My third interview

                             Interview preparations

      Since this is my third interview, I spent more time than previous two interviews. For last two interview reports, I interviewed a Korea guy and a Germany guy who did very better job with me together. Anyway, I started my third interview on last Friday night and I found a Saudi Arabia guy who is a regular student over here. I made an appointment with him on last Wednesday and I told some details about my assignment to him, he agreed my request directly. We agreed to do an interview on Friday night in the Atwood at Coffee Shop. Before interview, I listed about 12 questions I picked from the blog and we started interview on 7 pm.

                                 Interview Report

       The third interview went very well. For the third interview, I interviewed a Saudi Arabia guy who is a regular student over here and he is also my friend’s classmate when they studied in IEC.

We mainly about Saudi Arabia and also compare it to China. With the beginning of interview, both of us introduce ourselves because this is the first time to meet together. Through the third interview, I learned a lot about Saudi Arabia in economy, government, life and family.

                               How did you approach people?

       Before I submitted the second interview, I had conducted with my friend who helps me to find a Saudi Arabia guy because the guy was his classmate when they studied in IEC. Basically, I called him for request because it was my first time to meet him. After several days, we meet in the Atwood at the Atwood, I simply introduced my assignment to him.

                  When, Where, and How did you Conduct the Interview?

       To do the third interview with Hamad, we set up a time to meet in the Atwood. We meet on the Friday, November 9. Since this is the first time to meet him, we introduced ourselves firstly.

                            Whom did you Interview?

I interviewed Hamad. He is a regular student here at SCSU.

                               Country Report

       Saudi Arabia, officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest Arab state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab world (after Algeria). It is bordered by Jordan and Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar,Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south. [1]

       Saudi Arabia's command economy is petroleum-based; roughly 75% of budget revenues and 90% of export earnings come from the oil industry. The oil industry comprises about 45% of Saudi Arabia's nominal gross domestic product, compared with 40% from the private sector (see below). Saudi Arabia officially has about 260 billion barrels (4.1×1010 m3) of oil reserves, comprising about one-fifth of the world's proven total petroleum reserves.[2]

       There are about 25 million people who are Muslim, or 97% of the total population. Data for Saudi Arabia comes primarily from general population surveys, which are less reliable than censuses or large-scale demographic and health surveys for estimating minority-majority ratios. About 85–90% of Saudis are Sunni, while Shias represent around 10–15% of the Muslim population.

       Football (soccer) is the national sport in Saudi Arabia. Scuba diving, windsurfing, sailing and basketball are also popular, played by both men and women, with the Saudi Arabian national basketball team winning bronze at the 1999 Asian Championship.[3]

Transcript:

Y: Me

H: Hamad

Y: Hi, man. What’s up?

H: I am pretty good. How are you?

Y: I am good.

H: It is rainy outside, I do not like.

Y: Yeah, me too. I also dislike rainy days that would be inconvenient all the time because I do not keep a car.

H: Anyway, I bought a car last year so I do not care about the weather, but it is so bad when I go out of car.

Y: That is right. So, let we begin the third interview and firstly I need to tell you what my assignment is. Basically, that is my big project, which includes three interviews by interview three different people who come from other countries expect your home country and then do a report. For today, that is my third interview and I had listed 12 questions for you. Do you have any questions before we begin?

H: That is easy. Go ahead.

Y: Let us start the interview. Are you ready?

H: I am ready.

Y: Could you tell me about yourself? (your name, home country)

H: Ok. I am Hamad and I come from Sharqia in Saudi Arabia. I came to St. Cloud State University since last August. At the beginning of my first semester, I studied in IEC of level 1 with GU, I moved to regular university class this semester after 1year. Basically, I like my home country because it provide me full scholarship to study abroad and it also give me 2000 dollars per month for living fees. I think Saudi Arabia is a most country in the Middle East and world because Saudi Arabia exports oil to all over the world, roughly 75% of budget revenues and 90% of export earnings come from the oil industry.

