My Final Project:Revolution in Middle East and Role of Saudi Arabia.

Process Interview:
                                This interview was much controversial for me to conduct because my questions were different from my previous interview question. this time i was mostly foucing on revolution in middle east and focusing on the strongest country in middle east ,Saudi Arabia. so my best approach were my old interviewees from Saudi Arabia. i settle a evening time with my both interviewees and i conducted an interview .They didn't allowed me to show their faces ,so i only recorded their voices.

Personal view:
It was interesting interview because i had both my interviewee together and we had a great conversation. it was an eye opening information they told me about Saudi Arabia. also my goal was to know that why their is revolution in middle east and what causes it.i think i achieve my goal and was able to understand it.

Country Report:

My interviewee were 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

what are the  reasons , Saudi Arabia is known for?

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 Makkah 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.

What changes did Saudi king had made after getting the control over Arabia?

In Saudi Arabia majority of people are Muslims, so does there are strict rules and regulation.The biggest important thing about the Saudi Arabia that their alcohols free country. There are very harsh punishments if being caught with alcohol.  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.

(Following is the video below about the expansion of holy mosques)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZkfBMFEYbI

Travel and Tourism:

 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.

Revolution in Middle East;Impact on Saudi Arabia:

 After the revolution in Egypt , other middle east countries were becoming more and more unstable. people are to sick from their leaders that they just want their leaders to step down from there presidency and let anybody else rule the country. In Saudi Arabia people also started the protest against government but soon they come down and was happy with their leaders. few days ago due to so much violence and disturbance in neighbour country Bahrain , Saudi Arabia send its troops to Bahrain which really make the Saudi people mad and they again start protest

Following are the videos of people protesting in saudi arabia against the action of Saudi government on Bahrain

1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHPyg6IlHio&feature=related

2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPXXoKStLP8&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Following is the video related to the Saudi Troops entering in Bahrain

1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73aJwRKSIm4

Some pictures  of the Saudi Troops entering in Bahrain:

Some pictures from Saudi Arabian people protesting

Some beautiful places in Saudi Arabia:

sea view with 7 star Continental Hotel ( Jeddah, saudi arabia)

Following is the Video about the city that never sleeps Jeddah,Saudi Arabia

1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn7HCD5KKZc

One of the holy city Makkah, Saudi Arabia

My visit to Makkah, Saudi Arabia 2010 summer

World largest clock in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Largest Skyscraper In Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Night View of Mosque Al-Haram and skyscraper with largest clock, Makkah Saudi Arabia.

Another most holy mosque Masjid Al-Nabawi ( mosque of last prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H)) in Madina, Saudi Arabia

Faisalia Tower in the capital city of Riyadh ,Saudi Arabia ( A most important place from business point of view)

Work cited:

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

Images:
http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&biw=1003&bih=559&site=search&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=clock+in+makkah&aq=1&aqi=g2g-m2&aql=&oq=clock+in+ma

http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&biw=1003&bih=559&site=search&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=saudi+arabia+protest+2011&aq=1&aqi=g9&aql=&oq=saudi+arabia+pro

Videos:
             http://www.youtube.com/

Article:
http://wallstreetpit.com/65699-what-will-saudi-arabia-do

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/01/could-saudi-arabia-be-next/



Book:
culture smart ! saudi arabia by Nicholas Buchele
Publish Date: June 02, 2008


Transcript and Video of my Interview:
 My interviewee
1) Qasim Almarhoon (Saudi)  (2) Mujtaba Muhammad (Saudi)


Me:
      Hi, My name is Moizuddin Hashmi, i will be conducting an interview for my English 191 class, this is my final project .and it is about the revolution. i will be ask question why their is revolution because i been to saudi arabia and never heard that ,i will introduce my two interviewee, please go head introduce your self.

Mujtaba: Hi , my name is Mujatab Muhammad and i am a senior with Finance major.

Qasim: Hi, my name is Qasim Almarhoon and i am a sophomore in Mechanical Engineering.

Me: Thank you guys i know its a busy week for you, so hows every thing going?

Mujtaba: Everything is going fine and getting busy and busy.

