en191s21Sarah-N

Final Paper- The HIV/AIDS Epidemic

2009-12-15T14:11:00.000-08:00

The HIV/AIDS Epidemic

AIDS is widely considered an epidemic throughout the world. How and when did the epidemic start? How is it spread? What are the symptoms? The statistics of AIDS differs across parts of the world, races, gender and sexual orientation. Some countries have been able to control it more than others. There are different strategies among different cultures for diagnosing, communicating and preventing. With the global epidemic of AIDS there are many challenges and responsibilities. This is something that affects everyone, no matter where you are.

The first cases of AIDS were discovered in the United States. A number of gay men in New York and California suddenly began to develop rare infections that seemed stubbornly resistant to any treatment. At this time, AIDS did not yet have a name, but it quickly became obvious that all the men were suffering from the same thing. “The Centers for Disease Control announced in 1981 that it had identified a new disease that attacked the immune system.”(6, pg. 7) It was named Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The discovery of HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus was made soon after. It became clear that HIV causes AIDS so, in order to find the source of AIDS, it is necessary to look for the origin of HIV, and find out how, when and where HIV first began to cause disease in humans

Although there are many theories and debates about the origin of HIV, it is believed to have started with a virus that was carried by an African primate. This virus is believed to jump species through varies routes even today. The virus transferred to humans as a result of chimps being killed and eaten or their blood getting into cuts or wounds of a human, most likely a hunter. In addition, butchering and consumption of primate meat could also cause the transfer to the general public, (non-hunters). Although it seems it seems highly likely that Africa was the continent where the transfer of HIV to humans first occurred, where the 'epidemic' officially developed has always been controversial. Today it seems more important to understand the virus, how it spread so rapidly and prevention in order to fight it.

There are many factors that may have contributed to the rapid spread of HIV. For its initial spread, travel, both local and international certainly contributed. People were traveling from city to city, state to state and country to country. The blood industry was a major path for the spread. Before transmission was known, blood donors were not screened. Some of the donors who were paid to give blood were in a high-risk group by the use of tainted needs. The blood donations were sent worldwide and the recipients became infected. “By late 1986, the Centers for Disease Control estimated (using statistical modeling) that 12,000 Americans had probably been infected with AIDS through blood transfusions.” (1, pg.34) Intravenous drug users shared needles as disposable syringes became available contributed to the spread. Most users could not afford new syringes so they were shared. Medical instruments that were not properly sterilized, most often in third world countries were a contributing factor. Promiscuous sexual behavior combines with unprotected sex. “It was efficiently spread by prostitutes.”(1, pg. 35) While AIDS is not just a disease for Gay men or a gay plaque as some have asserted, gay men became more open about their sexual orientation and it seemed to spread rapidly through their community. A smaller group spreading HIV were pregnant women where the virus was transferred to the unborn child they carried.

Today we know an infected person can spread HIV through the exchange of bodily fluids: semen; vaginal fluid; blood; other bodily fluids containing blood (for example, menses, and bloody saliva,) breast milk. In America, the most common causes of HIV infections are: unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex, unsafe sex, with an HIV-positive person or sharing needles or syringes with an HIV-positive person. For third world countries there are additional ways it continues to be spread. For example through the use of unsterilized medical instruments, but the number one reason is the lack of education.

There are many different signs and symptoms used to diagnosis HIV/AIDS. There are early symptoms and there are later symptoms. According to USA Today, “the earlier symptoms can last from five to ten days, the early symptoms include; low grade fever, rash, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, and sometimes no symptoms will appear. The later symptoms of HIV/AIDS can last from anywhere from a couple of years to decades. The later symptoms are as follows:

· Extreme fatigue

· Rapid weight loss from an unknown cause

· Appearance of swollen or tender glands in the neck, armpits or groin, this will last for more than four weeks

· Persistent diarrhea

· High fever

· Night sweats

· Marked change in an illness pattern

· Appearance of one or more purple spots on the surface of the skin, inside mouth, anus, or nasal passage

