Monday, March 26, 2012

Interview with Meme

Interview Preparations

I interviewed Mohamed for my first class interview, and decided it would be interesting to interview another person from Guinea since I know a few. Mohamed grew up in a rich family, and so his interview really showed that side of the country. I knew my friend Meme was not well off when his family lived in Guinea and therefore I was interested to see how he saw the country. I texted him on March 23rd and asked him if he would be willing to help me out with this assignment. He promptly texted back and assured me that he would love to help out in any way that he could. I told him that my schedule was pretty open and that he could pick a day that worked best for him. He told me that he would have time the upcoming Monday and so therefore we decided that Monday the 26th at 2:00 p.m. would be a good time for the interview. Monday morning I texted Meme and asked him if he was still willing to do the interview at two and he said that he could, and that I could just meet him at his apartment. I arrived shortly before 2:00, greeted him, and we started the interview. We conducted the interview on his living room couch, and I set my camera up on the coffee table to record it. 

Interview Report

I am once again pleased to say that the interview with Meme went very well. He was incredibly willing to answer all of the questions I had, and went the extra mile to add a bunch of details. All of the goals I had for the interview were all surpassed. The interview ran very smoothly. I have known Meme for a few months, and so that helped us both to be very comfortable with one another. Both interview volunteers were from Guinea, just different regions. I was shocked at the difference between the two interviews hearing from each side of the economic scale! Meme's family came here looking for a better opportunity than what they left back home. His description of what the poor population goes through was much different from what I heard in my first interview. I was also extremely pleased on some of the answers he had to the last two questions. He pointed out that the American media puts a bad stigma on Africa; one that is false and that needs to be turned around. The interview transcription explains a little more in detail, but it was interesting because this was something I had never thought of and completely agree with! Also, he noted that international students are very intimidated when they get here. I think his idea of getting translators or student volunteers to help translate the college policy to them when they get here is incredibly smart. I have often heard other international students claiming that they did not receive the help they needed when they got here, and I think this could help. With that, I would acclaim this to be another successful interview!


Country Report




Haute-Guinae is a country located in West Africa, and is one of the four major regions of Guinea and covers 38%. The climate is generally hot and humid, with a pretty flat terrain. French is the official language of the country; however, not the only language spoken. Five years ago the country reformed to hold a better democracy than what was in standing, and is now following a system set up much like the United States. The country of Guinea itself has over half of the world's bauxite reserves. 

The main mode of transportation in this country varies by economic status. Most people who are financially more secure use automobiles; however, taxis and buses serve those who do not have the income to buy a car. Islam is the main religious of the country; 85% of the country is Muslim. The democracy that has taken over is working to better the lives of all of the citizens. Since they have taken over, more villages have running water and electricity; and more importantly, more children are receiving an education. However, still only about 40% of the children are educated and the country has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. 

Sources


https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gv.html#top



http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/sub-saharan-africa/guinea/

http://www.sos-ro.org/content/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57&Itemid=61&lang=en

Interview Transcription

K = Kelsey
M = Meme

K: First off Meme I would just like to thank you again for your time.  I would like to start by asking you your name and where you are from.

M: Ah ok, y name is Meme, and I am from Guinea. It is a country in Africa.

K: Alright Meme, so how long have you been in America?

M: Almost 5 years.

K: What brought you here?

M: Um because my parents wanted to start a business here for better opportunities.

K: I know that Guinea is broken into four parts.

M: Yup

K: Which part are you from?

M: Haute Guinea

K: What language do you speak?

M: I speak five different languages there.

K: Ok, what is your main language?

M: French

K: Can you tell me what the typical greetings are in your culture and what they mean? For instance when you say hello to somebody.

M: People always shake hands, but in my section of Guinea people are also really open to hugs. Like the French way, most guys even give a half hug with a kiss. In America they might seem homosexual, but in Guinea it is just the norm. Hugging is very accepted.

K: Ok, cool. Can you describe a typical day for a child in school, like how they go about their day?

