Friday, October 19, 2012

My first interview

Preparations:


    
In English 191 our Dr. Roland asked us to do three interviews and people who I am going to do with them my interview have to be from one country. So, I planned to do my first interview and I chose Oman country. One day when I was with some of my friends I asked them to find to me interviewees from Oman. At that time, one of my friends said that he has known a person from that country. After that, I took that person info and I contacted with him to do this interview.  When I called him to this interview, He accepted to do with me.


Execution:
 In Friday 10/19/2012 I did the first interview with Salah from Oman country. At 4:30 PM I met with my interviewee in the library of Saint Cloud State University. Before we began our interview I asked him If he did not to record our interview and he said he did not mind to record it.  Then we took a room in the third floor of the library. We talked a little bit before we began the interview recording.


Observations:

As I got from my interview Oman has  old relation with United States, even before Saudi Arabia. Before this interview I thought Saudi Arabia has old relation then
other Asian countries. So, this info surprised me when I heard it.

Interview Transcription:     
I am going to summarize a report that describes what happended between me amd my interviewee Salah. So, the description will be in the following.

      First of all I asked him to tell me about himself, so, he said that “My name is Salah from Oman. I had wonderful childhood and I was quiet person as what my parents said to me. I graduated from high school and moved to the college to study my Bachelor degree of English language as second language. After four years I graduated And I decided  to complete my master. So, currently, I am doing my master degree".

   As he said while we were talking about his plan in the future, Salah has planned to back to his country after his graduate. He gave me several reasons that support his plan to back to his country and getting a job there such as he would like to be close to his parents when they need him to help. Then, I took another way to question about why he chose St. Cloud University to study. So he said that “I heard about this university from some people and I did research in the internet to get some info that is why I chose it to his study". We talked about the differences in the educational systems between Oman and North America and he gave me some differences for example; in Oman There are public school, elementary, and preparatory secondary school and in the North America thereare primary school, middle, and high school. He said that “However, for post-school; colleges and universities, in Oman, before you start college, you know what you will be studying. In America, it is different, first you talk general,then, you decide what you want to study".
1)
  I got some information about Oman when I asked Salah to talk to e about his country. He told that “Officially, my country called "The Sultanate of Oman". Indeed, it is  an Arab state in southwest on the Northeast coast of the Arabian peninsula, and it is bordered by Emirates to the North, Saudi Arabia to the West and Yemen to the South. The title of Oman ruler is “Sultan Oman" his name is Qaboas bin Said Albusaidi and his family has been ruling Oman for hundred years. The capital of Oman is Muscat". He also talked about Oman income and said that " the main reason of income Oman is Oil followed by tourism and industry.

 We talked about the marriage in Oman, so he talked about that in a few minuts. Salah told that the traditional way of getting married is very interesting to him.  First, he said “Man who wants to get married is supposed to be willing to face the marriage life and is ready financially. If a man had a girl in his mind, he would go to his family and talks to them he wants to propose to a girl. His family makes an appointment with a girl's family to ask for the hard of their girl. Then, the families meet and they get to know the man who is getting married. After that, he said the girl will be asked whether she or she accepts propose. If she accepts, the two families schedule a day, usually Thursday to sign the marriage contract. After sometimes, wedding is held and the group’s family makes a big feast for relatives. Then, the man goes to the girl's home and takes his wife with his father, mother, sisters and his brothers.

 On the other hand, we talked about Oman activities, so, he talked about sport and he said there are several activities such as playing soccer, football, and swimming. After that he talked about volunteering for example; cleaning valleys, beach’s helping poor people. However, we talked a little bit about Oman holidays; so, Salah said they have three kinds of holidays which are National Day, two religions Aids, and Prophet Mohammed Birthday. 
   After several majors subjects we had talked about, I decided to ask him about miner subject and I said that “what is your traditional food?"  He said that “My traditional food is something called Third" Salah describe that food for me and told that "it is mix of bread, veg, and chicken or lamb and cooked in a think gravy.

      I tried to ask him about the political system in Oman structured but I did not get specific answer on this question. I think he did not understand my question or he did not have any idea about that what whatever he talked far away about ma
ny question and I did not interrupt him to say I do not want this answer. Likewise, we talked about major religions in Oman, so he said that “Oman 100% Muslim countries but there are some people non Muslim who come to Oman to work from others countries".