· Whitish coating on the tongue, throat or vagina

· Forgetfulness, confusion and other signs of mental deterioration”(7)

There are many resources for statistics on HIV/AIDS, but all are in agreement that HIV/AIDS is growing every day. The number of people living with HIV has risen from around 8 million in 1990 to 33 million today, and is still growing. The latest statistics on global HIV/AIDS were published by UNAIDS in November 2009, and refer to the end of 2008. More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981. According to UNAIDS.org web site, globally, there were an estimated 33.4 million adults and children living with HIV/AIDS in 2008. Although HIV and AIDS are found in all parts of the world, some areas are more afflicted than others. The worst affected region is sub-Saharan Africa, where in a few countries more than one in five adults is infected with HIV. The epidemic is spreading most rapidly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where the number of people living with HIV has increased 67% between 2001 and 2008. The numbers for Africa alone are staggering. Around 67% of people living with HIV/AIDS are in sub-Saharan Africa. Of the 33.4 million diagnosed over 22 million were in Africa. Newly diagnosed people with HIV/AIDS in the world were 2.7 million. Over half the number, 1.9 million was in Africa. Of the 2.0 million deaths globally from HIV/AIDS, 1.5 million were from Africa. The deaths were despite recent improvements in access to antiretroviral treatment. Sadly, Africa has over 14 million AIDS orphans. (Children orphaned by AIDS are defined as people under the age of 18 who are alive and have lost one or both parents to AIDS). (8)

As referenced in the charts below, HIV/AIDS is no longer seen as a homosexual, (gay men) disease. HIV has proven to be passed between genders. The spread is not limited to anal sex as originally thought. At the end of 2008, women accounted for 50% of all adults living with HIV worldwide. The epidemic is spreading most rapidly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where the number of people living with HIV increased between 2001 and 2008. Several million children are infected HIV/AIDS or have died from AIDS. Today the key groups who have been particularly affected by HIV/AIDS epidemic are: children, women, men who have sex with men, injecting drug users and sex workers.

The charts below are from www.avert.org (10)

Global HIV/AIDS Estimates, End of 2008

	Estimate	Range
People living with HIV/AIDS in 2008	33.4 million	31.1-35.8 million
Adults living with HIV/AIDS in 2008	31.3 million	29.2-33.7 million
Women living with HIV/AIDS in 2008	15.7 million	14.2-17.2 million
Children living with HIV/AIDS in 2008	2.1 million	1.2-2.9 million
People newly infected with HIV in 2008	2.7 million	2.4-3.0 million
Children newly infected with HIV in 2008	0.43 million	0.24-0.61 million
AIDS deaths in 2008	2.0 million	1.7-2.4 million
Child AIDS deaths in 2008	0.28 million	0.15-0.41 million

* Proportion of adults aged 15-49 who were living with HIV/AIDS

Global trends

Regional statistics for HIV & AIDS, end of 2008

Region	Adults & children living with HIV/AIDS	Adults & children newly infected	Adult prevalence*	Deaths of adults & children
Sub-Saharan Africa	22.4 million	1.9 million	5.2%	1.4 million
North Africa & Middle East	310,000	35,000	0.2%	20,000
South and South-East Asia	3.8 million	280,000	0.3%	270,000
East Asia	850,000	75,000	<0.1%	59,000
Oceania	59,000	3900	0.3%	2,000
Latin America	2.0 million	170,000	0.6%	77,000
Caribbean	240,000	20,000	1.0%	12,000
Eastern Europe & Central Asia	1.5 million	110,000	0.7%	87,000
North America	1.4 million	55,000	0.4%	25,000
Western & Central Europe	850,000	30,000	0.3%	13,000
Global Total	33.4 million	2.7 million	0.8%	2.0 million

* Proportion of adults aged 15-49 who were living with HIV/AIDS

There is still no cure or vaccination for HIV/AIDS, but treatment for people with HIV is in a highly dynamic state and has improved enormously since the mid-1990s. Individuals are advised to seek out experts in their local community. Antiretroviral medications are used to control the reproduction of the virus and to slow or halt the progression of HIV. Those who take a combination of three antiretroviral drugs sometimes referred to as a "cocktail" can expect to recover their health and live for many years without developing AIDS, as long as they keep taking the drugs every day. Anti-HIV medications do not cure HIV infection and individuals taking these medications can still transmit HIV to others. Unfortunately, in developing and transitional countries, where there are people in immediate need of life-saving AIDS drugs; only a small percentage of them have access to or are receiving medications.

