1)martha 18
2)Brice 17
3)Xian Z 17
Thursday, November 17, 2011
"What is global communication and how has it promoted the globalization witnessed in the past ten years?"
Global communication basically means to use different means of communication to share ideas, news, and culture between people of different corners of the world.[1] Globalization is a process by which business industries, societies, and cultures become integrated through a global network of communication.[1] The way people communicate has been developing ever since the early age, but the development it went through in the past decade has been unbelievable. The development of global communication system has been playing a vital role for the overall economy of the world. The development of global communication helps flourish businesses, innovation of new technologies, and change the political and economical aspect.
Global communication started from the very early generation of mankind and became complex in lateral stages. People used the mode of transportation as a source of communication by developing postal service. This was a big break through back then, although it might take a very long time, even ordinary people without any transportation source was able to communicate with people from distance. After the invention of telephone and television, people were able to communicate globally more easily and quickly. This is where the globalization process started. it became more easier after the invention of internet which took globalization to next level.
Business has flourished due to global communication in the last decade. Even ordinary people living in a very remote area can have his own business by buying and selling things online. The websites like EBay, Craigslist have been one of the major leaders for online shopping. The method of payment of the goods purchased online has been made easy. The services like PayPal, bill me later has helped people earn foreign money by doing global business. . Moreover, the invention of video chat has made employee selection even easier and cost efficient. They can just interview people during a video chat.
The innovation of new technologies brought people around the world together. The twenty-four hours satellite television broadcasting fed us news around the world as it happened. The social media networks such as Facebook and Skype interconnected the global society Impressively. However, all of these innovations have had some limitation in keeping privacy. As these technologies expanded, the privacy of citizens could be under threat as well. There are a great deal of threat in stealing government secrets, intellectual property, and accesses individual information.
Global communication changed the dynamic of politics and economy through out of the world. When national disaster occurs somewhere around the world, it makes it easier to coordinate the effort to respond to national disaster. Politicians do not have to travel other countries for official visit rather communicate with video live chat so it minimizes the cost of travelling and allowance. On the other hand, Global communication has a huge impact on global economy. It would take a couple of seconds to hover panic among investors and swing stock market.
All these conclude that although global communication helps people exchange information, ideas, news and politics; the main purpose is to flourish business from individual to international level. It plays a very important role in expanding economical development, bringing people around the world, and facilitating the interaction between governments greatly.
Citation
1)Tolliday, Daniel. "A Definition of Global Communication." December 5, 2010. November 16, 2011.http://www.ehow.com/facts_7601794_definition-global-communication.html
Global communication started from the very early generation of mankind and became complex in lateral stages. People used the mode of transportation as a source of communication by developing postal service. This was a big break through back then, although it might take a very long time, even ordinary people without any transportation source was able to communicate with people from distance. After the invention of telephone and television, people were able to communicate globally more easily and quickly. This is where the globalization process started. it became more easier after the invention of internet which took globalization to next level.
Business has flourished due to global communication in the last decade. Even ordinary people living in a very remote area can have his own business by buying and selling things online. The websites like EBay, Craigslist have been one of the major leaders for online shopping. The method of payment of the goods purchased online has been made easy. The services like PayPal, bill me later has helped people earn foreign money by doing global business. . Moreover, the invention of video chat has made employee selection even easier and cost efficient. They can just interview people during a video chat.
The innovation of new technologies brought people around the world together. The twenty-four hours satellite television broadcasting fed us news around the world as it happened. The social media networks such as Facebook and Skype interconnected the global society Impressively. However, all of these innovations have had some limitation in keeping privacy. As these technologies expanded, the privacy of citizens could be under threat as well. There are a great deal of threat in stealing government secrets, intellectual property, and accesses individual information.
Global communication changed the dynamic of politics and economy through out of the world. When national disaster occurs somewhere around the world, it makes it easier to coordinate the effort to respond to national disaster. Politicians do not have to travel other countries for official visit rather communicate with video live chat so it minimizes the cost of travelling and allowance. On the other hand, Global communication has a huge impact on global economy. It would take a couple of seconds to hover panic among investors and swing stock market.
All these conclude that although global communication helps people exchange information, ideas, news and politics; the main purpose is to flourish business from individual to international level. It plays a very important role in expanding economical development, bringing people around the world, and facilitating the interaction between governments greatly.
Citation
1)Tolliday, Daniel. "A Definition of Global Communication." December 5, 2010. November 16, 2011.http://www.ehow.com/facts_7601794_definition-global-communication.html
Outline of Global Communication
Global communication basically means to use different means of communication to share ideas, news, and culture between people of different corners of the world. Globalization is a process by which business industries, societies, and cultures become integrated through a global network of communication.
Thesis Statement: The development of global communication helps flourish businesses, innovation of new technologies, and the game changer in the field of politics.
Early Communication
1) Postal Service
2) Television
3) Telephone
Business
1)Faster communication
2)Online buying and selling
-eBay
-Craigslist
-Google
3) Online paying method
-PayPal
Technology: Advantage
1)Satellite
2)Facebook
3)Skype
Disadvantage of Technology
1) Spam/viruses
2) Hacking
Politics of global communication
1)Convenient means of communication
2)Rapid response of international crises
-National disaster
3) Set panics to global market
All these conclude that although global communication helps people exchange information, ideas, news and culture; the main purpose is to flourish business from individual to international level. It plays a very important role in the development of economy of an individual, leading to the development of the community, the country and the whole world.
Thesis Statement: The development of global communication helps flourish businesses, innovation of new technologies, and the game changer in the field of politics.
Early Communication
1) Postal Service
2) Television
3) Telephone
Business
1)Faster communication
2)Online buying and selling
-eBay
-Craigslist
3) Online paying method
-PayPal
Technology: Advantage
1)Satellite
2)Facebook
3)Skype
Disadvantage of Technology
1) Spam/viruses
2) Hacking
Politics of global communication
1)Convenient means of communication
2)Rapid response of international crises
-National disaster
3) Set panics to global market
All these conclude that although global communication helps people exchange information, ideas, news and culture; the main purpose is to flourish business from individual to international level. It plays a very important role in the development of economy of an individual, leading to the development of the community, the country and the whole world.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
3rd Interview
Interviewee: Peter Nyache
Interviewer: Hassan Abdurahman
English 191
Preparation
The previous two interviews gave me much confidence I needed to prepare for my last interview. Interviewing someone whom I have not met before would be a life long experience. To conduct my last interview, I had to search someone from the same country (Uganda).
For the preparation, I needed two copies which all of my questions listed and tape recorder. I usually recorded all of interview on my phone but I lost it. I borrowed a tape recorder from my friend called Baadal.
My plan was to interview someone from Saint Cloud when I came back to Minneapolis on Sunday. I went to Starbucks coffee shop (located in river side Ave) on Saturday morning to get some caffeine in my system. There were many Somali speaking people sitting inside and talking loudly. The noise was so awful and I wanted to leave immediately after grabbing my coffee.
I noticed that there was one middle-aged person sitting on the chair at the left side of Starbucks. I grabbed my coffee and asked him permission to sit. Asking permission was a right thing to do because someone might have accompanied him. We got a long very quickly and started chatting. He asked me my nationality and how long have I been staying in the United States. He told me that he came to the United States twenty-years ago. He added that he went to visit his country twice since he came here. Mr. Peter was born and raised in Uganda, Kampala.
I told him that I already interviewed two people from his country. I needed the third person for my interview. He accepted my invitation for the interview on Sunday. He invited me to his house. I took my tape recorder and two copies of paper that contained all of my questions on Sunday afternoon. I knocked the door and his wife opened the door. He was siting on the sofa. He offered me to sit beside him. He greeted me with Swahili saying “Karibu” means welcome, and I replied “Asanti sana” means thank you very much.
Country Report
Uganda is one of the smallest countries in Africa, which has been known, as “Pearl of Africa” because of "breathtaking landscape". Uganda is located at the center of East Africa. Kampala is the capital city of Uganda that has a total population of 1,353,189 populations and covers the area of 189 km.sq. It is a landlocked country. According to cia.gov, this country covers the area of 241,038-kilometer square, slightly smaller than Oregon State. It shares the boarder with Kenya on the east, Sudan on the north, and Democratic Republic of Congo on the west, and Tanzania on the South. Uganda enjoys one of the world’s great waterfalls, Murchison, which runs from the Nile River and plunges several hundred feet into lake Albert (pbs.org). The other thing that makes Uganda unique comparing with other African countries is that Queen Elizabeth Park, where the combination of plains, tropical rainforests, lakes, and Volcano gives a diversity of wildlife.
