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.
No comments:
Post a Comment