Even with the advancement of treatment for HIV/AIDS there is much that can be done to reduce the impact of AIDS. Across the world, a small but growing number of countries have reduced HIV prevalence through sound prevention efforts. The high rates of transmission of HIV result largely from failure to use the available and effective prevention strategies and tools, and poor coverage of HIV prevention programs. There are known ways to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS

The number one way to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS is sexual abstinence. Since this seems unlikely, the next best way is to abstain from sex outside of a mutually faithful relationship with a partner whom the person knows is not infected with the virus. Averting sexual transmission involves encouraging safer sexual behavior including delayed first sex, partner reduction and condom use.

Promoting condom use is an essential tool in the prevention. Use of condoms is one of the most effective in reducing the spread of the HIV virus. “ Condoms must be readily available universally, either free or at low cost, and promoted in ways that help over come social and personal obstacles to their use.” (4, pg. 27) High-risk groups in particular need to have condoms available to them.

The spread of HIV through injecting drug use can be slowed by outreach work, needle exchange and drug substitution treatment. Many political and social groups are opposed to making needles available to intravenous drug users. If those opposed to the practice of needle exchange and the intravenous drug users are not educated a decrease in transmission of HIV/AIDS for this at risk group will not occur.

Another at risk group is women with HIV/AIDS who are pregnant. There is a great risk to the child of being born with HIV. “Every year over a half of a million babies are born with the AIDS virus. The number one cause of death for children under the age of ten is the transmission of AIDS from mother to child.”(3, pg. 56) Today, mother-to-child transmission can be almost eliminated through use of medicines and avoidance of breastfeeding.

The number one worldwide prevention of HIV/AIDS is knowledge. Successful educational programs and campaigns for HIV prevention need to not only give information, but also build skills and provide access to essential commodities such as condoms or sterile injecting equipment. Promoting widespread awareness of HIV through basic HIV and AIDS education is vital for preventing all forms of HIV transmission. Specific programs need to target key groups who have been particularly affected. Communication of prevention should be targeted to the needs of the many different cultures. In many of the developing countries, oral communication is going to be the most effective.

Yet although it is known how to prevent and treat AIDS, few people have access to the necessary services. Most rich countries and a few middle-income nations have nearly achieved universal treatment access. Access to prevention tools such as HIV education, condoms, clean needles and programs to prevent mother-to-child transmission is inadequate in other areas.

There are many challenges in tackling the global AIDS epidemic. Inadequate funding, weak infrastructure and shortages of health workers in the worst affected countries are some of the large obstacles. Political or cultural attitudes are also significant: for example some authorities are opposed to condom promotion, while others refuse to support needle exchanges for injecting drug users. Many are reluctant to provide young people with adequate education about sex and sexual health.

Another very serious issue is stigma and discrimination. People known to be living with HIV are often shunned or abused by community members, employers and even health workers. As well as causing much personal suffering, this sort of prejudice discourages people from seeking HIV testing, treatment and care.

In recent years, efforts to fight AIDS around the world have stepped up, with much greater funding being supplied by the US, other rich nations and developing country governments. But the amount of money available is barely half what is needed for an effective response. Based on recent trends it is likely that AIDS around the world will keep getting worse for many years to come. Millions more will become infected with HIV and millions will die of AIDS. The only way to turn things around is to rapidly scale up the measures we already know are effective, but which are currently reaching far too few of those in need.