Qasim: we are here to help you out on this project. else its busy

Me: very thankful to both of you

Me: so, tell me whats going on tell me as a citizen what you think about saudi arabia 6 months before and now?

Mujtaba: Main think our economy is strong still policy are same with no change.if you talk about gas everything is cheap. there is no democracy.

Me: o there is no democracy ok

Mujtaba: yes, the biggest factor its hard to find a job. first of all you need to know two kinds of Muslims, shia and sunni. so when shia going to apply for a job they will have hard time finding a job even though they have high GPA.

Me: so let me clarify that you said their is a discrimination in religion stuff, like shia and sunni and if a shia try to get a job with a good GPA they still have a hard time getting a job

Mujtaba: yes , exactly.

Me: so what is your opinion Qasim

Qasim: actually i will share a same opinion with mujtaba . you know the economy in saudi arabia is very strong and everyone knows that. we are not facing any change in gas prices even though its a same price and we have a revolution going on. i will share the same opinion with mujtaba . i graduate from high school . i felt religious discrimination , i graduated with a high GPA and had a percentage above 90 % and i applied for the scholarship via a big company. my father been working for that company and its more than 20 years. long beard people interview me and asked me wearied question. i told them i am don't practice religion that much and i read alot of news about sports , science and other things happening around the world. in reply they said we will give you a call back.

Me: so did they call you back

Qasim: No.

Mujtaba: see Moiz they make it hard for us all it is related to religion.

Me: why they want to do that dont they want you to go aboard study and serve the country?

Mujtaba: They make changes for the people , like Qasim they know he is shia

Me: shocked !!!!!

Qasim: they can say it from your face . my father want to the boss and ask him what going on with my son, he applied for the scholarship. boss said " he didnt pass the interview". my father said i been working here for more than 20 years and my son qualify for it but i dont know why are you treating me like that.

Mujtaba: i am going add that my father or anyone who is shia , there is a limit for him. they cant be manager or above who is sunni.

Qasim: the main thing they dont have is the education

Me: my second question is what is Revolution? like what is going on in middle east like Bahrain and Egypt are all over the news ? my viewer's like to know what is revolution?

Mujtaba: revolution in Arab countries. they need the right .

Me: ok , for what?

Qasim: Democracy

Mujatab: there is democracy over their but it is just a word. people dont get their rights.in Egypt for example the president Hosni Mubarak he was in power for 30 years. and he didnt give people their rights and they choose the revolution.

Me: i studied some where that the revolution came from facebook . you know that like people made a group and started getting together.

Qasim: i wana add something that Hosni Mubarak was a president for more than 30 years and since that time nobody want him. in every election he become a president.

Mujtaba: In voting they surprise to see Hosni Mubarak again.

Mujtaba: like in Bahrain the king over their didnt make change for people. i am gonna be honest with you the percentage of shia in more in Bahrain than sunni. like how many percent?

Qasim: you mean the people more than 90% shia.

Mujtaba: but when you go over their you see different people from other country working over their

Qasim: citizen of Bahrain against the foreign people. but when we look at revolution both shia and sunni are in revolution they need their democracy . they don't want foreign people to get all the jobs ,all the money and everything.

Mujtaba: the revolution is for peace not for war. even in Libya the president over their More than 30 years.

Qasim: i would like to add something about Egypt ,when you go to any hospital in Saudi Arabia you will see Egyptian doctor because they don't get chance in their country.

Moiz: It is good conversation going on over here. Saudi Arabia had this trouble before and right now they are helping Bahrain . what strategy they use before in 1990's during the war?

Mujatab: they send the military .

Qasim: In 1991 Saudi Arabia send the military to protect the people in Kuwait from Iraq but in Bahrain they send the military to protect the military of Bahrain ( LAUGH OUT LOUD).

Me: Now this is part 2 of our conversation Youtube allow us  to record 15 minutes . lets continue an important question.

Mujatab: like why Saudi Arabia send his military to Bahrain not in Egypt or Libya. Bahrain is 90% shia so Saudi Arabia decided to help Bahrain and connect them with Iran because Iran is the strong ( they are atomic power) and everything.