“In 1888, the British referred to the 52 clan Buganda as “Uganda” where they established their royal charter to Imperial British East Africa Company” (PBS.org). Before British explorers came to Uganda, the Buganda had already established trade relations with Arab traders. Protestant and Catholic missionaries from Europe arrived later in the 1870’s [3]
http://www.bestourism.com/img/items/big/7209/Uganda_Map-of-Uganda_9801.jpg
http://www.ganeandmarshall.com/images/uganda_queene_main.jpg
http://beadsofawarenessjmsb.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/newsindexpix.jpg
http://www.uganda-visit-and-travel-guide.com/images/lake-victoria-uganda.jpg
"The reign of Amin in the 1970s and the civil war that lasted until 1985 devastated Uganda's economic growth. One of the achievements of Yoweri Museveni's presidency has been turning around Uganda's flagging economy."[3] "Approximately 36 percent of Uganda's wealth comes from agriculture, which employs about 80 percent of the population. Coffee is the country's main export and accounts for about 37 percent of the country's GDP, putting Uganda ahead of all other African coffee producers [3]. When Museveni took power in 1986, inflation was running at more than 250 percent." (PBS.org) By 2005, after Uganda had worked for years with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other international financial institutions, inflation was just over 8 percent. Uganda has benefited from a package of debt write-offs in recent years. According to bbc.co uk, in 2000, the international finance community in effect waived Uganda's debt through the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief, worth $1.3 billion, and the Paris Club debt relief, worth $145 million.[3] "Today, as Uganda decreases its debt and continues to grow, there is potential to move away from relief toward full-fledged trade and self-reliance."[3]
Uganda is composed of many different ethnic groups in which "none of ethnic groups claimed to be majority".[1] English has become an official language of Uganda since independence from Great Britain while Swahili become the second official language of the country. However, most people speak local language called "Luganda", predominantly spoken by "Baganda people who live in urban concentration" of Kampala (capital city of Uganda).
Citation
[1]BBC on the Internet, 2003 British Broadcasting cooperation http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14112297
[2]“World fact book: Uganda”, 2001 Central intelligence agency https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html
[3]PBS on the Internet, 2002, Public broadcasting service
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/uganda601/additional.html
Transcription of my interview
(H) stands for Hassan Abdurahman
(P) stands for Peter Nyache
(H) ‘Mimi kwa kweli shukrani kwa kunikaribisha hapa katika nyumba yako.’( I really appreciate for inviting me here in your house). I would be glad and grateful for accepting my interview request yesterday.
(P) Wewe yanakaribishwa (you welcome)
(H) I want to let you know that I have to record our conversation solely for transcription purpose. I have to transcribe all of our dialogues into this tape so I will not miss anything. Would you mind recoding your voice on this tape recorder?
(P) I would not mind recording it
(H) Before I start recording, I want you to look at these questions. Could you please look at these questions please?
(P) Sure
(H) Now, let me start my dialogue by introducing my name. My name is Hassan Abdurahman. I was born and raised in Harar, Ethiopia. What is your name?
(P) My name is Peter Nyache. I was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda.
(H) I am about to ask you were are you from but you answered it. (we laughed) You told me yesterday that you have visited Uganda twice since you came to the United States. When was your last visit?
(P) I visited kampla and some other wonderful places in 2005. I observed that many things had changed radically. The city was modernized and some skycaper building were built.
(H) Are you married?
(P) I married a long time ago. I met my wife when I went to University of Minnesota. After we graduated, I proposed to marry her. She accepted my proposal. We saved money for our wedding and got married the following year.
(H) Do you have children?
(P) I have been blessed by three children:two male and one female. They are gorgeous.
(H) How many siblings do yo have?
(P) I have five siblings. One of my brother and sister live in Columbus, Ohio, two of my brother still live in kampla, Uganda, and my youngest sister lives in Washington Seattle.
(H) I noticed that you attended University of Minnesota long time ago. The education system of your country of origin may be different from the United States of America. Would you agree with this comparison?
(P) The difference is huge. When I attended high school in my country, We did not have enough resources to gain any insight and observe the chemical reactions practically. We observed our science teacher when he conducted the experiment. I could say that my country’s teaching was theoretical based. In the United States, I learned all of my science classes theoretically and practically. I would not imagine in hundred years to compare both education system since we are lagging.
(H) What was the form of government in your country?
(P) My country run by democratic process by name but the corruption in the government is cancer. My country hold an election every four years, but the outcome will be known before the election. They rigged the election and inflate ballot box with suitable candidates. I think that it is not worth of voting and participating in this kind of democracy. The president came to power many years ago and still leading the country. For instance, he jailed the candiate from opposition party before the election in murky allegation.
(H) What sites would you recommend to tourist to visit?
(P) When I went back to Uganda, I observed that my country was improving in many aspects including tourisms. Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the most popular parks in Uganda filled with wildlife and birds, Monkeys, Chimpanzee. Tracking the Kazinga channel where you cruise along the shore to see birds and wildlife animals, Volcano crater lakes. The beach around lake Victoria is one of the nice place to visit.
(H) Peter, what is the most celebrated holiday in your country?
(P) The most celebrated holiday in my country I should say Christmas. The real holiday cooking starts on the night of the 24th after the service. The morning of Christmas, the church is filled to full capacity; even people who never go to church attend church on this day. People get to wear their new attire, especially for women to show off their new traditional dresses in rich colors with matching turbans. The church is followed by an incredible feast. more and more food gifts would arrive from family to supplement the meals already planned to be cooked. On top of the bananas and chickens, different types of meats are cooked as well as sweet potatoes, cassava and rice
(H) What is traditional food in your country?
(P) The most common Uganda food is Matooke. This is a preparation of green bananas, which are peeled, boiled and then mashed. Uganda has an agrarian economy and so the cost of food that is grown in the local areas in Uganda is reasonable. The prices vary according to the food product and the season
(H) Do you prepare this food here in your house?
(P) Yes, I do. My wife sometimes prepares it. I have not encountered any problem finding the green banana here.
(H) How is religion practiced in your country?
(P) Religion can be called as triplet as it consists mainly of Christianity, Islam and the indigenous religions. My country is blessed in freedom of religion as well. Majority of Ugandans follow Christianity. The religious identity of Uganda has both economic and political implications as the membership of church provides opportunities like education, employment and also social advancement and in turn enhances the Ugandan culture.
(H) Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to get to know much about your country and you individually. I hope that we can meet again.
(P) You are welcome
Impression from the interview/Review
The interview took place in quite environment that made me comfortable and relaxed. I took one personal note from this interview that it would be easier to dialogue with someone as long as approaching a person with open-minded. I liked this interview because Peter's answerers were detailed. It conjured mental picture when he was telling me the story.
I thought that I have known him for many years the way even though I have met him for a day. I was so impressed to interview Peter. He was so friendly, thoughtful, and articulate person.
I have known a lot about Ugandan culture, people, and education system from eyewitnesses. I am grateful having this experience before I graduate from saint Cloud State.
Interviewer: Hassan Abdurahman
English 191
Preparation
The previous two interviews gave me much confidence I needed to prepare for my last interview. Interviewing someone whom I have not met before would be a life long experience. To conduct my last interview, I had to search someone from the same country (Uganda).
For the preparation, I needed two copies which all of my questions listed and tape recorder. I usually recorded all of interview on my phone but I lost it. I borrowed a tape recorder from my friend called Baadal.
My plan was to interview someone from Saint Cloud when I came back to Minneapolis on Sunday. I went to Starbucks coffee shop (located in river side Ave) on Saturday morning to get some caffeine in my system. There were many Somali speaking people sitting inside and talking loudly. The noise was so awful and I wanted to leave immediately after grabbing my coffee.
I noticed that there was one middle-aged person sitting on the chair at the left side of Starbucks. I grabbed my coffee and asked him permission to sit. Asking permission was a right thing to do because someone might have accompanied him. We got a long very quickly and started chatting. He asked me my nationality and how long have I been staying in the United States. He told me that he came to the United States twenty-years ago. He added that he went to visit his country twice since he came here. Mr. Peter was born and raised in Uganda, Kampala.
I told him that I already interviewed two people from his country. I needed the third person for my interview. He accepted my invitation for the interview on Sunday. He invited me to his house. I took my tape recorder and two copies of paper that contained all of my questions on Sunday afternoon. I knocked the door and his wife opened the door. He was siting on the sofa. He offered me to sit beside him. He greeted me with Swahili saying “Karibu” means welcome, and I replied “Asanti sana” means thank you very much.
Country Report
Uganda is one of the smallest countries in Africa, which has been known, as “Pearl of Africa” because of "breathtaking landscape". Uganda is located at the center of East Africa. Kampala is the capital city of Uganda that has a total population of 1,353,189 populations and covers the area of 189 km.sq. It is a landlocked country. According to cia.gov, this country covers the area of 241,038-kilometer square, slightly smaller than Oregon State. It shares the boarder with Kenya on the east, Sudan on the north, and Democratic Republic of Congo on the west, and Tanzania on the South. Uganda enjoys one of the world’s great waterfalls, Murchison, which runs from the Nile River and plunges several hundred feet into lake Albert (pbs.org). The other thing that makes Uganda unique comparing with other African countries is that Queen Elizabeth Park, where the combination of plains, tropical rainforests, lakes, and Volcano gives a diversity of wildlife.
