Final Paper Topic

For my final paper, my topic will be writing about different lifestyle and cultural of different Vietnamese people in Vietnam and Vietnamese people in the US.  Since I have been to at least 3 different Vietnamese town in the US ( Little Saigon, CA - San Jose, CA - Dallas/Forthworth, TX - Houston, TX - Minneapolis/ St. Paul, MN - St. Cloud, MN).  I will be writing a paper comparing about the different lifestyle/culture and how a Vietnamese can have a different different lifestyle if they get to grow up in Vietnam or the US

Interview 3 Evaluation

Interview 3 Evaluation

This is the third time I pick Heqiu as my favorite interview.  I think his post really does give me alot more information include the well-readness.  I think he does improve himself after the last 2 interview.  I found his post easy to read and also he does show that he is ready for the post with a lot of useful information.

He does gave his best to all of his 3 interviewee.  He show the interesting to the interviewee, and he sure did research about the country before he approach the intervewee.

He know how to impress you with a post, and make it interesting for you to read, it's not too much of information that will bored the reader, but it's useful.

Interview 2 Evaluation

Interview 2 Evaluation


When I go through all the class's blog to picked out the greatest one, I decide to pick Heqiu Liu.  His post is very interesting, clearly, very easy to read, and it also contained alot of useful information. 

As he said that the second interview actually is his best one too, I think he did a very good job on doing the country report, also transcribe all the information that the interviewee gave him.  In the country report, he also include some pictures so that we have a visual of what he is talking about.  He also have a very good preparation before having an actual interview with the interviewee. 

Also when you read the transcription of his 2nd interview, you can tell that his interviewee is a "good-talker".  He gave Heqiu alot of good information.  I was suprise by alot of information like "a family can have up to 22 kids" or " when you eat rice and bean you can be full up to 12 hours".

I think Heqiu gave his best to his post.  He did a very good job and very clearly on his post so the reader won't get bored.

Repost Interview 3

Interview # 3

Date: November 7th, 2010

Place: Library

Name: Asuka Jamai

1. Describe the preparations.

After my first interview, i thought of adding more question for the interviewee.  I think it's really interesting how people in different country or society think about themselves when they are away from their country.  

2. How did you approach people?

I get help from my first interviewee, she introduced me to some other Japanese students also come from the same town as her.  They actuallly went to the same college when they were in Japan

3. When, where, and how did you conduct and record the interview?

We email each other and decide that we should do the interview in the library, so on November 7th, 2010, we met up at the 2nd floor of the library.  I went over why i need to do the interview with her.  I gave her the question material, I asked if there is anything wrong if I record the interview.  

4. Describe the interview.  What did surprise you?

I think the interview went very well.  I am surprise how the Japanese people actually think of their society even they have been to the US for a really long time.  They are actually always look up to their society, the elder to live a life.

5. Transcribe the Interview.

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

·      AJ:  I am a Japanese.  My name is Asuka.  I live in a small town around 30 mins away from Tokyo, it’s a nice and quiet place

·      So what is your family structure and family member’s role look like?

·      AJ:  My dad works for the money for the household and my mom take care of all the house work.  My older sister just graduated from a University in Japan, so she is working right now.

·      How many generations live in a family/ household?

·      AJ:  There is only 2 generation in my family.  Parent and children

·      In your society, how many children can one couple bear?  Is there any rule or law prohibited that?

·      AJ:  I think there is no rule or law about that.  A couple, or a house hold can have as many child as you want.

·      How’s the weather in Japan right now? 

·      AJ:  I think it’s getting cold now, but not as cold as St. Cloud, St. Cloud is too cold for us.

·      Do you have any knowledge about St. Cloud before you came?

·      AJ:  I did some research about St. Cloud before I came.  About the town and the university.

·      So how do you like the weather in St. Cloud so far?

·      AJ:  Not that I like it or not, it’s nice during Fall, but when it get into the real Winter, it’s too cold.

·      How is the educational system in Japan compared to the US? (Similarities/ differences)

·      AJ:  It’s very different, it seem like that in Japan we study harder to get into the University or college because we have all the entrance exam, but once you get into the school, it’s very easy to graduate, unlike the system in the US, easy to get into the college, but very hard to graduate.

·      Why did you choose to come to SCSU?

·      AJ:  I heard St. Cloud is a great Business school in Minnesota

·      How do you know SCSU?

·      AJ:  Actually some of my friends study here before, so I decide to come over here too.

·      What is your daily routine during and after school time?

·      AJ:  Over here or back in Japan?

·      I meant both, you can compare if you want to.

·      AJ:  My daily routine after school in the US, I just went back to my apartment, cook something to eat, then back to the library and study.  But when I was in Japan, I have to work part-time job to support my own expenses.

·      So why don’t you have a job over here?

·      AJ:  It’s very hard for Inter national student to get a job here in St. Cloud, very challenging.

·      What major are you attending or thinking of attending?