Qasim: Most people think the revolution is only from shia , no that not the truth. all people want their rights.

Me: Good to know that.well tell me if Saudi Arabia run out of oil what they will do?

Mujatab: Actually Saudi economy is so strong and they planned a head for about 30 years .so we will not run out of it?

Me: God Willing , you will not .

Mujtaba: we only talked about negative thing but the positive things are like the scholarship , we have all free benefits like health care ,tuition

Me: at least you don't have to pay the health insurance like in USA.

Mujtaba: you didn't ask me about the revolution in Saudi Arabia

Me: no i didnt but like to know?

Mujatab: many people are put in jail and they are said to be terrorist . people have big beard are terrorist

Me: so now it become a stereotype.

Qasim: Their is peace but people make simple thing complicated.

Me: i thing we are all set it was good interview . wish you guys best of luck on finals.

Mujatab: you to Moiz ,good luck with everything .

Qasim: take care, thank you Moiz for not showing our faces.

Me: thank you guys it was fine and thankful that you guys allow me to record it. that should be it now i will transcript and upload it ok thank you.

My Interview Video in two parts:

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA4rNmhab3s

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXaZKsPKrEk  

Final Project Outline

I will be willing to conduct a fourth interview of a student from Saudi Arabia. Instead of asking the same questions i will try to focus on the current situation. e.g like the violence and  the changing face of the country. What are the challenges the country is facing? and how are they dealing with it?

My interview will include:

1) Preparation for my interview

2) country report ( it will include that how saudi arabia face issuses before and how they solved it)

3) personal review

4) Transcript

sources:
Video:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704629104576190500046017940.html

Article:
http://wallstreetpit.com/65699-what-will-saudi-arabia-do

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/01/could-saudi-arabia-be-next/

Book:
culture smart ! saudi arabia by Nicholas Buchele
Publish Date: June 02, 2008

Score card

My top three Winners
1) Hussain, Asif http://en191ahmed.blogspot.com/

2) Nan, YingYing  http://nayien191s11.blogspot.com/

3) Louks, Kyle  http://kyleenglish191.blogspot.com/



https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?authkey=CNbT_poF&hl=en&key=tUlOfPB9OfZuFbvuK4Vx-Cw&hl=en&authkey=CNbT_poF&pli=1#gid=0

Third Interview

Process of Interview:                          
My interviewee was a 25 year old male, Mujtaba Mohammed from Saudi Arabia. as this was my third interview i was really well prepared. as my interviewee is a electrical engineering major ,so he had a very short time to do this kind of activities, but he really help me out. i invite him to my home on a evening tea and took his interview  which was really helpful and he was so happy. I already emailed him the question and it was really helpful for him because he got mentally prepered for it .

Personal Overview:It was easy for me to talk to Mujtaba . he was really friendly nature personality. Also he was very openminded and was giving me honest opinion. Although I lived in saudi arabia but was not really encountered the saudi culture and tradition. I not only conducted a good interview but also knowledge myself by asking these question.                              

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

Transcription:

Moiz: salam alikum, how are you? My name is Moiz Hashmi and i am from Pakistan

Mujtaba: Walikum salam , i am fine. and what about you.

Moiz: absolutly fine and thank you for asking.

Mujtaba: good and thank you for invinting me over.its been a while that i enjoyed a cup of tea.

Moiz: my pleasure , i can understand ,after all we have same major (Laugh)

Moiz: well tell me about your self, like which city you are from in saudi arabia.

Mujtaba: well I am from Dammam , Saudi Arabia.

Moiz: intresting to know that ,my first interviewee was from same city to, now let see how much you resesmble to him.

Mujtaba:wow that sounds funny.

Moiz: well lets not waste further time and get started

Mujtaba: sure i am ready and prepared thank you for sending me the questions.

Moiz:lets fine and you are most welcome.

Moiz: before starting the interview, I want your permission to record it.

Mujtaba: alrite i allowed you to record it.

Moiz: thank you so much, so first question. how will you think that it will be easy to find a job after college?