Although the how and when the AIDS epidemic started are not clear, it is probably not as important anymore. It is most important to know how it is spread, what are the symptoms and how can it be treated and more importantly prevented. The statistics of AIDS differs across parts of the world, races, gender and sexual orientation are surprising with developing countries, Africa in particular having the highest number of cases and deaths. Africa has not been able to contain or decrease its numbers because of the resources that are available to richer countries are not available to them. There needs to be different strategies among different cultures for diagnosing, communications and preventing due to the different ways to access to information. Even though there are many challenges, all countries need to participate in the elimination of the virus for the world. The responsibility is a global one and this is something that affects everyone, no matter where or who you are.

Cite Page

1. Engel, Jonathan. The Epidemic. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc, 2006. 34-35.

2. Epstein, Helen. The Invisible Cure Africa, The West, and The Fight Against AIDS. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007.

3. Helms, Jesse. “Reducing Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission Can Help Fight AIDS,” Responding to the AIDS Epidemic. Michigan, Greenhaven Press, 2006. 56-58.

4. World Health Organizations et al. “Promoting Condom Use Will Reduce the Spread of AID,” Responding to the AIDS Epidemic. Michigan, Greenhaven Press, 2006. 26-29.

5. Lowry, Rich. “Promoting Sexual Abstinence Will Reduce the Spread of AIDS,” Responding to the AIDS Epidemic. Michigan, Greenhaven Press. 2006. 23-25.

6. Responding to the AIDS Epidemic, Michigan, Greenhaven Press. 2006. 7-10

7. Various Authors, USA Today, http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/101/main.html#SymptomsofAIDSandHIVInfection

8. Various Authors, UNAIDS.org

9. HealthScout.com

10. Various Authors, www.Avert.org

11. Hivaidssierraleone.org

Food around the world

2009-12-01T16:20:00.000-08:00

Outline:

1. Food around the World

A. Everyday food VS. Special foods

B. Where they eat food

C. "Rules of the dinner table"

D. Food and social interaction

do they interact during the meal, after, or before the meal

2. Preparation of food

A. Buying fresh food

B. Who makes the meal

C. Role of the markets

- Special seating at the table

- What they eat food with

- Restaurants

Final Project Topic

2009-11-17T16:20:00.000-08:00

My final paper topic is going to be AIDS is in Africa.

Third Interview and Transcribed

2009-11-16T18:51:00.000-08:00

Sarah Nelson

English 191 Section 21

In preparation for my interview with Paul Gerstner, I wanted to make sure that I was prepared. To make sure that I was prepared I did research on his country South Africa, I did an outline on the objectives that I wanted to know, and also prepared the questions that I would ask him prior to the interview. I not only wanted to be prepared but I wanted my interviewee to be prepared as well so I emailed Paul the questions prior to me conducting the interview. The objectives I wanted to get out of interviewing Paul was to learn about him and his perceptive on his country, South Africa, and his perceptive about the United States. When it came time to decide where the interview would take place, Paul and I emailed each other back and forth and decided the interview would take place on November 6 at 8 PM, at his home. The reason the interview was so late is because Paul is a family man, and his weekends are for his family. I was very thankful that Paul took time out of his family life to let me interview him. When it came time for what kind of device I would use to record the interview I used a small recording device that I purchased at Best Buy.

Finding out that I was going to have to interview three different people that are international students to whom go to St. Cloud State University was nerve-racking for me. I am uncomfortable with having to approach random people that I do not know and ask them randomly if I can interview them because they are an international student and it is for an English project. I had told my Mother about my project and she brought up the idea that I interview three people that are international that work with her. I thought this was a fantastic idea because every other student in the class is going to be getting an international student’s perceptive; I thought it would be great if I were able to get an adult’s perceptive. To contact Paul, I received his email from mom, and began emailing him, asking him if he would be willing to let me interview him for a school project. Paul was more than happy to let me interview him. We set up an interview from there.

When it came time to determine, when, where and how the interview was going to be conducted, I first emailed Paul, asking if he would be willing to let me interview him for a class project, Paul was more than thrilled to help me out. Paul and I exchanged emails back and forth to figure out the best possible time and place to conduct the interview at. Since Paul is taking time out of his family life to help me, I wanted to make sure that I make it convenient for him. The best place was to have the interview conducted at his home, and the interview would be conducted on November 6 at 8 PM. The reason to why the interview was so late in the evening was because Paul is a family man, and the weekends are for his family since he works during the week. I conducted the interview by having the questions prepared before hand and Paul also had a copy of the questions, and before the interview I asked Paul if I would be able to record the interview. I recorded the interview with a small recording device that I purchased from Best Buy.

