First Interview - Japan

I met up with a Japanese in Carribou Coffee at Atwood.  Her name is Yuri Okubo.  
October 25th, 2010
First interview 


HL:  Could you tell me a little bit about yourself and your home country?

YO:  My name is Yuri Okubo, and I am 22 years old.  I am Japanese from Japan, and I have been here for 3 years. 

HL:  Where in Japan do you come from?

YO:  I am from Miyamonashi, it’s the city next to Tokyo.

HL:  Is it a big city?

YO:  It’s countryside, peaceful and alot more quiet than Tokyo.  But it’s pretty close to Tokyo

HL:  I see.  So can you tell me a little bit about your family?

YO:  Yes sure.  There are 6 persons in my family including me: grandma, my parent, my 2 older sisters and me.

HL:  So there are actually 3 generations live in the same household, what do you think?

YO:  I think it’s pretty fun and lovely.  My oldest sister just gave birth to her baby so you could consider it’s 4 generation in the same household.

HL:  Congratulation to your sister!  Is it a baby boy or baby girl?

YO:  It’s a baby boy.  He is about 3 months old now.

HL:  Does she want a baby boy?  Or it’s just random?  Does Japanese think it’s important to have a baby boy than a baby girl?

YO:  It’s randomly.  I don’t think Japanese have that thinking anymore.  Maybe they would if it’s 30-40 years ago.

HL:  So pretty much boys and girls get treated equally then?

YO: Boy and girl or should I say man and woman are treated equally now

HL:  So in Japan, how many children can one parent have?  Averagely?  Is there any rules or laws about having children?

YO:  No no, there is no rule or law about that.  Around 2 to 3 children I should say.  But there are household that have 12 to 13 kids at a time.

HL:  Oh that’s a lot.  So what is the roles of the family members play?

YO:  My dad is a University professor, he works for the living of the whole household.  My mom is a housewife, she does all the house work, and take care of the children.

HL:  So how is the weather in Japan right now?

YO:  It’s Fall right now.  I heard from my parent it’s kind of cold right now.   But not as cold as here.

HL:  How do you like the weather here so far?

YO:  It’s too cold.  You can’t predict the weather at all until it changed

HL:  Do you have any knowledge about St. Cloud before you came here?  And St. Cloud Stat University?

YO:  I didn’t know anything about St. Cloud.  I just know it’s countryside.  About the school, I looked it up online.  I didn’t know very much about the school or the city actually.

HL:  What is your own perspective before coming to the US?  Did it change after living here for awhile?

YO:  Very liberal I think.  And also all the fastfood.  I was worry that I will gain a lot of weight.

HL:  So did any of thought change? 

YO:  Not at all. 

HL:  When you were in Japan and watch those American movie, have you ever thought that your life over here will be like that?

YO:  Most of the movie I watched, it’s always filmed in the big city.  So I did feel a little bit disappointed when I get to St. Cloud.  Actually I am very surprise that the American university student they party hard, but also study very hard too.

HL:  So how about the student in Japan?  Do they study hard too?

YO:  They work very hard for their part-time job but they don’t study as much like in the US.  And because of the differences of the educational system that’s why.

HL:  So how is the educational system in Japan compared to the US?  Any similariries or differences?

YO:  It’s very different.  It’s totally opposite.  In Japan, it’s very hard to get into University, because of all the entrance exams but once you get into the school, it’s very easy to graduate.  In the US, it’s easy to get into the school but it’s hard to graduate.

HL:  I think it’s the same in Vietnam.  We have that problem too.  All the entrance exam are very hard and if you failed, you have to wait for another year to do it again.

YO:  Same thing in Japan.  I think it’s Asia educational custom.  By the way, I went to a US system school so there is not much of a different.  But in Japan school, I think they don’t really take attendance, even if you come to class, they just sit there and texting, but they still pass the class.  I don’t really like it

HL:  Why is that?

YO:  Because you don’t really learn anything from that.  It’s a waste of time.

HL:  I see what you mean.  So why do you ended up choosing St. Cloud State university?

YO:  I was interesting in Advertising major that’s why I was looking for school with good program.  At first I want to go to California, but the tuition is too expensive.  Then I found SCSU with more affordable price.  That’s why I ended up here.

HL:  Oh I see.  That’s a very common reason to all of us International student.  So when you were in Japan, after school what will you do?

YO:  I go to work for my part-time job, I work in a restaurant as a server.  They paid me good.

HL:  What is your major?

YO:  My major is Advertising and minor in Graphic Design.  It’s hard but I like it a lot.

HL:  It does sound really interesting.  Is it very common that Japanese student go study abroad in the US?

YO:  I think it’s getting popular right now.  A lot of company in Japan hire student with a study abroad degree, global business, and can speak English well.

HL:  Have you ever come across any special or tough experience when you are in SCSU?

YO:  Yeah, I think so.  The international student status is the toughest one.  You can’t get a job anywhere except on campus.  And it’s so hard and competitive to get a job on campus too.  Special experience I would say Thanksgiving and Halloween.  We don’t have it in Japan.

HL:  Same in my country, do you enjoy it?

YO:  Yes I do.  It’s also a good break from all the school work for awhile.

HL:  I am just very curious about this, have you notice any differences in how a man and a woman may interact with each others?

YO:  I think it’s very different.  Most of Japanese guys are shy, unlike the American they are very open.

HL:  Shy?  That’s a big surprise.  So how do people interact with each other? Like hug? Kiss?

YO:  No we don’t hug or kiss, we just shake, or wave.  If it’s the first time we saw each others, we will bow to each others.  We usually just wave at each others.  How about in Vietnam?

HL:  I don’t think so.  We maybe shake hand, or just wave, we don’t have any skin contact that much.  So anything you think that it’s not proper?

YO:  I think there is none, we always keep it as a distant when we interact with each others.


Country Report

Capital Cities... Tokyo
Population: 126,804,433
GDP: $4,137,000,000,000 (USD)
Total Area: 377,835 (sq km) 145,882 (sq mi)
Currency: yen

My first interview experience in class

Today I did an interview with my 2 classmate: Heqiu and Hailey.  As expected, I interviewed one from China, and one from the US.  With different cultural background, I learn that they have different kind of approaching people when they interview and be interviewed.  I also learnt from them that being different cultural doesn't meant it's hard to talk or connected to, or to express yourself to others culture, but it's an advantage for you to approach to the interviewee's culture.  The best way to have a good, smooth and clear conversation is that asking question to the interviewee.  Because the interviewee maybe doesn't speak good, or fluent in English, you have to explain, give example for them to make them feel comfortable answering the questions.

I have a lot of fun during the first interview with my 2 classmates, because I get to experience more of the real conversation between interview and interviewee.  I think I will make sure to research more a liltle bit about the question, make it connected with each others so the "real" interview will go even more better.

Final Project

Final project due Dec 9th. 2010