Mujtaba: well what can i say, it will be hard but not impossible, beacuse i am planing to go back home and work. the biggest challenged is that my country hired alot of good engineers every year ,mostly from Pakistan and india.so it will be a very hard for me to find a good job.

Moiz:yup,exactly right. second question, what was the culture shock you face in US?

Mujtaba: well i did feel alot becuase i already had my family and friends our here. so, i usually go outside with them. one thing really shocked me that our neighbour were American but i never seen them and never met them

Moiz:  yup, same thing i found with my other interviwees.

Moiz: moving on to our third question. Why did you decide to come to SCSU instead of studying or working in your own country?

Mujtaba: well, as i mentioned i have my family over here,so i decided after graduating from high school that i should earn my degree from an American university and also i do have a scholarship  from my goverment . so ,thats why i am attending saint cloud state univeristy.

Moiz: good nice to know that.

Moiz: so as your family is here you dont have to worry about cooking ,right but i wanted your opinion on American diet and why most Americans like it?

Mujtaba: yes, so far i didnt cooked by myself. well what can i say about there diet, i think due to busy schedule of both husband and wife they prefer to eat fast food. but not all familes does that.

Moiz: good to know thtat.

Moiz:  talking  about the climate as compared to here, how will you explain that?

Mujtaba: well, i like the snow first semester but not any more and the climate of my country is hot because mostly its desert so we usually get happy when it rain.

Moiz: good to know that. lets talk about the culture difference?

Mujtaba: We are considered as 100 % Islamic country so we have most of the traditions according to Islamic principles. to be honest i found people with same habits that my religion have. although these people are not muslims but still they have the qualities which a good muslim should have.

Moiz:  interesting to know

Moiz:alright tell me about your financial stuff. Who really takes care of that?

Mujtaba: well we own our own businessso, my grandfather and my father usually take care of our house finanicial  stuff.

Moiz: good nice to know that.

Moiz: well let’s carry on. So at what age do men and women spend private time and at what age do they consider marriage?

Mujtaba: usually we dont allow our women to get loved marriage. we usually arrange their marriages in out own relatives. so, that she dont miss her family. we strickly not allow man and woman to meet each other before gettting married.

Moiz: ahan. good to know that Saudis highly stick with Islamic rules and regulations.

Moiz: so tell me something about your personal experience with racism since coming to US?

Mujtaba: well, i never been a victem of racism, so i dont no about it.

Moiz: well, i think you are my first interviwee who said that.... and i liked it.

Moiz: what was your preconception about the US before coming here and how have they changed?

Mujtaba: I never thought of coming to USA, all i saw the America in movies and when i came over here i vistied every singel place i saw in movies such as disney land, new york city .

Moiz: what is the most important thing you miss in US?

Mujtaba: well i olny miss my  saudi friends i wish they all come here with me.

Moiz: how will you define freedom in America?

Mujtba: well, people have rights over here. like if you dislike some thing or you want to share your opinion than they always listen to you.

Moiz: how are the relationship between your country and US?

Mujtaba: not so bad , as we are considered the most powerful country leading middle east thats why we have a strong realtionship with USA.

Moiz: last but not the least question?

Moiz: so, tell me if you want one thing to be changed about this country what would you have change?

Mujtaba: well i dont want any thing to be chaged except the weather (laugh).

Moiz: well I really appreciate your time and effort. Really thankful to you for this.

Mujtaba: my pleasure.

Moiz: thank you so much. Best of luck with the finals

Mujtaba: o thank you yeah you too. Take care

Moiz: thanks I will.

Group Presentation

https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=dhrx6sqs_05vn6tcp&authkey=COro7MMJ

My top three winners

1) Klaphake, Christopher L (http://chrisklaphaken191s11.blogspot.com/)
2) He, Huiyu (http://huiyuhe.blogspot.com/)

3) Asif,hussain (http://huas0901.blogspot.com/)  and  ahmed asif iqbal (http://en191ahmed.blogspot.com/)

score card

https://spreadsheets1.google.com/ccc?authkey=CNbT_poF&hl=en&key=tUlOfPB9OfZuFbvuK4Vx-Cw&hl=en&authkey=CNbT_poF#gid=0