I conducted the interview with Paul Gerstner. Paul is from South Africa, and he lived in the town, Somerset West. Somerset West was named after a British General Lord Charles, in the 1700s. The town is near the ocean, Paul was all about the ocean, Paul was your typical surf boy. He loved surfing and everything about the life style. He was also interested in scuba diving. Paul went to the University for Military training, and graduated with an electrical engineering degree in the 1980s. After college Paul worked in an electronic manufacturing environment, and after that he worked off shore in the oil industry on oilrig. Paul did this for seven years. Then in 1999, he and his wife moved to the United States. Paul has a daughter who is thirteen years old and a son who is nine years old. His children have been to South Africa twice, and Paul has only been back once since he has been living in the United States. Paul and his family plan to remain in the United States and never plan to move back to South Africa.

The interview process for me was easy. What made the interview easy for me was that Paul was easy to talk to. He could understand me and I could understand him, which was very important. Paul, answered the questions the best that he could, with what he could remember, he hasn’t lived in South Africa since, 1999. I had a good advantage because my Mother helped me out with finding people to interview, I just had to contact them and set up the interview. I didn’t have to go around campus asking international students to let me interview them. The thing that impressed me the most about Paul’s interview was when he told me his favorite thing about the Unites States is the security. Paul said that when he went to a swimming pool area, they could all go into the pool and leave their things at their seats. In South Africa you cannot do that. People in South Africa cannot leave their things unguarded, Paul said someone would have had to stay behind and watch their belongings. I was also surprised to hear from Paul, that he has not made the decision to get citizenship; I was surprised to hear this because he has been in the United States for ten years, and he still is not sure if he will get citizenship. I couldn’t believe that not many Americans are in South Africa, from what I have heard and seen is that Americans like to travel so why not travel to South Africa. One thing that impressed me the most with the interview was that Paul really didn’t have any struggles; the main struggle for him was adjusting to the weather. The first winter, here for him was horrible, it was so cold. Also, another struggle for him was, the way we drive, Paul use to drive on the left side of the road, and the steering wheels were on the right side of the vehicles. Paul did move me during the interview; it was when I asked him his impression on Americans. He stated that he likes how Americans have a positive outlook on things. I am surprised to hear this with our economy being not the greatest, Paul still sees Americans with a positive outlook on life. The interview that I had conducted with Paul went very well, I was moved, impressed, and surprised all at the same time.

The country to where Paul is from is South Africa. South Africa is located at the southernmost region of Africa. South Africa has three capitals, Cape Town, which is the largest of the three, is the legislative capital, Pretoria is the administrative capital, and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital. The flag is yellow, black, green, white, blue, and red. The flag is represented for the culture of southern Africa, and the flag also represents that South Africa is a democracy. South Africa is a middle-income country, with an abundant supply of resources. There are eleven different languages in South Africa, Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu. Out of all the languages the three majors ones are Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans. With South Africa being so diverse there is not a dominant religion, but the most popular religion is Christian. It can be argued that South Africa is a no, “single” culture of its ethnic diversity. The diet of South Africa is meat based, more like barbeque. One major problem that South Africa has is the spread of AIDS. Prior presidents have denied the problem of AIDS; they said the deaths of people were due to malnutrition. South Africa has since then recognized the true problem is AIDS, and is now working on it. I enjoyed interviewing Paul Gerstner and learning about South Africa, I hope to one-day visit.

Paul Gerstner Interview Transcribed

Sarah: What country are you from?

Paul: South Africa, near city Cape town

Sarah: What made you decide to move to the U.S.?

Paul: Company that worked for. Made us an offer to come over, so we decided why not.

Sarah: When did you move over here?

Paul: 1999

Sarah: What is the biggest struggle you have had while living here?