M: Well it is real different, ya know. It is not like here in America were everybody goes to school. The population is divided a lot. When you don’t have money chances are you won’t go to school. They don’t live the same life.

K: So there is a large economic gap?

M: Yeah, that is what it is.

K: So the people that don’t go to school, the poor, do they start going to work at a really young age?

M: Yeah

K: How early?

M: Some like 10, 11, or 12.

K: What kind of work?

M: Like selling food for their parents, helping their parents with whatever they do to make money. However, like the children that do go to school eat 3 or 4 times a day like you guys do here; have a nice life with a nice house.

K: Another question about that. I know in some places in Africa the poorer regions have to walk to get their water. Is there running water in the poor parts of the country?

M: The poor populations in the small villages are still doing that; they have to walk a long distance to get water because the place where they live isn’t important to the government. Those places have a lot of disease, famine, and hunger.

K: So the typical day for a poor child would be work to help the family survive, and for a child that is better off would go to school to get an education?

M: Yes, but the poor children can get an education too because it is free there.

K: Oh ok, but it just isn’t as typical?

M: Right because they are more focused on working than going to school. They have to eat first.

K: Would you say a majority of the population is educated or uneducated?

M: The majority is uneducated

K: Uneducated, ok. What kind of government is in charge of the country?

M: Up until five years ago there was a president who acted like acted like a king. He was there for 20 years, and then passed away. But the new president instilled a democracy. So now there is a democracy and now everyone is starting to become equals between each other. The economy starting to become better, and so more people are starting to get an education. Like those kids that I was talking about, five years ago didn’t have as good of a chance as they have now to get an education. They started to change; more villages now have electricity and running water. Things started getting better.

K: So when you came to America you didn’t see a big difference between the government in your country and what we have here?

M: Five years ago the government was bad, they weren’t doing any good. They were just there to take money away from people for themselves. And it wasn’t always the government but just somebody in power. However, the military would protect him and that is why he was like a king. The government that is running now is very similar to what I see in the U.S.

K: I know that Guinea is pretty religious.

M: Mhmm

K: Does religion play any role in the government of the country?

M: Really 85% of the population is Muslim. Fifteen percent are Christian. However, the way the government acts I can’t really say that they really care about religion. I can’t really explain you would have to be there.

K: Ok, so then you don’t think that they incorporate religion at all?

M: Nah, Nah. Not really

K: What is the main mode of transportation in the country?

M: Taxis are number one in Guinea. Almost everybody travels in a taxi, but now there are also a lot of buses. Because when the new government came into control they bought a lot of buses for the people.

K: Not a lot of people own their own cars?

M: Oh yea, people have cars. But it isn’t like here where every family has at least one. A lot of poor families do not own automobiles.

K: For the children that do go to school, what age do they start?

M: They can start at 3 years old, and do the preschool thing.
K: And like here, after we graduate society puts a lot of pressure on youth to go to college. Do you see a lot of that same pressure on youth in Guinea?

M: Yeah, like I said already. Five years ago Guinea was not a good country, but now they government in control shows younger people that if you go to college you can get a better job with more money. More than those that stay home and do nothing. And like after I graduate here, I’m going to go back to Guinea because I know that I can make a lot of money there. And the people their don’t pay a lot of taxes, so the living style is much cheaper and you can save a lot more money.

K: Ok, so is it kind of like the change into a better democracy also helped instill that societal pressure on youth?

M: Yeah, exactly.

K: Um, what religious holidays or cultural events does Guinea celebrate?

M: We celebrate both Muslim and Christian holidays. We do Christmas and such like you all do here. But we also have Muslim holidays like Ramadan.

K: Can you tell me what your traditions are for Ramadan?

M: My tradition is to wear my traditional clothes from Guinea. Everyone has these traditional clothes. Then we make a sacrifice like a cow for the Muslim religion.

K: Does everyone sacrifice a cow, or is it like per family?