“In 1888, the British referred to the 52 clan Buganda as “Uganda” where they established their royal charter to Imperial British East Africa Company” (PBS.org). Before British explorers came to Uganda, the Buganda had already established trade relations with Arab traders. Protestant and Catholic missionaries from Europe arrived later in the 1870’s [3]
http://www.bestourism.com/img/items/big/7209/Uganda_Map-of-Uganda_9801.jpg
http://www.ganeandmarshall.com/images/uganda_queene_main.jpg
http://beadsofawarenessjmsb.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/newsindexpix.jpg
"The reign of Amin in the 1970s and the civil war that lasted until 1985 devastated Uganda's economic growth. One of the achievements of Yoweri Museveni's presidency has been turning around Uganda's flagging economy."[3] "Approximately 36 percent of Uganda's wealth comes from agriculture, which employs about 80 percent of the population. Coffee is the country's main export and accounts for about 37 percent of the country's GDP, putting Uganda ahead of all other African coffee producers [3]. When Museveni took power in 1986, inflation was running at more than 250 percent." (PBS.org) By 2005, after Uganda had worked for years with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other international financial institutions, inflation was just over 8 percent. Uganda has benefited from a package of debt write-offs in recent years. According to bbc.co uk, in 2000, the international finance community in effect waived Uganda's debt through the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief, worth $1.3 billion, and the Paris Club debt relief, worth $145 million.[3] "Today, as Uganda decreases its debt and continues to grow, there is potential to move away from relief toward full-fledged trade and self-reliance."[3]
Uganda is composed of many different ethnic groups in which "none of ethnic groups claimed to be majority".[1] English has become an official language of Uganda since independence from Great Britain while Swahili become the second official language of the country. However, most people speak local language called "Luganda", predominantly spoken by "Baganda people who live in urban concentration" of Kampala (capital city of Uganda).
Citation
[1]BBC on the Internet, 2003 British Broadcasting cooperation http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14112297
[2]“World fact book: Uganda”, 2001 Central intelligence agency https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html
[3]PBS on the Internet, 2002, Public broadcasting service
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/uganda601/additional.html
Transcription of my interview
(H) stands for Hassan Abdurahman
(P) stands for Peter Nyache
(H) ‘Mimi kwa kweli shukrani kwa kunikaribisha hapa katika nyumba yako.’( I really appreciate for inviting me here in your house). I would be glad and grateful for accepting my interview request yesterday.
(P) Wewe yanakaribishwa (you welcome)
(H) I want to let you know that I have to record our conversation solely for transcription purpose. I have to transcribe all of our dialogues into this tape so I will not miss anything. Would you mind recoding your voice on this tape recorder?
(P) I would not mind recording it
(H) Before I start recording, I want you to look at these questions. Could you please look at these questions please?
(P) Sure
(H) Now, let me start my dialogue by introducing my name. My name is Hassan Abdurahman. I was born and raised in Harar, Ethiopia. What is your name?
(P) My name is Peter Nyache. I was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda.
(H) I am about to ask you were are you from but you answered it. (we laughed) You told me yesterday that you have visited Uganda twice since you came to the United States. When was your last visit?
(P) I visited kampla and some other wonderful places in 2005. I observed that many things had changed radically. The city was modernized and some skycaper building were built.
(H) Are you married?
(P) I married a long time ago. I met my wife when I went to University of Minnesota. After we graduated, I proposed to marry her. She accepted my proposal. We saved money for our wedding and got married the following year.
(H) Do you have children?
(P) I have been blessed by three children:two male and one female. They are gorgeous.
(H) How many siblings do yo have?
(P) I have five siblings. One of my brother and sister live in Columbus, Ohio, two of my brother still live in kampla, Uganda, and my youngest sister lives in Washington Seattle.
(H) I noticed that you attended University of Minnesota long time ago. The education system of your country of origin may be different from the United States of America. Would you agree with this comparison?
(P) The difference is huge. When I attended high school in my country, We did not have enough resources to gain any insight and observe the chemical reactions practically. We observed our science teacher when he conducted the experiment. I could say that my country’s teaching was theoretical based. In the United States, I learned all of my science classes theoretically and practically. I would not imagine in hundred years to compare both education system since we are lagging.
(H) What was the form of government in your country?
(P) My country run by democratic process by name but the corruption in the government is cancer. My country hold an election every four years, but the outcome will be known before the election. They rigged the election and inflate ballot box with suitable candidates. I think that it is not worth of voting and participating in this kind of democracy. The president came to power many years ago and still leading the country. For instance, he jailed the candiate from opposition party before the election in murky allegation.
(H) What sites would you recommend to tourist to visit?
(P) When I went back to Uganda, I observed that my country was improving in many aspects including tourisms. Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the most popular parks in Uganda filled with wildlife and birds, Monkeys, Chimpanzee. Tracking the Kazinga channel where you cruise along the shore to see birds and wildlife animals, Volcano crater lakes. The beach around lake Victoria is one of the nice place to visit.
(H) Peter, what is the most celebrated holiday in your country?
(P) The most celebrated holiday in my country I should say Christmas. The real holiday cooking starts on the night of the 24th after the service. The morning of Christmas, the church is filled to full capacity; even people who never go to church attend church on this day. People get to wear their new attire, especially for women to show off their new traditional dresses in rich colors with matching turbans. The church is followed by an incredible feast. more and more food gifts would arrive from family to supplement the meals already planned to be cooked. On top of the bananas and chickens, different types of meats are cooked as well as sweet potatoes, cassava and rice
(H) What is traditional food in your country?
(P) The most common Uganda food is Matooke. This is a preparation of green bananas, which are peeled, boiled and then mashed. Uganda has an agrarian economy and so the cost of food that is grown in the local areas in Uganda is reasonable. The prices vary according to the food product and the season
(H) Do you prepare this food here in your house?
(P) Yes, I do. My wife sometimes prepares it. I have not encountered any problem finding the green banana here.
(H) How is religion practiced in your country?
(P) Religion can be called as triplet as it consists mainly of Christianity, Islam and the indigenous religions. My country is blessed in freedom of religion as well. Majority of Ugandans follow Christianity. The religious identity of Uganda has both economic and political implications as the membership of church provides opportunities like education, employment and also social advancement and in turn enhances the Ugandan culture.
(H) Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to get to know much about your country and you individually. I hope that we can meet again.
(P) You are welcome
Impression from the interview/Review
The interview took place in quite environment that made me comfortable and relaxed. I took one personal note from this interview that it would be easier to dialogue with someone as long as approaching a person with open-minded. I liked this interview because Peter's answerers were detailed. It conjured mental picture when he was telling me the story.
I thought that I have known him for many years the way even though I have met him for a day. I was so impressed to interview Peter. He was so friendly, thoughtful, and articulate person.
I have known a lot about Ugandan culture, people, and education system from eyewitnesses. I am grateful having this experience before I graduate from saint Cloud State.
2nd interview
Interviewee: Elizabeth Okiwanu
Interviewer: Hassan Abdurahman
English 191
Preparation
The interview is one of the most important elements in gaining experience and developing communication skills. Before I conducted my second interview, I prepared my questions and research about country’s profile to familiar myself again. I rearranged my questions in order so it would be easier for interviewee to answer them. I printed two copies of questions.
I expected the second interview to go smoothly. However, it was a little bit challenge for me to find another person from the country (Uganda). I met Martin at the school library sitting with his friend. He introduced me with his friend. Then, we chatted a little bit about life and classes. We exchanged our phone number and went to attend class.
I called Emanuel the next day to know if he was willing to meet me for my interview. He told me that he would be unavailable. He has busy schedule, works after school, and research paper to write in this week. I thanked him and began to look for other student.
I met Elizabeth Okiwanu at the science seminar. We took one class with her last semester yet I did not know her country of origin. Before the seminar, we talked a little bit and I confessed to her my frustration. She told me that she came from Uganda six years ago. I asked her when she had a free time for interview. She was willing to do it after the seminar.
Elizabeth Okiwanu will be graduating in December majoring Biochemistry and Biomedical science. She is one of hard-working students in Saint Cloud State University. Moreover, She is planning to pursue higher education after completing her undergraduate degree. She likes to joke and has sense of humor.
We went to education building after the seminar. It was an ideal place for interview because of quietness. Since I learned some shortcomings from my first interview, my nervousness diminished. I used my iPhone as recording voice.
