My First Interview.

Process of Interview

As it was my first time, I found little difficulty at first but later figure out easily. I look for the international students and choose student from Saudi Arabia. I settle a time with him. And due to his cooperation with me we recorded the interview. I emailed all the questions that I was going to ask him, just to give him a head start. My interviewee was very nice and gentle person, from his busy schedule he took some time out and helped me to get my assignment done. I record the interview with his permission and then transcribe it on sheet of paper. I try my best to not to choose yes or no question because there were some question if they were answered yes or no , it may offend the interviewee and he/she loose the interest and found guilty them self’s. But my interview went well.

Personal Overview

It was very easy for me to talk to Qasim. He is very open about himself and his experiences. I am happy that he doesn’t mind me asking semi-personal questions about himself. I hope that my other interviews will be as easy as this one. He is very kind, and fun to talk to.

Country Report

My interviewee was from Saudi Arabia. Following are the some specific detail about Saudi Arabia.

Current King: Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz
Independent Day: 13 September
Currency: Riyal
Political view: Kingdom
Religious view: 100% Islamic

 Saudi Arabia is well known for its distribution of oil all around the world. Also due to religious purpose people who believe in Islam often visit holy places Makah and Medina situated in Saudi Arabia. If we look at the Middle East history, we will see that before Saudis, it was a Turkish kingdom. Saud the first king of Saudi Arabia took the land from turkey and implemented the rules of Islam; he declared the country as the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and himself as a king. It’s been our 100 years and still the royal family is ruling the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

It is said that people were digging for the water, but they were lucky and oil comes out from the ground. Saudi economy is very strong because they are the biggest supplier of oil all over the world. Saudi students get scholarship to study abroad; Saudis are vastly growing in technical world. Although women are not allowed to drive-in Saudi Arabia but still kingdom have strong boundaries and limits.

In Saudi Arabia majority of people are Muslims, so does there are strict rules and regulation. Every woman must wear a veil no matter what. Men are only allowed to own shops and businesses. Women are only allowed to work in some specific places such as hospitals, banks customer service but with rules and regulations. Over past few years Saudi people are very much highlighted, like about 20 years ago a former king Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud (Late) had did a tremendous work for the Muslim people who visited Saudi Arabia for pilgrim purpose. During the era of King Fahd both the holy mosques Al Harem in Makah and masjib Al-Nabawi were restructured and were implemented with so many facilities.

Also the biggest important thing about the Saudi Arabia that their alcohols free country. There are very harsh punishments if being caught with alcohol. Saudi Arabia is a great country to visit from tourism perspective. It has cities as compared to the cities of united sates with tall buildings and amusement parks. But more often people visit for religious purpose. A lot of foreign people live and work in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is the largest country in Middle East who offers thousands and thousands of jobs every year for the people all around the world. Due to current revolution in Egypt and Tunisia, present king Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz had declared a raised in a pay for most of the people. Over all Saudi Arabia is the most strong and well man tined country in Middle East.

Work cited: http://www.countryreports.org/Saudi%20Arabia.aspx

Transcript:

Moiz: salaam alikum, how are you.

Qasim:  walikum Salam I am good thanks. How about you?

Moiz: I am good. Thanks my name is Moiz hashmi from Pakistan.

Qasim: my name is qaim almarhon and I am from Saudi Arabia.

Moiz: where in Saudi Arabia

Qasim:  I live in the east side of Saudi Arabia, city name is Damam.

Moiz: first of all do u allow me to record this interview.

qasim:  sure, I don’t mind. It will really help you.

Moiz:  o thank you so nice of you. How was your day today?

Qasim: it was okay

Moiz: I bring some snackes for you
qasim: o thank you.

Moiz: I have few questions to ask you about the Saudi culture, traditions and students

Qasim: sure go head

Moiz:  how will you think that it will be easy to find a job after college?

qasim: well it’s hard to get a good job. It totally depend on the GPA, like back in Saudi Arabia there are many organizations who hired people and there are a lot of students that got scholarship to study aboard some of them are is Australia, Canada and usa. So it total depends on the good GPA and experience.