·      AJ:  I am a International Business major, I will be graduating in Winter 2011.

·      Is it common for the student in your country to go study abroad?

·      AJ:  It’s a very common thing right now.

·      And why is that?

·      AJ:  Most Japanese company they look at your resume, and will be interested to those who has few years experience in different country, also good at both English and native language.  It’s a very highlighted line if you are actually study abroad.

·      Do men and women treated equally in your home country?

·      AJ:  Yes, they do now.

·      Any differences in how a man and a woman may interact/contact each other’s? 

·      AJ:  We bow to the people that we first met, we don’t shake hand to the people we first met.

·      Any things that not consider “proper”?

·      AJ:  We don’t hug or kiss each others like in the US

·      Do you have different rule of eye contact and body language in your society?

·      AJ:  Yes, like I said we don’t kiss or hug each other when we greet in our society, they can be a bad thing, people will think you are crazy when you do that.

·      How does dating work in your society?

·      AJ:  What do you mean dating?  Like how they go on a date?

·      Yah, who will ask who out first, or how did you go for your first date?

·      AJ:  Usually the guy will ask the girl out first, but Japanese guys are very shy, so we will probably talk to each others on phone first, texting will be great, and when the time come, we will finally meet each other

·      What is the common age for dating? And marriage?

·      AJ:  It depend, for women, maybe late 20s, for men maybe early 30s

·      Do you have blind date (?  Or arranged marriage?

·      AJ:  We do have blind date, we went as a group with friends, usually the friend will introduce us to each others.  We don’t have arranged marriage anymore.

·      What are the custom/ traditions of wedding like? (shrine, wear white kimono shiromoku , guy : hakama)

·      AJ:  It’s very traditional, the women usually wear white kimono, it is called shiromoku, and the guy wear hakama, we usually hold the wedding at a shrine.

·      What do you think of falling in love with a foreigner?

·      AJ:  I think it’s really interesting, different culture and different background.

·      Will your family/ culture/ religious against you if you marry someone from different culture/ religious?

·      AJ:  I think they are ok with it to my family, but to some of others family they are still very traditional, they won’t accept it.

·      What is the main religion in your country?

·      AJ:  It should be Shinto or Buddhist, there is more different religious in Japan too.  Like Christian, Islamic

·      What do you think of the US politics?

·      AJ:  Very liberal, and I like it a lot.  Very open to the people.

·      How is the politics system in your country?

·      AJ:  It’s crazy, they kept changing the Prime minister, only 20 years and they have changed 16 prime minister.

·      Haha, okay, let’s talk about more interesting stuff.  So any special holiday in Japan that we don’t have over here in the US.

·      AJ:  There is actually a lot holiday that different.  There is a holiday called Obon in august, it’s when we celebrate the dead people, their soul.  There is golden week, around end of April to first week of May, it’s like a week holiday, we family get together and spend time.  We have this holiday for girls in march called hinamatsuri doll or hinaningyou.

·      Do the Japanese like any sport?

·      AJ:  We like all kind of sport, there are judo, sumo, karate, kyudo, kendo.  We actually together with Korea hold the 2002 World Cup for soccer.  We also play baseball, volleyball, tennis like others too.

·      Let’s talk a liltle bit about the food.  So what is the traditional dish in Japan?

·      AJ:  Traditional dish should be sushi, sashimi, miso soup, yakitori, okonomoyaki, oyakodon, they are all kind of food, but also very good.  You should try it sometime.

·      Thanks a lot, I would love to try.  And yes, I think the interview should be done here.  I have gather a very great information from you today.  Thanks a lot.

·      AJ:  You are very welcome.  I hope will see you again around campus.

·      Yes, I hope so too.  Thanks for your time.

Country Report


Geography:  
Japan is situated in northeastern Asia between the North Pacific and the Sea of Japan. The area of Japan is 377,873 square kilometers, nearly equivalent to Germany and Switzerland combined or slightly smaller than California. Japan consists of four major islands, surrounded by more than 4,000 smaller islands. Japan's topographical features include coastlines with varied scenery, towering mountains, which are very often volcanic and twisted valleys that invite visitors into the mysterious world of nature.


Language:
There is only one official language spoken in Japan, which is of course Japanese. However, many Japanese are able to understand English to a certain extent since English is the foreign language that everyone must learn as part of compulsory education. Even if you don't understand Japanese, you can still certainly enjoy Japan. But if you know a few everyday Japanese phrases then it will make your trip even more memorable. A few words make a big difference.


Population:
Japan's population is over 126 million. Most Japanese reside in densely populated urban areas. Japan's capital city is Tokyo. The population of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area including the city, some of its suburbs and the surrounding area is approximately 12 million.


Work cited:

C.I.A The World Fact Book.  9 November 2010.  Retrived November 10, 2010

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html

Japan National Tourism Organization.  Retrieved on November 10, 2010

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/about/overview/index.html

Interview 1 result

 Here is the Link