Country Report
Uganda is one of the smallest countries in Africa, which has been known, as “Pearl of Africa” because of "breathtaking landscape". Uganda is located at the center of East Africa. Kampala is the capital city of Uganda that has a total population of 1,353,189 populations and covers the area of 189 km.sq. It is a landlocked country. According to cia.gov, this country covers the area of 241,038-kilometer square, slightly smaller than Oregon State. It shares the boarder with Kenya on the east, Sudan on the north, and Democratic Republic of Congo on the west, and Tanzania on the South. Uganda enjoys one of the world’s great waterfalls, Murchison, which runs from the Nile River and plunges several hundred feet into lake Albert (pbs.org). The other thing that makes Uganda unique comparing with other African countries is that Queen Elizabeth Park, where the combination of plains, tropical rainforests, lakes, and Volcano gives a diversity of wildlife.
“In 1888, the British referred to the 52 clan Buganda as “Uganda” where they established their royal charter to Imperial British East Africa Company” (PBS.org). Before British explorers came to Uganda, the Buganda had already established trade relations with Arab traders. Protestant and Catholic missionaries from Europe arrived later in the 1870’s [3]
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/cia03/uganda_sm03.gif
http://www.guideforafrica.com/images/uganda/ssezibwa-falls.jpg
Cultural clothing in Uganda
http://semuwemba.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/gomasi1.jpg
http://www.ugandasafarisafrica.com/images/safaris-uganda.gif
"The reign of Amin in the 1970s and the civil war that lasted until 1985 devastated Uganda's economic growth. One of the achievements of Yoweri Museveni's presidency has been turning around Uganda's flagging economy."[3] "Approximately 36 percent of Uganda's wealth comes from agriculture, which employs about 80 percent of the population. Coffee is the country's main export and accounts for about 37 percent of the country's GDP, putting Uganda ahead of all other African coffee producers [3]. When Museveni took power in 1986, inflation was running at more than 250 percent." (PBS.org) By 2005, after Uganda had worked for years with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other international financial institutions, inflation was just over 8 percent. Uganda has benefited from a package of debt write-offs in recent years. According to bbc.co uk, in 2000, the international finance community in effect waived Uganda's debt through the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief, worth $1.3 billion, and the Paris Club debt relief, worth $145 million.[3] "Today, as Uganda decreases its debt and continues to grow, there is potential to move away from relief toward full-fledged trade and self-reliance."[3]
Uganda is composed of many different ethnic groups in which "none of ethnic groups claimed to be majority".[1] English has become an official language of Uganda since independence from Great Britain while Swahili become the second official language of the country. However, most people speak local language called "Luganda", predominantly spoken by "Baganda people who live in urban concentration" of Kampala (capital city of Uganda).
Citation
[1]BBC on the Internet, 2003 British Broadcasting coopration http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14112297
[2]“World fact book: Uganda”, 2001 Central intelligence agency https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html
[3]PBS on the Internet, 2002, Public broadcasting service
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/uganda601/additional.html
Interview Transcription
(H) stands for Hassan
(E) Stands for Elizabeth
(H) It is my pleasure meeting you today. I thank you for taking your time and willing to interview you
(E) It is my pleasure
(H) As I have told you earlier, I want to interview you for my English 191 class and transcribe everything what you said. To do this task, I have to record every word. Your voice is confidential and nobody listens except me. Would you mind recording your voice in my iPhone?
(E) Sure
(H) These are list of questions that I want to ask you. I want you to look at this paper to be familiar with questions.
(E) Oh, thanks.
(H) Hello, My name is Hassan Abdurahman. I know it is hard to pronounce my last name. You can call me Hassan. how are you doing today?
(E) I am doing well
(H) What is your name?
(E) My name is Elizabeth Okiwanu
(H) Where are you from?
(E) I am from Kira, Uganda.
(H) I have never heard abour Kira before. Can you please describe this city if you can?
(E) Sure..Kira Town is bordered by Gayaza to the north, Mukono Town to the east, Lake Victoria to the south, the city of Kampala to the west. It is second largest and populous city in Uganda.
(H) Are you married?
(E) No, I am not married. I am still living with my family.
(H) Do your family reside in Saint Cloud or other city?
(E) My family lives in Minneapolis and I drive back and forth.
(H) Are you the only daughter for your family?
(E) No, I am not the only daughter for my family. I have seven siblings: three boys and four girls. I am the second youngest child in my family.
(H) Where are your siblings now?
(E) Two of my sisters and one brother are currently living with my family while the rest got married.
(H) When did you come to the United States?
(E) I came to the United Sates six years ago with my family. My family filled DV (lottery for green card). Luckily, they were one of the fortunate people. I came with them as dependent.
(H) Can you please describe the education system of your country?
(E) The education system of Uganda is different from that of the United States in many areas. Our education system starts from kindergarten to form six. We can still attend classes no matter how our ages would be. When someone is six years old, he or she attends kindergarten for one year and transfer to primary school. After someone successfully completes primary school, he or she will promote to middle school. Then, he or she attends high school for four years and must pass college preparatory national examination. Completing all of these requirements will lead us to attend advance classes for college preparation.
(H) Do you pay money to attend high school?
(E) It depends on individual. If you are good student, government will subsidize money or you will get scholarship from school. Public schools are more competitive to attend than private schools. You need to work hard to attend those schools because of their reputations.
(H) I want you to discuss a little bit about political aspect of your country if you are willing to discuss with me.
(E) Sure
(H)What was the form of your government in you country?
(E) It was a corrupt government. The election took place for show. It was like a game. The winner predetermined before the election so voting was not making any impact.
(H) Tell me one thing that makes you proud of your country?
(E) My country was recognized as one of the leading countries that were affected by AIDS (Acquire immune deficiency syndrome). In very short period of time, we were able to control this epidemic by public education and awareness.
(H) What sites would you recommend for tourist to visit?
(E) There are many beautiful places to recommend. For instance, the Elizabeth national park, lake Victoria and Nile river falls are some places that I defiantly recommend tourist to visit.
(H) What festivals do you celebrate in your country?
(E) There are many festivals celebrated in my country. The biggest one is Christmas. This holiday collaborated with New Year so each family buy some new stuffs according to their budgets and celebrate this day by visiting friends and families and going out.
(H) What is the weather like in your country?
(E) The weather is beautiful. We have a mild weather not hot or cold. During summer time, it rains in my country. I experienced snow when I moved to Minneapolis with my family.
(H) Did you like it?
(E) I hated it. I went to grocery store. I did not expect to snow so I did not take glove. I was a little bit shivering and my hands were numb. I put my hands above the oven to heat them up. The pain was so horrible. I should not have done and it was my embarrassment moment.
(H) It could happen to anyone of us. You should not be embarrassed by it. It was a good experience. Do you like to watch sport?
(E) I love to watch soccer on television especially English primer league and Olympics.
(H) If you have an opportunity to attend Olympics, which types of sports do you like to watch in person?
(E) I would like to watch swimming, beach valley ball and track and field.
(H) What is popular sport in your country then?
(E) Soccer is the popular sport in my country
(H) What do most women do after they got married?
(E) They stayed home and raise the children. Some women work but most of them stay home.
(H) How is religion in your country?
(E) We do not have any problem with religion. You can practice what you like and nobody forces you to believe in something. Every right is protected under Uganda’s constitution. It is up to individual to practice any religion.
(H) What are your countries major resources?
(E) My country’s economy is based on agriculture. We produce corn, tea, flower, and sugarcane. We call it cash crops
(H) Are there any major wars in your country?
(E) My country is fighting some rebels in the northern part of the country for many years. Those rebels terrorize civilians, abduct children for fight, and rape girls. It is a gruesome story to tell and describe it.
(H) Thank you very much for staying with me this long and give me an opportunity to know your country in a great detail. I hope that one day I will be visiting your country.
(E) You are always welcome.
Personal Reflection of The Interview
The interview went very well. Elizabeth seemed enjoyed it much. She was so calm when she answered all of my questions. It was very quite place so I did not phase any hindrance to hear what she was telling me when I asked her questions.
She was not comfortable to answer one question when I asked her about the civil war in her country. I did not push that much on this question or prepare follow-up questions. I wanted to make a nice, and comfortable atmosphere in which she and I enjoyed the moment and chatted freely.
Interviewer: Hassan Abdurahman
English 191
Preparation
The interview is one of the most important elements in gaining experience and developing communication skills. Before I conducted my second interview, I prepared my questions and research about country’s profile to familiar myself again. I rearranged my questions in order so it would be easier for interviewee to answer them. I printed two copies of questions.
I expected the second interview to go smoothly. However, it was a little bit challenge for me to find another person from the country (Uganda). I met Martin at the school library sitting with his friend. He introduced me with his friend. Then, we chatted a little bit about life and classes. We exchanged our phone number and went to attend class.