Paul: Probably the biggest thing was adjusting to the weather. Snow on the ground, driving in the snow

Sarah: Do you have any family that lives in the U.S.?

Paul: No

Sarah: Do you have citizenship?

Paul: Not yet, but we are permnant residents, the green card deal.

Sarah: Do you think you will get citizenship?

Paul: We really haven’t made the decision, but we are probably more than likely to do that.

Sarah: Was it difficult for you to learn the language?

Paul: English was the language grew up with. We never had an issue with it, but few words here and there. But very little language barrier.

Sarah: Was the language barrier hard for you?

Paul: No language barrier, came from an English speaking background.

Sarah: Do you miss your country?

Paul: Probably more than anything the family more than the place

Sarah: How long have you lived in the U.S.?

Paul: Since, 1999

Sarah: Are there other languages spoken besides the English?

Paul: Second language Afrikaans grew out of Dutch and German. That would be like learning Spanish here.

Sarah: What is the dominant religion?

Paul: White population Roman Catholic, Dutch Reform, I couldn’t tell you which one is the strongest, but these are the biggest.

Sarah: What is the attitude towards divorce?

Paul: Not too much different than U.S. much more common today, than my parents generations.

Sarah: What is the attitude toward drinking?

Paul: Not a lot different than seen hear. The last 20 years they have tighten, it is more frowned upon.

Sarah: Is the price asked for merchandise fixed or are customers expected to bargain?

Paul: Prices are fixed.

Sarah: What foods are most popular?

Paul: I am not probably very good at that area, similar to what I see here. BBQ, the normal home cooked meals.

Sarah: What things are unacceptable in your country compared to the US?

Paul: Tough one, I guess it kind of is, talking about 10 years ago, change to gender equality situation, more what it use to be like in the US 20 years ago.

Sarah: What is the usual dress for women? For men? For students?

Paul: Typically in South Africa most schools have school uniforms, but outside of school people dress like people do in the US.

Sarah: What are the special privileges of age and/or sex?

Paul: You are allowed to drink and drive at age 18, instead of 16 and 21.

Sarah: What are the important holidays?

Paul: Similar. Based on historical things, but with politics it has been altered, but you have like Holidays that signify Independence.

Sarah: What sports are popular?

Paul: That’s where it gets different main sports, rugby, soccer/football it depends is called both, but girls don’t play, cricket.

Sarah: How will your financial position and living conditions in the US compare with those of the majority of people living in your country?

Paul: Thing you have to keep in mind, that the population break down in South Africa is almost the reverse from here, the middle white class there is about 15 percent of the population if you just look at that, it is just like here, but a large element of the population of the culture and so on are not educated and a lot of poverty and that kind of thing, that is kind of difficult to compare to here, but you look at middle class that is just like here.

Sarah: What kind of local public transportation is available?

Paul: Do all classes use it? Similar to most areas, train services, bus services, taxi services. Only certain classes

Sarah: Do many people own cars?

Paul: Absolutely, middles class citizens, but lower classes citizens wouldn’t

Sarah: Is military training required?

Paul: It used to be, when I was growing up it was 2 years conscription system that fell away

Sarah: What is the history of the relationships between this country and the United States?

Paul: I don’t think there is much, South Africa had much more with England and European countries, never really a connection with US.

Sarah: Have many people emigrated from this country to the United States?

Paul: Don’t know, but what I could say, by far a larger percentage emigrated to UK or Australia, New Zealand, Canada, US is last. Mostly because the US is difficult to get into.

Sarah: Are there many American living in South Africa?

Paul: I would have to say no, in comparison to Europe, many tourists.

Sarah: What kinds of health services are available? Where are they located, near where people live?

Paul: Similar to what one has here. Located near where you live.

Sarah: Is education free? Is it required?

Paul: Required, wasn’t free, public schools even out what I have seen hear, you pay a school fee as what we call it but you would get a lot more of you school supplies.

Sarah: In schools, are children segregated by race?

Paul: When I was growing up that was the case, but that isn’t the case anymore.