       When we began talk about offensive in Oman and he said the offensive things for instance; dirty words, not respecting parents, and misbehaving in any ways. In contrast, we talked about the differences between Oman culture and United States culture. So, he just said that " Oman is a collection society, where as America has individual one"
  
     Before we end the interview I asked him if there is anything he would like to add before we end. Salah mentioned that the United States of America has ancient relationship with the State of Oman and this relationship be more than 40 years, the first Arab country had formed a relationship with America. finally, I asked him if there is any question for me I have had  pleasure of asking you about so many things but he told me thank you I did not have any question, so I told him that " It is nice to talk to you Salah And thank you very much for your patience to answer my questions".


Describe the interview:
Location: Library, SCSU 10/20/2012
 Interviewees:
1: Sultan AL, 2: Salah A

1: Hey, how have you been? 

 2: I'm ok, what about you man?


1: I'm good.

1: what you think about our place it's quiet, isn't?

2: yes, it's. I think it's because today is friday and no more students in the library.

1: yah I think so, what do you think could we record our conversation? Do you feel comfortable with t
hat?

2: sure, we can do it, and I thank its better for you to listen again, today for free bau tomorrow will be by money hhhhh.

1: hhhhh yes evrything free of course awesome, So, we wanna start and this your copy of our i
nterview question, feel free to choose what you wanna talk about.

2:Yah, I think some of these questions kind of general and we can cover all of these.

1: i'm realy so excited to began our interview and I am realy lucky man because you are my interviwee.

2: Oh thank you, as I heard from some people saudian people like my country because it has natural.

1: Unfortunately, I'm one of these people hhhhh.

2:hhhhh .

1: Ok lets started, May you tell me about your self, please?

2: Sure, my name is Salah A from Oman, would  like me to talk about my childhood?

1:  it'll be awesome, just  keep going.

2: As what my parents said to me, I had wounderful childhood, the said I were a quiet boy but I used to ask many question about anything around.

1: I see, as what my father said to me but I wan't quiet when I were a little boy hhhh 

1: So what about your studying? 

2:I graduated from high school and moved to the college to study my Bachelor degree of English language as second language. After four years I graduated And I decided  to complete my master. So, currently, I am doing my master degree".

1: So, Um, what will be your plane after your graduate?

2: there is no doubt I will go back to my country.

2: how about you?

 1: me too I'll back but I wonder of some students from different countries prefer to stay 
here after their graduate  to get job in the U.S. 

2: It depends on who you are and where you are from. 

1:I totally agree with you.

1: Then, do you have reasons that force to go back to Oman?

2: yes I have several reasons for that, such as staying close to my parents even not in the same city but still in Oman, also, here United States culture is different than my country or my family's culture.

1: do you know in my perspective it's difficult for me to live here in America the reason that is I'm from  bedouin people how used to life in the desert. this kind of people are close each other as one community. So we have diversity life. even though, we still have this community and we do not accept every thing quikly as other people.

1: I heard of my friend Faize you are newly married, aren't you?

2:hhhh yah I got married three months ago. Indeed, As what I hear it's samilar to your country culture and marriage what is Saudi Arabia. UM, the traditional way of getting married is very interesting to me.  First,“Man who wants to get married is supposed to be willing to face the marriage life and is ready financially. If a man had a girl in his mind, he would go to his family and talks to them he wants to propose to a girl. His family makes an appointment with a girl's family to ask for the hard of their girl. Then, the families meet and they get to know the man who is getting married. After that,the girl will be asked whether she or she accepts propose. If she accepts, the two families schedule a day, usually Thursday to sign the marriage contract. After sometimes, wedding is held and the group’s family makes a big feast for relatives. Then, the man goes to the girl's home and takes his wife with his father, mother, sisters and his brothers. 

1: I see. You are right, your country marriage style is similar to my own country. 

1:Um.ok. So, Could you tell me about Oman some info?

2: sure. If I amgoing to talk aboult Oman, I would have one month to finish that hhhhh.