I called Emanuel the next day to know if he was willing to meet me for my interview. He told me that he would be unavailable. He has busy schedule, works after school, and research paper to write in this week. I thanked him and began to look for other student.
I met Elizabeth Okiwanu at the science seminar. We took one class with her last semester yet I did not know her country of origin. Before the seminar, we talked a little bit and I confessed to her my frustration. She told me that she came from Uganda six years ago. I asked her when she had a free time for interview. She was willing to do it after the seminar.
Elizabeth Okiwanu will be graduating in December majoring Biochemistry and Biomedical science. She is one of hard-working students in Saint Cloud State University. Moreover, She is planning to pursue higher education after completing her undergraduate degree. She likes to joke and has sense of humor.
We went to education building after the seminar. It was an ideal place for interview because of quietness. Since I learned some shortcomings from my first interview, my nervousness diminished. I used my iPhone as recording voice.
Country Report
Uganda is one of the smallest countries in Africa, which has been known, as “Pearl of Africa” because of "breathtaking landscape". Uganda is located at the center of East Africa. Kampala is the capital city of Uganda that has a total population of 1,353,189 populations and covers the area of 189 km.sq. It is a landlocked country. According to cia.gov, this country covers the area of 241,038-kilometer square, slightly smaller than Oregon State. It shares the boarder with Kenya on the east, Sudan on the north, and Democratic Republic of Congo on the west, and Tanzania on the South. Uganda enjoys one of the world’s great waterfalls, Murchison, which runs from the Nile River and plunges several hundred feet into lake Albert (pbs.org). The other thing that makes Uganda unique comparing with other African countries is that Queen Elizabeth Park, where the combination of plains, tropical rainforests, lakes, and Volcano gives a diversity of wildlife.
“In 1888, the British referred to the 52 clan Buganda as “Uganda” where they established their royal charter to Imperial British East Africa Company” (PBS.org). Before British explorers came to Uganda, the Buganda had already established trade relations with Arab traders. Protestant and Catholic missionaries from Europe arrived later in the 1870’s [3]
http://www.guideforafrica.com/images/uganda/ssezibwa-falls.jpg
http://semuwemba.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/gomasi1.jpg
http://www.ugandasafarisafrica.com/images/safaris-uganda.gif
"The reign of Amin in the 1970s and the civil war that lasted until 1985 devastated Uganda's economic growth. One of the achievements of Yoweri Museveni's presidency has been turning around Uganda's flagging economy."[3] "Approximately 36 percent of Uganda's wealth comes from agriculture, which employs about 80 percent of the population. Coffee is the country's main export and accounts for about 37 percent of the country's GDP, putting Uganda ahead of all other African coffee producers [3]. When Museveni took power in 1986, inflation was running at more than 250 percent." (PBS.org) By 2005, after Uganda had worked for years with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other international financial institutions, inflation was just over 8 percent. Uganda has benefited from a package of debt write-offs in recent years. According to bbc.co uk, in 2000, the international finance community in effect waived Uganda's debt through the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief, worth $1.3 billion, and the Paris Club debt relief, worth $145 million.[3] "Today, as Uganda decreases its debt and continues to grow, there is potential to move away from relief toward full-fledged trade and self-reliance."[3]
Uganda is composed of many different ethnic groups in which "none of ethnic groups claimed to be majority".[1] English has become an official language of Uganda since independence from Great Britain while Swahili become the second official language of the country. However, most people speak local language called "Luganda", predominantly spoken by "Baganda people who live in urban concentration" of Kampala (capital city of Uganda).
Citation
[1]BBC on the Internet, 2003 British Broadcasting coopration http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14112297
[2]“World fact book: Uganda”, 2001 Central intelligence agency https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html
[3]PBS on the Internet, 2002, Public broadcasting service
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/uganda601/additional.html
Interview Transcription
(H) stands for Hassan
(E) Stands for Elizabeth
(H) It is my pleasure meeting you today. I thank you for taking your time and willing to interview you
(E) It is my pleasure
(H) As I have told you earlier, I want to interview you for my English 191 class and transcribe everything what you said. To do this task, I have to record every word. Your voice is confidential and nobody listens except me. Would you mind recording your voice in my iPhone?
(E) Sure
(H) These are list of questions that I want to ask you. I want you to look at this paper to be familiar with questions.
(E) Oh, thanks.
(H) Hello, My name is Hassan Abdurahman. I know it is hard to pronounce my last name. You can call me Hassan. how are you doing today?
(E) I am doing well
(H) What is your name?
(E) My name is Elizabeth Okiwanu
(H) Where are you from?
(E) I am from Kira, Uganda.
(H) I have never heard abour Kira before. Can you please describe this city if you can?
(E) Sure..Kira Town is bordered by Gayaza to the north, Mukono Town to the east, Lake Victoria to the south, the city of Kampala to the west. It is second largest and populous city in Uganda.
(H) Are you married?
(E) No, I am not married. I am still living with my family.
(H) Do your family reside in Saint Cloud or other city?
(E) My family lives in Minneapolis and I drive back and forth.
(H) Are you the only daughter for your family?
(E) No, I am not the only daughter for my family. I have seven siblings: three boys and four girls. I am the second youngest child in my family.
(H) Where are your siblings now?
(E) Two of my sisters and one brother are currently living with my family while the rest got married.
(H) When did you come to the United States?
(E) I came to the United Sates six years ago with my family. My family filled DV (lottery for green card). Luckily, they were one of the fortunate people. I came with them as dependent.
(H) Can you please describe the education system of your country?
(E) The education system of Uganda is different from that of the United States in many areas. Our education system starts from kindergarten to form six. We can still attend classes no matter how our ages would be. When someone is six years old, he or she attends kindergarten for one year and transfer to primary school. After someone successfully completes primary school, he or she will promote to middle school. Then, he or she attends high school for four years and must pass college preparatory national examination. Completing all of these requirements will lead us to attend advance classes for college preparation.
(H) Do you pay money to attend high school?
(E) It depends on individual. If you are good student, government will subsidize money or you will get scholarship from school. Public schools are more competitive to attend than private schools. You need to work hard to attend those schools because of their reputations.
(H) I want you to discuss a little bit about political aspect of your country if you are willing to discuss with me.
(E) Sure
(H)What was the form of your government in you country?
(E) It was a corrupt government. The election took place for show. It was like a game. The winner predetermined before the election so voting was not making any impact.
(H) Tell me one thing that makes you proud of your country?
(E) My country was recognized as one of the leading countries that were affected by AIDS (Acquire immune deficiency syndrome). In very short period of time, we were able to control this epidemic by public education and awareness.
(H) What sites would you recommend for tourist to visit?
(E) There are many beautiful places to recommend. For instance, the Elizabeth national park, lake Victoria and Nile river falls are some places that I defiantly recommend tourist to visit.
(H) What festivals do you celebrate in your country?
(E) There are many festivals celebrated in my country. The biggest one is Christmas. This holiday collaborated with New Year so each family buy some new stuffs according to their budgets and celebrate this day by visiting friends and families and going out.
(H) What is the weather like in your country?
(E) The weather is beautiful. We have a mild weather not hot or cold. During summer time, it rains in my country. I experienced snow when I moved to Minneapolis with my family.
(H) Did you like it?
(E) I hated it. I went to grocery store. I did not expect to snow so I did not take glove. I was a little bit shivering and my hands were numb. I put my hands above the oven to heat them up. The pain was so horrible. I should not have done and it was my embarrassment moment.
(H) It could happen to anyone of us. You should not be embarrassed by it. It was a good experience. Do you like to watch sport?
(E) I love to watch soccer on television especially English primer league and Olympics.
(H) If you have an opportunity to attend Olympics, which types of sports do you like to watch in person?
(E) I would like to watch swimming, beach valley ball and track and field.
(H) What is popular sport in your country then?
(E) Soccer is the popular sport in my country
(H) What do most women do after they got married?
(E) They stayed home and raise the children. Some women work but most of them stay home.
(H) How is religion in your country?
(E) We do not have any problem with religion. You can practice what you like and nobody forces you to believe in something. Every right is protected under Uganda’s constitution. It is up to individual to practice any religion.
(H) What are your countries major resources?
(E) My country’s economy is based on agriculture. We produce corn, tea, flower, and sugarcane. We call it cash crops
(H) Are there any major wars in your country?
(E) My country is fighting some rebels in the northern part of the country for many years. Those rebels terrorize civilians, abduct children for fight, and rape girls. It is a gruesome story to tell and describe it.
(H) Thank you very much for staying with me this long and give me an opportunity to know your country in a great detail. I hope that one day I will be visiting your country.
(E) You are always welcome.
Personal Reflection of The Interview
The interview went very well. Elizabeth seemed enjoyed it much. She was so calm when she answered all of my questions. It was very quite place so I did not phase any hindrance to hear what she was telling me when I asked her questions.