Y: Yeah, I think so. Saudi Arabia is a very important country in the world because of oil, all the vehicles needs gas. China is also import oil from Saudi Arabia.

Y: What are you planning to do after school?

H: After school, I often play soccer in the filed with my friends. Through playing soccer, I made lots of friends. Also, I listen music in my room, I think music can relieve my pressure.

Y: Oh, that is nice. It is a pretty good life in the campus.

Y: Why did you choose to study at St. Cloud University?

H: In the Saudi Arabia, most of friends choose to study abroad in the United States, and most of them study in St. Cloud State University so I came here with them together.

Y: It is same to me. When I studied language program in Nanjing Normal University, my friends who used studied in same university with me told me St. Cloud State University was a good place to go and tuitions fees was cheap than other universities. Do you like here?

H: Sure. I like everything around me such as snow, education system and friends. I think many of US students are friendly to me and they often greet me with “what is up” etc. In the Saudi Arabia, weather is like hot and it never rainy, so water in Saudi Arabia is more important than oil.

Y: What is the difference in educational systems between your country and North America?

H: In the Saudi Arabia, all the students study at all levels is free. The school system is composed of elementary, intermediate, and secondary schools. Compared to the United States, students should pay tuitions fees by themselves, some of them can apply scholarship about thousands dollars. After school, they should do a job and it is a common phenomenon. In the Saudi Arabia, most of curriculums are related to Islam. Students study in the Secondary level should follow either a religious or a technical track. Back to the US, students are free to choose any major in the university if they want, they do not have to choose major depends on their region believes.

Y: Would you like to tell me about your country?

H: Saudi Arabia is a kingdom that known as Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Abdullah is the King of Saudi Arabia, his family had controlled Saudi Arabia for over 100 years. Mecca is a city in the Saudi Arabia. Mecca is the birthplace of Muhammad, so most of Muslims visit Mecca annually. Saudi Arabia is a most country in the Middle East and world because Saudi Arabia exports oil to all over the world, roughly 75% of budget revenues and 90% of export earnings come from the oil industry.

Y: Could you tell me about your country’s traditional process regarding marriage?

H: In the Saudi Arabia, if the girl's family has no objection to the man's proposal, he may have a look at her. Men in Saudi Arabia can marriage with 4 women at most and that is our culture. I think marriage in Saudi Arabia is different from other countries.

Y: In china, we can only marriage with one girl.

Y: Can you tell me about activities that young people like to do in your country?

H: In the Saudi Arabia, young people enjoy their activities depends on their location, gender and viewpoint of family. There are horseback riding, golfing, sports activities, swimming, dancing lessons, art classes and bowling in the Saudi Arabia. For example, facilities in both Riyadh and Jeddah where teens can enjoy horseback riding. There are numerous sporting opportunities for the male Saudi teenager with soccer as the most popular.

Y: What are major holidays in your country?

H: The Feast of the End of Ramadan and The Feast of the End of Hajj are main public holiday in my country, both of holidays related to Muslim.

Y: What is your traditional food?

H: Saudi Arabian cuisine is similar to that of the surrounding Arab countries, and has been heavily influenced by Turkish, Persian, and African food. Eating pork is illegal in our country because of Islamic dietary laws. The traditional national dish known as khūzī that made by stuffed lamb.  Kebabs are also popular, which made by a marinated grilled meat dish of lamb, mutton, or chicken.

Y: How is the political system of your country structured?

H: Saudi Arabia is a kingdom that known as Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The royal family dominates the political system, most of people in royal family control most of the kingdom’s important apartments. Legislative, executive, and judicial functions] and royal decrees are controlled by king.

Y: What are your country’s major religions?

H: In Saudi Arabia, nearly every one is Muslim.

Y: What’s considered offensive in your country?

H: In Saudi Arabia, people commonly want to get more fair opportunities than before. Unemployment and religious extremism are main social issues.

Y: Ok. I already have done the assignment. Thank you for your help. Have a good day.

H: You are welcome.

Reference:

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia, November 12, 2012.

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia, November 12, 2012.

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia, November 12, 2012.