than some parts of the Africa which we saw from the news that have wars. 
Republic is in charge of the country. Most people are Christian and they celebrate Christmas.

The children’s life is regular. They do have many homework to do. They do not feel stressful until they enter high school. They start their school at 6. The only difference is that every students need to go home for lunch. T
he main transportation is taxi, motors and bus. They used to ride bicycles. 
There are much tranditional food in Rwanda such as Isombe and Fufu. 
The most popular sports in Rwanda is soccer. Almost every one likes it.

 

http://api.baike.baidu.com/image/d4239b35fe6fbf3891ef3978 

 http://bbs.voc.com.cn/topic-2126937-1-1.html

The main resources of Rwanda are Fish catch, Oil production and reserves and livestock resources.
Schools are run by the state and by Christian missions. Primary education is officially compulsory, but only 78% of children attended in 1997; just 12% go on to secondary schooling. 
Rwanda has a network of 34 hospitals and 188 health centers. At the end of 2001, 9% of the population was estimated to be HIV-positive.
Traditional arts and crafts are produced throughout the country, although most originated as functional items rather than purely for decoration. Woven baskets and bowls are especially common.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Igiseke.jpg

REFERENCE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwanda 

http://dev.prenhall.com/divisions/hss/worldreference/RW/introduction.html

Transcript

Yanjun: Let’s get started. Hi I am Yanjun Li, thanks for being my interviewee. Where are you from, Janvier?

Janvier: I am from Rwanda.

Yanjun: Oh, I know it. Would you please spell it to me? Sorry for that.

Janvier: That’s OK. R-W-A-N-D-A. It’s in the central of Africa.

Yanjun: In the central of Africa?

Janvier: Yes.

Yanjun:  What kind of government is in charge of your home country?

Janvier: Republic.

Yanjun:  How did it affect your life and how has democracy in America been a change?

Janvier: I would say ,for me, the government right now is fine. I have possible things to do, so I feel ok. It has fixed to my life. I would say I have good education. I am able to plan a business and then make it work in my home country. I do not know about democracy in America, it works fine. Things in America are pretty good.

Yanjun: ok. Well, when we watch the news, we can often see that there was a disorder in Africa and some wars took place in Africa.

Janvier: Right now, it ok now. Things are going well.

Yanjun: Are guns allowed in your country? When we watch news, we can see  some Africans carrying guns in their hands.

Janvier: No, we do not have wars. You are not allowed to have a gun if you do not have a permit. It does not mean everywhere.

Yanjun: So your country is peaceful by comparing to other areas?

Janvier: Yes, there is no way to carry a gun. We don’t need to.

Yanjun: OK? Can you describe a typical day for a child in your country?

Janvier: I would say, most of , how I grew up, wake up , have breakfast, go to school, then go back home for lunch and then go to school again, come back around 5, then play with my friends. We eat, like, around 7, then go to sleep.

Yanjun: You don’t have homework?

Janvier: Sometimes, not always.

Yanjun: Every one need to go home for lunch? Do the school provide lunch for studens?

Janvier: No, school does not provide food. Every one have to go home.

Yanjun: What religious holidays or other cultural events do you or others celebrate; can you explain your traditions for each?

Janvier: It depends on which religion you are in. For my home country, we mostly celebrate Christmas.

Yanjun: So, are you a Christian?

Janvier: Yes, I am a Christian.

Yanjun: Do you read Bible every day?

Janvier: No, if I could, I would. Sometimes, I am lazy.

Yanjun:  Do you have any daily rituals in regards to your religious beliefs?

Janvier: No, it depends on you.

Yanjun: What are the typical greetings in your culture and what do they mean?

Janvier: We say hello to others.

Yanjun: Do you speak French?

Janvier: Yes, we speak French. We have native language also. We have 4 languages.

Yanjun: Wow, that’s cool. What different modes of transportation are used in your country?

Janvier: The main one is taxi. Motor, bus also. In the past, people rode bicycles, but now, kind of no.

Yanjun: I heard that women can not drive a car in Africa?

Janvier: That’s not true.

Yanjun: Or in Arab countries?

Janvier: Yep, in Arab countries.

Yanjun: Which country`s food do you like the most?

Janvier: Here?

Yanjun: Yes, here.

Janvier: It depends. Sometimes I eat Chinese food and Mexican food because they have rice. Rice is the main food in Africa.

Yanjun: You don’t like American food?

Janvier: No, it’s always fast food and I do not like it.

 

Yanjun: Which kind of food do you like most in your country?

Janvier: We have a lot of food. We have Isombe and Fufu?

Yanjun: Can you spell it to me?

Janvier: I-s-o-m-b-e, F-u-f-u. They are made with rice.

Yanjun: What’s the famous sports in your country? Soccer?

Janvier: Yes, everyone like soccer but I don’t like it. I play basketball. Most people like soccer.

Yanjun: I go to the stadium almost every day to play basketball, I never saw you before.

Janvier: Yes, I never saw you too. That’s strange. Maybe we may meet someday.

 Yanjun: At what age do you start school?

Janvier: 6.

Yanjun: Do you feel stressful in school?

Janvier: It depends on what you usually do. When you grow up, kind of. It’s fine, not so stressful. But during high school it’s really really stressful.

Yanjun: What could SCSU do to make your stay on campus better?

Janvier: I would say it’s better to provide more events and more international foods for international students.

Yanjun: Mm, that’s all. Thank you so much.

Janvier: You are welcome. Do you have class next?

Yanjun: Yep,  at 6.

Janvier: I have to go to work right now. See you tomorrow.

Yanjun: See you. Thanks again.