She was not comfortable to answer one question when I asked her about the civil war in her country. I did not push that much on this question or prepare follow-up questions. I wanted to make a nice, and comfortable atmosphere in which she and I enjoyed the moment and chatted freely.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
1st Interview
Course: English 191 section 21
Interviewer: Hassan Abdurahman
Interviewee: Martin Obedujungu
Date: October 19, 2011
Interview Preparation
Before I prepared my questions, my first task was finding a perfect candidate for an interview. I was thinking to interview three people from the same countries. I headed to Atwood Center to find students from Nepal. I found two students from Nepal. However, they were not willing to spend sometime with me for an interview.
I called one of my friends if he was able to find me one person from Africa. He told me to call him back after a while. I called him after an hour. He recommended me to contact Martin. I contacted martin. He was more than willing to meet me. We set a date, place and time.
Mr. Martin is an international student from Kampala, Uganda. He graduated from the best high school in his nation. He was one of the students who scored higher than the rest in advance leaving examination. He received full scholarship from Canadian University. He finished his under graduate from Toronto University majoring English. He applied for teaching in Saudi Arabia. He taught Saudi Arabia high school for one year and half. After he earned some money in Saudi Arabia, he went back to Uganda. Then, He applied many different graduate schools in the United States. Finally, he admitted to Saint Cloud State University last year. Now, he is currently pursuing his higher education (master degree in English). He teaches English as second language at Saint Cloud State University.
On Tuesday night, I prepared some question for the next day interview. I called him on Wednesday to stop by my apartment around 3:00 PM. He came to my apartment. We did not know each other so well. When guest come to our house or apartment, we must make something to honor the guest in my culture. I made coffee for him. Then, we proceed to interview after enjoying coffee.
Country Report
Uganda is one of the smallest countries in Africa, which has been known, as “Pearl of Africa” because of "breathtaking landscape". Uganda is located at the center of East Africa. Kampala is the capital city of Uganda that has a total population of 1,353,189 populations and covers the area of 189 km.sq. It is a landlocked country. According to cia.gov, this country covers the area of 241,038-kilometer square, slightly smaller than Oregon State. It shares the boarder with Kenya on the east, Sudan on the north, and Democratic Republic of Congo on the west, and Tanzania on the South. Uganda enjoys one of the world’s great waterfalls, Murchison, which runs from the Nile River and plunges several hundred feet into lake Albert (pbs.org). The other thing that makes Uganda unique comparing with other African countries is that Queen Elizabeth Park, where the combination of plains, tropical rainforests, lakes, and Volcano gives a diversity of wildlife.
“In 1888, the British referred to the 52 clan Buganda as “Uganda” where they established their royal charter to Imperial British East Africa Company” (PBS.org). Before British explorers came to Uganda, the Buganda had already established trade relations with Arab traders. Protestant and Catholic missionaries from Europe arrived later in the 1870’s [3]
Map of Uganda and its neighbors
Picture taken from
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/uganda601/additional.html
The Nile river falls
PICTURE WAS TAKEN FROM PHOTAKI
TRADITIONAL CLOTHING
PICTURE WAS TAKEN FROM
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-photo/kbrooks/1/1301235242/traditional-clothing.jpg/tpod.html
Lake Victoria
This image was taken from
http://www.google.com/imgres?start=36&num=10&um=1&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=617&tbm=isch&tbnid=SkUYHLF4q2lJSM:&imgrefurl=http://uganda-attractions.com/files/lake_victoria_uganda.htm
Traditional food of Uganda
This image was taken from http://www.uganda-visit-and-travel-guide.com/
Acoholi Traditional Dance
This picture was take from: http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g800442-w2-Kitgum.html
"The reign of Amin in the 1970s and the civil war that lasted until 1985 devastated Uganda's economic growth. One of the achievements of Yoweri Museveni's presidency has been turning around Uganda's flagging economy."[3] "Approximately 36 percent of Uganda's wealth comes from agriculture, which employs about 80 percent of the population. Coffee is the country's main export and accounts for about 37 percent of the country's GDP, putting Uganda ahead of all other African coffee producers [3]. When Museveni took power in 1986, inflation was running at more than 250 percent." (PBS.org) By 2005, after Uganda had worked for years with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other international financial institutions, inflation was just over 8 percent. Uganda has benefited from a package of debt write-offs in recent years. According to bbc.co uk, in 2000, the international finance community in effect waived Uganda's debt through the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief, worth $1.3 billion, and the Paris Club debt relief, worth $145 million.[3] "Today, as Uganda decreases its debt and continues to grow, there is potential to move away from relief toward full-fledged trade and self-reliance."[3]
Uganda is composed of many different ethnic groups in which "none of ethnic groups claimed to be majority".[1] English has become an official language of Uganda since independence from Great Britain while Swahili become the second official language of the country. However, most people speak local language called "Luganda", predominantly spoken by "Baganda people who live in urban concentration" of Kampala (capital city of Uganda).
Queen Elizabeth National Park
This image was taken from: http://www.happytellus.com/gallery.php?img_id=5766
Citation
[1]BBC on the Internet, 2003 British Broadcasting coopration http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14112297
[2]“World fact book: Uganda”, 2001 Central intelligence agency https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html
[3]PBS on the Internet, 2002, Public broadcasting service
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/uganda601/additional.html
(M) stands for Martin
(H) stands for Hassan
Transcription of the interview
(H) Hello, My name is Hassan Abdurahman. I am pleased meeting you today at this time and so grateful for coming on time. I really thank you for taking sometime and spare with me.
(M) It is my pleasure
(H) Would you mind recording on my phone our conversation so I will transcribe it later?
(M) Sure, go a head
(H) Let me begin ask you some questions. Before I proceed to my questions, I want you to look at the following questions
(M) Sure
(H) What is your name?
(M) My name is Martin Obedujungu
(H) Is there any meaning behind your last name?
(M) Yes
(H) What is it?
(M) My grandparent did not have any child for long time. My grand mother gave a birth for a son. They chose to name him “blessed one”
(H) Does ‘Obedujungu’ mean blessed one?
(M) Yes
(H) Where are you from Martin?
(M) I am from Uganda, which is located in East Africa
(M) Do you want to know city where I was born and raised?
(H) Yes, please
(M) I was born and raised in Kampala, which is a capital city of my country
(H) How many siblings do you have?
(M) I am the only son from my mom side and my father married two women after separated with my mom. I have three half-brothers and two sisters from step-
Mothers
(H) Is polygamy allowed in your country?
(M) Yes, it is lawful to marry more than one woman in my country
(H) Are you married?
(M) Yes, I am married.
(H) When did you marry?
(M) I was married on August 10, 2011.
(H) Congratulation
(M) Thank you
(H) Can you please describe educational system in your country? Are there any similarities or differences with the United States educational system?
(M) It is more different than alike. In my country, you can get into kinder garden at the age of six. The fast-learning students will stay only one year in kinder garden and subjected to attend primary school. The slow learners who cannot cope with the class required to stay more than a year at kinder garden.
(H) How is primary school?
(M) Any person will stay in primary school until grade seven. Then, he or she will attend middle school. If a student does not perform well, he or she will repeat the same class until he or she passes class. We have primary school leaving examination, which every student is required to pass. It was not hard to pass that examination at all.
(H) How about secondary school?
(M) The secondary school is very competitive. Only top-notch students attend best school. Generally, secondary school will take six years after middle school.
(H) Is the government or private school more competitive?
(M) The government school is more competitive than private school. The government schools are existed for long time and they have best reputations. You have to be smart and score higher in order to attend those kinds of schools so the government will subsidize the tuition for your attendance of best school. Most of the rich family students attend private school since their parents will pay for them. I was one of the luckiest students who attended best school in Uganda called Saint-Mary College of Isubi, started with white missionaries in 1906.
(H) Is there any leaving Examination for high school as well?
(M) Defiantly. After taking classes from form one to four, students are required to take leaving exam in order to join advance classes. If you pass this exam, you will attend two years in advance classes before you join college or university. As I said, history repeats itself. The students who perform well attend better school.
(H) Did you chose your major for yourself or government choses for you?
(M) I chose it for myself
(H) How has your culture influenced your people/family?
(M) My culture has influenced me in many things especially in moral values such as the way approaching woman or suppose to find partner of your life. It is not as easy as finding in American culture. In my culture, it is more conservatives comparing to the United States. Moreover, my culture has kept me in line as the use of drugs. If a person uses drugs, we think a person who has give up his or her life and should not associate with. In the United States, it is normal like taking a meal.
(H) What is the form of government in your country?
(M) It is not the same as the United States democracy by a long shot. Democracy is a political term and just sugarcoated. When you look down the system of government, there is no such called democracy. If they arrange an election, we already know what the result will be. It is already like staged election and just conducted election for formality. We already know who wins the election. It is pre-determined. The president is the one who select even the chairman of the election.