1: hhhhh It formula exaggeration but are ways of patriotism'Does not it?  
2: Yes kind ok that hhhhh, Um. So, Officially, my country called "The Sultanate of Oman". Indeed, it is  an Arab state in southwest on the Northeast coast of the Arabian peninsula, and it is bordered by Emirates to the North, Saudi Arabia to the West and Yemen to the South. The title of Oman ruler is “Sultan Oman" his name is Qaboas bin Said Albusaidi and his family has been ruling Oman for hundred years. The capital of Oman is Muscat". He also talked about Oman income. the main reason of income Oman is Oil followed by tourism and industry
1:The most important that Saudi Arabia has borders with Oman.
2: hhhhh yah. 
2: here one question asks about why I chose SCSC for my Master degree. Actually,I heard about this university from some people and I did research in the internet to get some info that is why I chose it to my study.
1: Oh nice.
1: So, what are differences in the educational systems between Oman and North America?
2:in Oman There are public school, elementary, and preparatory secondary school and in 
the North America thereare primary school, middle, and high school.
1:In your openion, who is the best?
2: of course US and then Oman.
1:So, why do you say that ? 
2: Yah, lets take a look over universities systems in Oman and United States you see the difference between them: for post-school; colleges and universities, in Oman, before you start college, you know what you will be studying. In America, it is different, first you talk general,then, you decide what you want to study.
1; Of couse we have like that as what you said about Oman education systems in Saudia Arabia.
1: So, If I had children, what kind of activities my kids would find in your country?
2: There are many kinds such as sport; there are several activities, playing soccer, football, and swimming. Also, volunteering for example; cleaning valleys, beach’s helping poor people.
1: Oh, nice one is soccer because I'm fan of than. Um. Yah. Salah how many holiday do you have in Oman?
2: Actually, in Oman we have four kinds of holidays which are National Day, two religions Aids, and Prophet Mohammed Birthday. 
2: what about your country, how many holiday do you have?
1: In Saudi Arabia we have two religions Aids that is all.
1: Yah, I think you know how to cook, am I right?
2: Not as well as you hhhhh.
1; Now way, you are the best trust me. I tasted some food you cooked a few months ago.
2: I did not say I am not good cooker but I have eaten with you sometimes and your cooking very delicious. I know how to cook some but not too much.
1: So, coud you tell me what is your traditional food?
2: My traditional food is something called "Third". It mixes of bread, veg, and chicken or lamb and cooked in a think gravy.
1: really?!!!
2: Yah, whay?!!
1: this food also traditional food in my area I mean north of Saudi Arabia.
2: Awesome. So, you have to cook that for us sometimes when you have free time Sultan. 
1: hhhhh hay, you are marriage right now and you have your wife, it means you have to cook for me and some of my friends, we are still single people, and if I had wife as you, I would cook that for you daily man. 
2:hhhhh. Ok. I cook that for you once monthly but not daily hhhh.
1: Wooow it's good plan man. I am just kidding Salah do not trust me when I ask like that hhhh. I have ability to do it daily.
2: No man we wanna share that sometimes by a woman hands.
1: hhhhh Ok.
1:Yea, So, What’s considered offensive in Oman?
2:the offensive things for instance; dirty words, not respecting parents, and misbehaving in any ways. 
1: I see, I think it depends on a person behavior.
2: Exactly.
1: Yeah, I forgot some thing I was intereseted asking about. Coud you talk to me a little bit about city of Salalah?
2: sure. It is natural place in my country and many people come from different countries to this city. Um. Yah its like 150 km from my own city. So, I if you visite me, we will go there and you will back to it yearly.
1: I am really excited to go there because some of my brothers and cousins have gone there a few times and to show me who it is a wounderful city that why I am very excited to go there.
1: So, is there anything would you like to add before we end?
2: Yeah , I would like to mention that the United States of America has ancient 
relationship with the State of Oman and this relationship be more than 40 years, the first Arab country had formed a relationship with America.
1: really, I thought it is my country.
2: no Oman first one.
1: if there is any question for me I have had  pleasure of asking you about so many things.
2: thank you very much Sultan
1: ok thank you Salah for giving me these answering on my question and we will meet soon in my apt when you have free time to share cooking "Third"
2: hhhhh ok we will see man.
Work cited:
1) http://women.bo7.net/girls261116
2) http://www.holidays4arab.com/vb/r2704.html
3) http://www.themorningcafe.com/vb/t549.html
4) http://www.3mri-qtr.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7249
 

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