Berekti Girmay
English 191
Interview Transcription
Me: I want to start my interview by saying thank you for coming. What is your name?
Alfereda: Alfereda Manly
Me: can you tell me where you from?
Alfereda: Liberia, Monrovia
Me: How old where you when you graduate high school?
Alfereda: Seventeen
Me: Please describe the education system of your country.
Alfereda: Like in USA education system, we attend elementary, high school and university. Currently higher education in Liberia is decentralized. The main higher education institutions in Liberia are the University of Liberia and Cuttington University.
Me: How has your culture influenced your people/family values?
Alfereda: The family represents the most basic social institutions in Liberia. The family has the final say in family matters. Although women may have greater influence in some family matters, particularly regarding the disciplining of children, especially female children.
Me:Who influenced you to choose United States school?
Alfereda: Actually, it was my idea but my dad was the one who support my decision. I am emotional now because I did not get to see him for more than seven years because of my status….it’s kind of private.
Me:After coming to USA,What culture changes you found that amazes you?
Alfereda: One of the things that I found interesting, how people take things in different perspectives.like,one time, I saw this old lady struggling to carry her grocery to her car, and her passenger door was open. I want to get to my car but it won’t let me to get to my car ,so when I try to close the door for her, she start screaming at me like I stole her grocery’s. I felt so shocked and try to explain to her, but she was so guarded even to hear what I have to say. I really do not forget that day .The crazy thing is, it was snowing so hard, imagine on that cold to stand and argue. In my country its showing respect if you see old person and try to help, in here I found it amazing that the lady think that I’m trying to take her stuff.
Me: What is the form of government in your country?
Aleferda: Liberia has an independent, sovereign state with a republican form of government
Me: Tell me one thing, which makes you proud of your country?
Alereda: That Liberia never been colonized by any country. Is it true? That I heard Ethiopia also never been colonized?
Me: Oh yea, Ethopia and Liberia are the only Africa countries that never been colonized
Alfereda: Oh,we have one thing in common so far
Me: What places /sites would you recommend to tourists?
Alfereda: If its relaxation you want, head to Roberts port best known for its untouched beaches also 150 km south east of Monrovia is Buchanan, Liberia’s second major port. All South of town are the beaches that are worth a visit.
Me: What festivals do you celebrate in your country?
Alfereda: The three major festivities in Liberia are Christmas, New Year, and Independence Day, which is on July 26. These holidays, introduced by the African American founders of the country, we celebrated as national holidays throughout Liberia.
Me: What is the weather like in your hometown?
Alfereda: Liberia has a humid, tropical climate with like two primary seasons. The dry season, that runs from November to March, and the rainy season, which runs from April to October.
Me: What is a type of sport in your country?
Alfereda: Soccer is the biggest sport in my country
Me: What is a traditional food in your country?
Alfereda: Dumboy and Foo-foo made from cassava and served with Palm Butter.
Me: What do most women do after they get married in your country? (House wife, working?)
Alfereda: If they did not had a job before they got married, they will be housewives but if they were working before because their married it will not stop them.
Me: Thank you for your time. I really appreciate it.
After the recording we bond more and she start telling me about her first job she got first came to USA, That she would not change it for anything, because her job has a big influence where she at right now. However, she sometimes is not happy with her employment conditions because she cannot always fully express herself. Occasionally, she gets bored when she had to do monotonous work. She usually works from 7.00 pm to 4.00 am. She sometimes works long hours and feels under pressure. However, she gets a good salary and rewards from her employer.Alfereda trained to be in higher position than she was before and her employer always provides professional development opportunities for her.
Preparation for the interview
Before I did my interview, I took more time to prepare for it. I want to go out of friend zone so I got chance to meet new person which is not my friend. The only information I had was about the country, which is about Liberia. I was walking around atwood, because I know that day 5:00 pm was Liberian student association meeting day. I waited until the meeting was over and I walked to the girl who was sitting and texting .I called her and explained what my interview ideas then we agreed to meet the next day. I wanted to make sure all is very clear and there are enough details so the person I am asking will know exactly what I am talking. I needed to think of the questions to ask an international student. I am an international student too. I gave her the questions of interview a day before the actual interview, because I wanted her to know what kind of questions there were, and to make sure, if she will be comfortable with it before we start the recording process. She was shy at the beginning so we have to take a break so I made her Ethiopian tea for warm up. Once I know we were good to start the interview, I hold my notebook to write down as much words I can to catch up with her. On the interview, I printed off two copies of my questions, I gave her one wondering if she lost the one she had before and I kept one myself.
Describe the interview
I was impressed she had to relax, and keeps the interview flowing. It was a best experience for both of us because I am also an international student, which has almost the same background. In this interview, I was surprised about how she stays strong living in USA, which is very difficult for a teenager to came all the way here by herself. The way of calmness she uses with her words, I was very surprise about her down to earth personality and she kept her privacy to herself. The interview was about 15 minutes. The interview went very well as if I hoped it to be. She was happy to answer all of my questions, and she enjoyed talking about all my questions I offered her. I learned more things about Liberia culture, food, festival, and more. Finally, I get to consider her as one of my friends.
Liberia Country Report
Liberia is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea Republic and Côte d’Ivoire and the Atlantic Ocean. “As of the 2008 Census, the West African country is home to 3,476,608 people. It occupies 111,369 sq km.Liberia is Africa’s oldest republic but also one of its poorest nations. It is struggling to get back on its feet after almost 14-years of civil war, which led to the deaths of 250,000 people. The capital city is Monrovia.”(2)
Liberia has a hot climate with most rainfall coming in the summer, winds in the dry season with little variation in temperature. Dry wind blows from December to March, making the coastal belt particularly and the other wet season comes between May and October.
“Africa's first republic, Liberia was founded in 1822 because of the efforts of the American Colonization Society to settle freed American slaves in West Africa”(1). A private organization that believed ex-slaves would have greater freedom and equality in Africa. Even though, emigration of blacks to Africa was an answer to the problem of slavery and the incompatibility of the races Slaves freed from slave ships were also sent there instead of being repatriated to their countries of origin. “Over the course of forty years, about 12,000 slaves were voluntarily relocated. Originally called Monrovia, the colony became the Free and Independent Republic of Liberia in 1847.”(1)
“The English speaking Americo-Liberians, descendants of former American slaves, make up only 5% of the population, but have historically dominated the intellectual and ruling class.”(1) Liberia's population is composed of 16 different ethnic groups and its government of Africa's first republic was sculptural after that of the United States.
Work cited
1-Liberia:History,Geograghy,Government,andCulture http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107718.himl#ixzzlbqUWfDgD
2-Liberia:U.S. State Dept.Country Notes,Liberia:Information Please:
http://www.infoplease.com/country/profiles/liberia.html