(H) Tell me one thing that makes you proud of your country?
(M) In fact, in colonial days, British explorer came to our country and referred to it as pearl of Africa means some thing that is beautiful.
(H) What made them say ‘pearl of Africa’?
(M) The vegetation there is green. We have rivers, mountains, lakes, and waterfalls. Nile is the longest river started from Uganda goes through Sudan then Egypt and largest lake in the world Lake victoria.
(H) Have you ever happened to see Nile river or Lake Victoria?
(M) Yes, my high school is near by lake victoria. I visited river Nile once.
(H) What places or sites you recommended to tourist?
(M) There are many nice beaches around lake Victoria, then along river Nile falls and also very magnificent places. We have a lot of national parks where wild life reside such as queen Elizabeth national park, where you can see lions, tigers, and giraffe etc. This is not a zoo but wild open area.
(H) What festivals do you celebrate in your country?
(M) I would say that the most festival or holiday celebrated in my country is Christmas and the year is coming to an end. I equate Christmas as Thanksgiving in the United States. This holiday is like a family time in which families come together share fists, a lot of presents, decorations, Santa Clause, and parties.
(H) What is the weather like in your hometown?
(M) Referring back what I said in retrospect, it is a part of Africa that means it comes with good weather. It is like a nice summer day in the United States for the whole year. We may have rainy and dry seasons. We have a mild or moderate weather.
(H) What is a type of sport in your country?
(M) The famous sport in my country is football as the United States called it soccer. It is ironic that people do not follow the major soccer league of my country. We just look up to British primer league and Germen bundles league. The local league is not so popular. Perhaps, people watch the national team.
(H) Do you play soccer?
(M) Yes, I do
(H) What is a traditional food in your country?
(M) Green banana (I do not know the name in here) fried with oil. Ugali which is made from flour with beef meet and cabbage, is our traditional food.
(H) Is it hard for you to get all of those ingredients in here?
(M) No, it is not hard to get it. It will take sometime to make it. I prefer to join Ugandan colleagues to eat.
(H) What is the role of woman after they get married in your country?
(M) Most of them are submissive to their husbands because they have children. They confined to households. They are only some women who have a higher education that manages to go out and work.
(H) Is dating allowed in your country?
(M) Yes, it is allowed. However, woman should not be allowed to move with the man unless she becomes pregnant. It is seen as disgrace. If two partners like each other, they make their relationship official. In fact, it is a big ceremony and in our culture we call it traditional wedding.
(H) How does traditional wedding look like?
(M) It is a big event. At this stage, girl introduces you to her family. You pay her father for bringing up a nice daughter, and a person you are going to spend your rest of your life with. Therefore, a man is required to come up with gift. You prepare a big convoy to escort you to her family house. There is a lot of fund raising in his parent’s side.
(H) What was your happiest moment of your life?
(M) After I accomplished my under graduate studies, I continued pursuing diploma in teaching. My happiest moment was when I landed teaching contract in Saudi Arabia. My mother was very proud of me.
(H) Did you enjoy teaching there?
(M) Yes, I did. It was my dream job.
(H) How long did you teach there?
(M) For one year and half
(H) Have you ever volunteer in community service in your country?
(M) Yes, I have volunteered in Red Cross. I want to help people in need and I take it as my responsibility to give back something to my community.
(H) How is your religion in your country?
(M) We have a freedom of religion. Everyone has a right whether practice any religion or not practice any religion.
(H) What are your country major resources?
(M) My countries major resources are agricultural products such as maize, sugarcane, and tea etc
(H) Who is the most important person in your life?
(M) My mom is the most important person in my life. She raised me by herself when my dad left her alone and married other woman. I would not be here today if it was not for her
(H) Mr. Martin, I again thank you very much for sharing all of this information with me and take your time off for this interview. By God’s willing, we will meet next time when you are free.
(M) You are always welcome Hassan
Interview Review
The interview went very well. The setting place for interview was more convenient than other places. There was no disturbance and noise in my apartment. I was so pleased and grateful to interview Martin.
When I asked him to record the whole conversation, he was not happy at first. He thought that I would share his voice with classmates. I assured him that I would record only for transcription. He agreed with it and we proceeded to interview.
I was surprised and amazed by his answers. He did not even think for a second to answers my questions. I thought that I already showed him sample questions so it made for him easy.
His voice was a little bit low. I checked the cellphone recorder before I conducted this interview. I politely asked him to raise his voice so I can hear him well. I was a little bit nervous before interview, but it went away by the time we chatted a little bit. It was very good experience and I could not wait to interview other people.
Interviewer: Hassan Abdurahman
Interviewee: Martin Obedujungu
Date: October 19, 2011
Interview Preparation
Before I prepared my questions, my first task was finding a perfect candidate for an interview. I was thinking to interview three people from the same countries. I headed to Atwood Center to find students from Nepal. I found two students from Nepal. However, they were not willing to spend sometime with me for an interview.
I called one of my friends if he was able to find me one person from Africa. He told me to call him back after a while. I called him after an hour. He recommended me to contact Martin. I contacted martin. He was more than willing to meet me. We set a date, place and time.
Mr. Martin is an international student from Kampala, Uganda. He graduated from the best high school in his nation. He was one of the students who scored higher than the rest in advance leaving examination. He received full scholarship from Canadian University. He finished his under graduate from Toronto University majoring English. He applied for teaching in Saudi Arabia. He taught Saudi Arabia high school for one year and half. After he earned some money in Saudi Arabia, he went back to Uganda. Then, He applied many different graduate schools in the United States. Finally, he admitted to Saint Cloud State University last year. Now, he is currently pursuing his higher education (master degree in English). He teaches English as second language at Saint Cloud State University.
On Tuesday night, I prepared some question for the next day interview. I called him on Wednesday to stop by my apartment around 3:00 PM. He came to my apartment. We did not know each other so well. When guest come to our house or apartment, we must make something to honor the guest in my culture. I made coffee for him. Then, we proceed to interview after enjoying coffee.
Country Report
Uganda is one of the smallest countries in Africa, which has been known, as “Pearl of Africa” because of "breathtaking landscape". Uganda is located at the center of East Africa. Kampala is the capital city of Uganda that has a total population of 1,353,189 populations and covers the area of 189 km.sq. It is a landlocked country. According to cia.gov, this country covers the area of 241,038-kilometer square, slightly smaller than Oregon State. It shares the boarder with Kenya on the east, Sudan on the north, and Democratic Republic of Congo on the west, and Tanzania on the South. Uganda enjoys one of the world’s great waterfalls, Murchison, which runs from the Nile River and plunges several hundred feet into lake Albert (pbs.org). The other thing that makes Uganda unique comparing with other African countries is that Queen Elizabeth Park, where the combination of plains, tropical rainforests, lakes, and Volcano gives a diversity of wildlife.
“In 1888, the British referred to the 52 clan Buganda as “Uganda” where they established their royal charter to Imperial British East Africa Company” (PBS.org). Before British explorers came to Uganda, the Buganda had already established trade relations with Arab traders. Protestant and Catholic missionaries from Europe arrived later in the 1870’s [3]
Picture taken from
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/uganda601/additional.html
PICTURE WAS TAKEN FROM PHOTAKI
PICTURE WAS TAKEN FROM
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-photo/kbrooks/1/1301235242/traditional-clothing.jpg/tpod.html
This image was taken from
http://www.google.com/imgres?start=36&num=10&um=1&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=617&tbm=isch&tbnid=SkUYHLF4q2lJSM:&imgrefurl=http://uganda-attractions.com/files/lake_victoria_uganda.htm
This image was taken from http://www.uganda-visit-and-travel-guide.com/
This picture was take from: http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g800442-w2-Kitgum.html
"The reign of Amin in the 1970s and the civil war that lasted until 1985 devastated Uganda's economic growth. One of the achievements of Yoweri Museveni's presidency has been turning around Uganda's flagging economy."[3] "Approximately 36 percent of Uganda's wealth comes from agriculture, which employs about 80 percent of the population. Coffee is the country's main export and accounts for about 37 percent of the country's GDP, putting Uganda ahead of all other African coffee producers [3]. When Museveni took power in 1986, inflation was running at more than 250 percent." (PBS.org) By 2005, after Uganda had worked for years with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other international financial institutions, inflation was just over 8 percent. Uganda has benefited from a package of debt write-offs in recent years. According to bbc.co uk, in 2000, the international finance community in effect waived Uganda's debt through the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief, worth $1.3 billion, and the Paris Club debt relief, worth $145 million.[3] "Today, as Uganda decreases its debt and continues to grow, there is potential to move away from relief toward full-fledged trade and self-reliance."[3]
Uganda is composed of many different ethnic groups in which "none of ethnic groups claimed to be majority".[1] English has become an official language of Uganda since independence from Great Britain while Swahili become the second official language of the country. However, most people speak local language called "Luganda", predominantly spoken by "Baganda people who live in urban concentration" of Kampala (capital city of Uganda).