M: Ah, it depends on your financial status. When you get a little older and can afford it sometimes everyone does. But if you don’t have a lot of money, then some people can’t do it. So most people that do it have some money and can afford it. When that happens every family gets together, sacrifices the cow, and then they eat together much like holidays here.

K: Do you have any daily rituals in regards to your religious beliefs?

M: Yeah, I pray five times a day.

K: At what times, does it matter?

M: The times change, there aren’t any fixed times.

K: Ok, what are the famous sports in your country?

M: The big one is soccer; everyone plays soccer.

K: Soccer; ok. What countries foods do you like most?

M: Which countries food?

K: Yeah, from any country that you have been to.

M: I think French, yeah. French they have amazing food over there.

K: Interesting. Do you like that there are big differences between the food we have here in America and what you have in your country?

M: Oh yeah, a real big difference!

K: Like what have you noticed?

M: Well, most American food you can say is like fast food. And I think those foods are unhealthy for you. And in my country the people take the time to cook for themselves, they don’t worry about going out to a restaurant a lot.

K: What is the main dish?

M: Rice; rice is used in almost every meal.

K: Can you tell me a secret about yourself that very few people here know, and that shows us who you are, and what you stand for?

M: Ok, now that is an interesting question.

K: It doesn’t have to be a big secret, but something about you that shows what you are about.

M: Myself I guess I mean a lot of things. I think the thing that bothers me most though is that when people talk about Africa they don’t show the good side. Everything is the bad side. For say a player from the NBA is from Africa they won’t say he’s from Africa they’ll say Congo. But when they talk about famine and people dying they say Africa. It is not like every country in Africa has hunger, and fights where people die everyday. Africa is a big countinent.

K: Right

M: Each state has their own democracy, beliefs, and traditions; they are all different.

K: So would you say the thing that stands out about you is that you want to fight that Stigma against Africa?

M: Yeah, I do want to fight it. I don’t think people should be afraid to visit Africa.

K: Why do you think people are so afraid?

M: Because everyone thinks that if you go there you will catch a disease like Aids or die in an attack and it’s not like that. American media is making people scared, because they don’t tell the full truth about the whole country. Like I said, they only say the bad things. I hate this! So I would like people to know better, and do their own research about it.

K: Ok very interesting! Then I just have one final question for you. What can SCSU do to make your stay on campus better?

M: Ah, that is a good question. First of all, the advising people that help you sign up for different classes. Because, some most international students that come here are the first in their family to get college experience. Ya know, like it is a way different thing for us. So when they come over the person who is supposed to help them often intimidates them. Choosing classes is really difficult.

K: So you think the advisors helping you with classes intimidate international students?

M: Sometimes, yeah.

K: Have you heard this from other international students?

M: Yeah, sometimes.

K: Do you get the feeling that they care less about international students?

M: I don’t mean that they care less; it is just that some students don’t know how to deal with them.

K: Oh ok, so do you think different advisors should take classes in cultural studies to introduce them to the different styles of some of the students studying here?

M:  Yeah, so that way they could be on the same level of the student.

K: That seems like a very interesting point!

M: I mean I really only say this because my freshman year when I came here, I didn’t really understand English. I was really bad at the language. And my advisor had a lot of students so she didn’t really have a lot of time to work with me.  So she picked some classes for me that I didn’t care at all about, or was interested in. And I didn’t know that you could drop classes. So that year was really bad for me.

K: Are there translators here that can help international students when they first arrive?

M: No, there are no translators. So half of the things she was saying, I didn’t get.

K: You didn’t get it? So maybe even just to get some translators to help people who are just getting here.

M: That’s what it is. They should give them the chance to first write down they want. Like which type of classes they want to take, or what they are good at. And then have a translator help them out, so they could feel more comfortable. Or maybe even student mentors.

K: That is a really good idea. With that then, we conclude our interview. Thank you again Meme for agreeing to meet with me this afternoon. You had a lot of really interesting facts to share, I really appreciate your time!

M: Absolutely, Kelsey. Anytime!


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