Sarah: What kinds of schools are considered best: public, private, or parochial?

Paul: That is a tough one in a way, Catholic schools there were not that many, Private schools there weren’t very many and very expensive, many good public schools. Can’t say which is better.

Sarah: What are the important universities of the country?

Paul: 2 main, University of Cape town and University of Stellin Bosh

Sarah: Who is allowed to go to a university?

Paul: You would need to have certain education

Sarah: What would you say is the biggest difference between the two countries?

Paul: One thing for sure, South Africa is about the size of Texas, much less area and a lot less people, the biggest difference might be difficult to say because South Africa has such a mixture of different people, people would say South Africa is the Rainbow nation. Diversity is the biggest.

Sarah: Do you plan on ever moving back to your country?

Paul: I would have to say no at this stage. Our kids are already settled here.

Sarah: Do you have a lot of international friends?

Paul: I wouldn’t say a lot, but we know some people that did the same thing we did but went to different countries.

Sarah: How about American friends?

Paul: Yeah, we have met a lot of people in the last 10 years.

Sarah: Are there lots of opportunities to travel to other countries?

Paul: It is something that is more affordable.

Sarah: What do you miss most about your country?

Paul: Family, friends, I was big on the sports that one doesn’t have here. I have picked up on the sports here.

Sarah: What sport did you play?

Paul: Wasn’t so much that I played but followed, I focused on Rugby and Cricket.

Sarah: When you first moved here, what was the hardest thing to get used to?

Paul: Mentioned a little earlier was adjusting to the first Winter, we had right hand drive vehicles and here we have left hand drive cars so we had to get use to driving on the right side of the road.

Sarah: What is your impression of Americans?

Paul: One of the things that stands out, people have much more positive outlook on things, we come from a place where there were a lot of issues, and people weren’t positive, as one would see here. One of the main things that caught my eye.

Sarah: Do you like living in the US?

Paul: Yeah we do, Kids love it, this is their home, they don’t know anything else.

Sarah: What is your favorite thing about the US?

Paul: This might seem a little crazy, but when we lived in South Africa security was an issue meaning there was a lot of crime in neighborhoods, you would have to lock everything up, I remember here, going to a swimming pool area you could leave your things and know your thing would still be there, but in South Africa we would have to leave someone behind to watch our things.

Sarah: Have your kids ever been to South Africa?

Paul: I have been back once, and my kids have been there twice.

Sarah: How old are your kids?

Paul: Our girl is thirteen and our boy is nine.

Sarah: What’s your least favorite?

Paul: Sometimes notice people talk about Minnesota nice, but we notice people are superficial. I don’t know if I am putting it in the right way, but it is how you perceive things.

Second Interview along with Transcribe

2009-11-16T18:25:00.001-08:00

Sarah Nelson

English 191 Section 21

In preparation for my interview with Alex Ivanov, I wanted to make sure that I did some research on his country, Ukraine, before I would conduct the interview. I wanted to make sure that I was prepared and that the person I would be interviewing would be prepared as well, so I emailed Alex the questions that I would be asking prior to the interview. The objectives that I wanted to get out of interviewing someone from a different country was to learn about their struggles when they arrived in the United States and how their way of life has changed. When it came time to decide when and where Alex and I would conduct the interview, we decided to have the interview take place at his home, because that would be easiest for him. To record the interview, I purchased a small recorder from Best Buy, which worked perfectly.

When I found out that I was going to have to approach three international students and would have to ask them if they would be willing to let me interview them for a school project I was nervous. I called my Mother and asked her for some ideas on how to approach international students. She suggested I interview Alex Ivanov who works with her. I was pleased to hear that idea because I thought it was fantastic. I would rather get an adult’s perspective about the United States than an international student’s. Especially since every student in class would be interviewing international students, and no one would be getting an international adult’s perspective.