Queen Elizabeth National Park
This image was taken from: http://www.happytellus.com/gallery.php?img_id=5766
Citation
[1]BBC on the Internet, 2003 British Broadcasting coopration http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14112297
[2]“World fact book: Uganda”, 2001 Central intelligence agency https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html
[3]PBS on the Internet, 2002, Public broadcasting service
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/uganda601/additional.html
(M) stands for Martin
(H) stands for Hassan
Transcription of the interview
(H) Hello, My name is Hassan Abdurahman. I am pleased meeting you today at this time and so grateful for coming on time. I really thank you for taking sometime and spare with me.
(M) It is my pleasure
(H) Would you mind recording on my phone our conversation so I will transcribe it later?
(M) Sure, go a head
(H) Let me begin ask you some questions. Before I proceed to my questions, I want you to look at the following questions
(M) Sure
(H) What is your name?
(M) My name is Martin Obedujungu
(H) Is there any meaning behind your last name?
(M) Yes
(H) What is it?
(M) My grandparent did not have any child for long time. My grand mother gave a birth for a son. They chose to name him “blessed one”
(H) Does ‘Obedujungu’ mean blessed one?
(M) Yes
(H) Where are you from Martin?
(M) I am from Uganda, which is located in East Africa
(M) Do you want to know city where I was born and raised?
(H) Yes, please
(M) I was born and raised in Kampala, which is a capital city of my country
(H) How many siblings do you have?
(M) I am the only son from my mom side and my father married two women after separated with my mom. I have three half-brothers and two sisters from step-
Mothers
(H) Is polygamy allowed in your country?
(M) Yes, it is lawful to marry more than one woman in my country
(H) Are you married?
(M) Yes, I am married.
(H) When did you marry?
(M) I was married on August 10, 2011.
(H) Congratulation
(M) Thank you
(H) Can you please describe educational system in your country? Are there any similarities or differences with the United States educational system?
(M) It is more different than alike. In my country, you can get into kinder garden at the age of six. The fast-learning students will stay only one year in kinder garden and subjected to attend primary school. The slow learners who cannot cope with the class required to stay more than a year at kinder garden.
(H) How is primary school?
(M) Any person will stay in primary school until grade seven. Then, he or she will attend middle school. If a student does not perform well, he or she will repeat the same class until he or she passes class. We have primary school leaving examination, which every student is required to pass. It was not hard to pass that examination at all.
(H) How about secondary school?
(M) The secondary school is very competitive. Only top-notch students attend best school. Generally, secondary school will take six years after middle school.
(H) Is the government or private school more competitive?
(M) The government school is more competitive than private school. The government schools are existed for long time and they have best reputations. You have to be smart and score higher in order to attend those kinds of schools so the government will subsidize the tuition for your attendance of best school. Most of the rich family students attend private school since their parents will pay for them. I was one of the luckiest students who attended best school in Uganda called Saint-Mary College of Isubi, started with white missionaries in 1906.
(H) Is there any leaving Examination for high school as well?
(M) Defiantly. After taking classes from form one to four, students are required to take leaving exam in order to join advance classes. If you pass this exam, you will attend two years in advance classes before you join college or university. As I said, history repeats itself. The students who perform well attend better school.
(H) Did you chose your major for yourself or government choses for you?
(M) I chose it for myself
(H) How has your culture influenced your people/family?
(M) My culture has influenced me in many things especially in moral values such as the way approaching woman or suppose to find partner of your life. It is not as easy as finding in American culture. In my culture, it is more conservatives comparing to the United States. Moreover, my culture has kept me in line as the use of drugs. If a person uses drugs, we think a person who has give up his or her life and should not associate with. In the United States, it is normal like taking a meal.
(H) What is the form of government in your country?
(M) It is not the same as the United States democracy by a long shot. Democracy is a political term and just sugarcoated. When you look down the system of government, there is no such called democracy. If they arrange an election, we already know what the result will be. It is already like staged election and just conducted election for formality. We already know who wins the election. It is pre-determined. The president is the one who select even the chairman of the election.
(H) Tell me one thing that makes you proud of your country?
(M) In fact, in colonial days, British explorer came to our country and referred to it as pearl of Africa means some thing that is beautiful.
(H) What made them say ‘pearl of Africa’?
(M) The vegetation there is green. We have rivers, mountains, lakes, and waterfalls. Nile is the longest river started from Uganda goes through Sudan then Egypt and largest lake in the world Lake victoria.
(H) Have you ever happened to see Nile river or Lake Victoria?
(M) Yes, my high school is near by lake victoria. I visited river Nile once.
(H) What places or sites you recommended to tourist?
(M) There are many nice beaches around lake Victoria, then along river Nile falls and also very magnificent places. We have a lot of national parks where wild life reside such as queen Elizabeth national park, where you can see lions, tigers, and giraffe etc. This is not a zoo but wild open area.
(H) What festivals do you celebrate in your country?
(M) I would say that the most festival or holiday celebrated in my country is Christmas and the year is coming to an end. I equate Christmas as Thanksgiving in the United States. This holiday is like a family time in which families come together share fists, a lot of presents, decorations, Santa Clause, and parties.
(H) What is the weather like in your hometown?
(M) Referring back what I said in retrospect, it is a part of Africa that means it comes with good weather. It is like a nice summer day in the United States for the whole year. We may have rainy and dry seasons. We have a mild or moderate weather.
(H) What is a type of sport in your country?
(M) The famous sport in my country is football as the United States called it soccer. It is ironic that people do not follow the major soccer league of my country. We just look up to British primer league and Germen bundles league. The local league is not so popular. Perhaps, people watch the national team.
(H) Do you play soccer?
(M) Yes, I do
(H) What is a traditional food in your country?
(M) Green banana (I do not know the name in here) fried with oil. Ugali which is made from flour with beef meet and cabbage, is our traditional food.
(H) Is it hard for you to get all of those ingredients in here?
(M) No, it is not hard to get it. It will take sometime to make it. I prefer to join Ugandan colleagues to eat.
(H) What is the role of woman after they get married in your country?
(M) Most of them are submissive to their husbands because they have children. They confined to households. They are only some women who have a higher education that manages to go out and work.
(H) Is dating allowed in your country?
(M) Yes, it is allowed. However, woman should not be allowed to move with the man unless she becomes pregnant. It is seen as disgrace. If two partners like each other, they make their relationship official. In fact, it is a big ceremony and in our culture we call it traditional wedding.
(H) How does traditional wedding look like?
(M) It is a big event. At this stage, girl introduces you to her family. You pay her father for bringing up a nice daughter, and a person you are going to spend your rest of your life with. Therefore, a man is required to come up with gift. You prepare a big convoy to escort you to her family house. There is a lot of fund raising in his parent’s side.
(H) What was your happiest moment of your life?
(M) After I accomplished my under graduate studies, I continued pursuing diploma in teaching. My happiest moment was when I landed teaching contract in Saudi Arabia. My mother was very proud of me.
(H) Did you enjoy teaching there?
(M) Yes, I did. It was my dream job.
(H) How long did you teach there?
(M) For one year and half
(H) Have you ever volunteer in community service in your country?
(M) Yes, I have volunteered in Red Cross. I want to help people in need and I take it as my responsibility to give back something to my community.
(H) How is your religion in your country?
(M) We have a freedom of religion. Everyone has a right whether practice any religion or not practice any religion.
(H) What are your country major resources?
(M) My countries major resources are agricultural products such as maize, sugarcane, and tea etc
(H) Who is the most important person in your life?
(M) My mom is the most important person in my life. She raised me by herself when my dad left her alone and married other woman. I would not be here today if it was not for her
(H) Mr. Martin, I again thank you very much for sharing all of this information with me and take your time off for this interview. By God’s willing, we will meet next time when you are free.
(M) You are always welcome Hassan
Interview Review
The interview went very well. The setting place for interview was more convenient than other places. There was no disturbance and noise in my apartment. I was so pleased and grateful to interview Martin.
When I asked him to record the whole conversation, he was not happy at first. He thought that I would share his voice with classmates. I assured him that I would record only for transcription. He agreed with it and we proceeded to interview.
I was surprised and amazed by his answers. He did not even think for a second to answers my questions. I thought that I already showed him sample questions so it made for him easy.
His voice was a little bit low. I checked the cellphone recorder before I conducted this interview. I politely asked him to raise his voice so I can hear him well. I was a little bit nervous before interview, but it went away by the time we chatted a little bit. It was very good experience and I could not wait to interview other people.
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