In this interview reflection paper, I will provide a summary of the result from the interview, which involves a Thailand international college student pursuing computer engineering. I will also analyze the results of the interview while relating it to understanding communication as social phenomenon. The aim of the interview was to establish the cultural differences and its impact on international students in the United States.
While responding to the first questions, the interviewee accepts that he sometimes watch television both in America and back in Thailand. However, as opposed to his homeland, he explains that most of the Thai’s normal channels are free to air while in the United States, people require cables to access most channel, which he view to be a challenge to the population that do not have these cables installed in their homes. He further mentions that his favorite programs are those airing food and such competitions because he likes eating. The major difference he has noticed with the commercials is that Thai’s commercials are funnier compared to those in America. This response helps in determining how international student view the audiovisual communication systems in the United States as compared to the native nationalities. According to the student’s response, they would prefer their local channels since he considers them accessible unlike in the U.S. where viewers need cables. He also prefers their commercials to the U.S. since they are funnier.
In relation to the use of internet, the interviewee reports little differences of using the internet while at home and in America. He reports using internet all the time and most frequently visits Facebook. In this interviewee’s response, I can ascertain that most international students use internet equally, either while in the United States or back in their homes. This could be because they have internet access both at home and while at school. They can access the internet frequently as long as it is a priority and location has limited to affect on their internet access.
Even though the interviewee accepts his liking for sports, he reports not to have any favorite team in the NBA since he has constantly changed locations in the U.S. He also informs the interviewer that due to differences in time zones, games played in the day in the U.S. cannot be watched in Thailand since at such times, it is nighttime. However, he says he loves soccer and his favorite team being Manchester United. He also reports love for sports in the U.S. to be greater than in Thailand. This helps in understanding the impact of cultural interactions on the individual. Despite the fact that he does not watch NBA back at home, he reports liking it when he moves to the United States. This implies that when an individual joins a new culture, he would adapt to the cultural practices within which he is domiciled.
In the routine habits, he admits changing on them especially with regard to self-responsibility. Unlike in Thailand where he lives with his family, he has to take responsibility for his actions since he lives by himself. This implies that when people leave their homes where they view themselves as a family, they develop self-reliance and become more responsible than they were while living with their families.
The other question of the interview is in relation to music, the interviewee appreciates American music, especially hip-hop music, which he reports to listen to both in America and back in Thailand. The student also informs the interviewer that American music is also popular in Thailand and is listened to by many. Despite listening to American music, he acknowledges Thai’s music and reports listening to them even when in America. In this response I can deduce that despite people adopting cultural practices of communities the currently reside, they would not easily abandon their own culture. They would be willing to integrate with foreign cultures as well as upholding their own.
The interviewee likes going on vacations. However, his studies take much of his time, allowing him limited time to go for vacations. Despite loving several places in the United States, he reports having visited a few, and less frequently, with the last visit almost a year in the past. He indicates that while he was in Thailand, he had plenty of time to go on vacations, which does not apply anymore in America since his schedule is tied to class. Here, the interviewee reveals that despite having certain things that people gain pleasure from, situations could change their preferences and find other means of refreshing themselves.] Additionally, he admits liking school by saying it is ‘pretty good’ (Cmst interview). However, he says school sometimes becomes tough since studying has to take a lot of time and effort. In comparing Thai’s education to America’s, he reveals that high school education in America is easier in the U.S. and college education harder than it is in Thailand. Since he studies computer engineering, he finds computer studies as his favorite subject and denies his liking for mathematics. Adapting to education systems in foreign nations is not always an easy task. This student manages to adjust to the education system here, despite the efforts he has made, he still finds college education thorough than in Thailand.
Just like any other person, this student has both long-term and short-term goals. The most attention-catching thing is that his long-term goal is to return to Thailand after completing his education. The student has a short-term goal of securing an attachment in the American companies, but insists on returning to his country, where he believes he would have the best of his practice in the family business.
He has attained new hobbies in the U.S. and enjoyed the experience, especially of learning to improve his English language. From the above interview, it is evident that culture makes life more meaningful. This student incorporates his culture with the American culture where he currently resides in order to enjoy his stay abroad. He does things the American way such as watching NBA, which he never did back at home. This experience has helped in communicating with new friends from diverse culture since I can understand the way they feel about my culture in comparison to their own culture.
Reference:
Cmst interview. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADM6ksCIbf8&feature=youtu.be