Moiz: So it is the same as in USA like to get a good job, a perfect GPA is required

Qasim:  yes yes.

Moiz: What was the culture shock you face in U.S?

qasim:  I was not speaking very well. I don’t know how people act and speak over here. I think twice before to do or say any thing

Moiz: like the boys back home kiss each other, huge and shake hand but if you do it over here you look like GAY

qasim:yeah, I started reading the culture of usa and also I got a culture class in English programme.

Moiz:  o yeah I want to that program to it was nice to met other people. Did you want to the winter carnival?

qasim: yeah, I been there it was really nice.

Moiz:  it’s  know a little different question  why did u decide to come to scsu…?

Qasim: I have two answers for this question, my father chose the university for me, also English is the world language it helps you a lot to get a good job, it helps you to understand the American culture. I want to change my thinking. Just want try something else. Also my father had been here for so long. It is cold but looks nice in summer.

Moiz:  there is a joke that in winter people gets clothes tress got naked but in summer trees got clothes and people got naked.

Qasim: hahahahhah………..exactly.

Moiz: what is your opinion about American diet and why most of the people like it?

Qasim: t I think the people our here are so busy with their life’s that they choose first food because it’s quick. Here mostly people get together only at dinner time. But back home we usually get together at lunch and dinner.

Moiz:  if u doesn’t mind can I ask you a question, do you have burger and pizza back home?

Qasim:  o yeas we do have, but the main meal is chicken, goat and rice.

Moiz: I heard that you have sandwich called shahwarma? Is it like a hot dog or something?

Qasim: no it’s not like a hot dog its sandwich. If you go to Arab restaurant you will see it. It’s totally fat free. It’s really delicious.

Moiz: little shocking questions for you how does the climate in your home as compared to here?

Qasim:  wow, it is shocking well actually we are moving to summer.
Moiz: summer already; here we are expecting another snow storm.

Qasim: yeah the weather is mostly hot and dry. Because it is a desert. So we get mostly 10 months of summer.

Moiz: what are some culture differences between country and here?

Qasim: It’s a huge different. Because over in Saudi Arabia majority of people are Muslims. Where in USA majority is Christian.

Moiz: who take care of the finances in your family?

Qasim:  actually my father does that.my mother is a housewife and she takes care of my younger sister and brother.

Moiz: how many siblings are you?

Qasim: I have 2 younger sister and 1 small brother.

Moiz: what age men and women should spent time together…?

Qasim : Actually due to religious purpose man and women are not allowed to meet privately . Mostly arrange marriage too place.

Moiz: what are your personal experience with racism since coming to usa?

Qasim :  well I been a victim of rascim , like I play soccer for st.cloud state univeristy. When we have a match against black people and refuree is black so no matter how hard they hit us we don’t get foul.

Moiz:  what did you think about USA  before coming over here?

Qasim: Well, I only have seen America in movies. But its total different. the life is so busy over here.

Moiz: what is the main think you miss?

Qasim: first of all food, family and friends. Back in Saudi Arabia we gather everyday like is mosques and outdoor places. Here people don’t know their neighbor

Moiz: how will you define freedom in USA?

Qasim: there is no freedom in everything people just talk about freedom, freedom, do whatever you want but there is a limit.

Moiz:  how did you define the relation between usa and your country?
Qasim: Its really good we supply oil to the usa and also mostly Saudi students get scholarship every year to study in usa.

Moiz:  I have a last question for you if you get a chance to change any thing what will you change?

qasim: first off all I will remove the tax. If you buy anything it has a lot of tax. Also I would like the parking rule on scsu be changed. Students should be allowed free parking.
Moiz: that the end of our interview.
Qasim: I am glad that I help you out.

We both smiled and shook hands.