To determine when, where, and how the interview was going to take place, I first contacted Alex by emails, letting him know who I was, and wanted to know if he would be willing to let me interview him for a class project. Alex was pleased and stated he would help me out. Alex and I exchanged emails back and forth to discuss when and where we conduct the interview. Since Alex is taking time out his life, to help me with a project I would do everything in my power to accommodate him. It would be easiest for him if the interview would be conducted at his home, because he has a twenty-two month old daughter, and during the week her works, and he has no time after work either since he has a family. Alex and I came to the decision that the interview would take place on October 25, at about 3 PM. This way Alex would be able to sleep in and have some time for his family. The technology that I used to record the interview was a small recording device that I purchased from Best Buy. I did make sure to ask Alex if I was able to record the interview.

Alex Ivanov, was born in 1974. He lived in a village in Kharkiv, Ukraine, where his parents still own and live in the same house today. Alex started school in 1981, when he was seven years old, and then finished in 1991. After his required schooling, Alex attended a University for five years. After going to the university for five years, Alex got a job as a telecom engineer and worked in the Ukraine for six years. In 2002 he decided to move to the United States in order to marry his girlfriend from the Ukraine who had already moved to the United States. When Alex first arrived to the United States he thought he would be able to get a job as a telecom engineer right away but that was not the case, instead Alex had to take a cashier’s job. He received his citizenship in 2008. Alex and his wife have one daughter who is twenty-two months old, and they teach her Russian and English, but while at home they only speak Russian. Alex has always lived in Minnesota, he has never lived anywhere else in the United States, but he loves to travel outside of the United States. One thing Alex, doesn’t like about traveling around the United States, is that everything is the same. Every state has a McDonalds and the scenery is pretty much the same.

The interview process for me was easy, because Alex had impressive English skills and was easy to understand. The vantage point for me was that I really did not have to go around campus and find three different people to interview, my Mother helped me out, and stated she knew three people in her office that worked with her and would most likely help me, I just had to contact them. The thing that impressed me most of the interview was how willing Alex was to give me information and how he did not hold anything back. Another thing that impressed me was when I asked Alex what is not acceptable in Ukraine, and he replied with saying burping and farting. When someone here in the United States burps or farts people will laugh or brush it off their shoulders, but when someone burps or farts in Ukraine it is not tolerated, people look in disgust, because it seems the people in Ukraine have better manners. Also during the interview when I asked Alex what he thinks of Americans, he replied they are different, and stated that when he walks down the street Americans will smile and ask how he is doing, even if they do not know him. In Ukraine, people do not do that they just get to where they need to be and do not smile at others especially if they do not know that person. When that happened to Alex for the first time he thought it was weird, he was confused, and did not know why that person was smiling at him. Also I was very shocked that Alex does not want to go to back to the Ukraine. He says it is because there are more opportunities in the United States, and he is free to travel. Something that paused me was when Alex said Americans take things for granted like credit. When Americans want to purchase something and they do not have the money they will just put it on a credit card, and in Ukraine if you want something people will save up for that item, they will not put it on a credit card. Other than that Americans need to have better manners, and Alex thinks Americans are different in the sense that Americans will smile and talk to people they do not know on the street, and thinking that Americans take things for granted, I am not really shocked.

Ukraine, the country that Alex is from is located in Eastern Europe. The capital of Ukraine is Kiev, and Kiev is also the largest city. When it comes to the political system Ukraine is Republican. The president is elected by popular vote and serves a five-year term. The economy is a market economy. Ukraine’s dominant religion is Christianity, also people in Ukraine practice Orthodox. The customs in Ukraine are heavily influenced by their dominant religion. Eastern and Western neighbors also influence the culture. The gender roles tend to be more traditional, the grandparents play a greater role in raising children than in the West. The important holidays in Ukraine are; New Years, that is the biggest one, Orthodox Christmas January 7, Women’s Day March 8, which is like the United States as Mother’s Day, Labor Day May 1, Victory Day May 9, when Soviet Union won World war 2, and November 7 which is what the older generation celebrates the holiday as Revolution Day, when Revolution happened in 1917. The state language of Ukraine is Ukrainian and Russian. The diet of Ukraine is Chicken, Pork, Beef, Fish, mushrooms, and potatoes, which are the most popular. The most popular sport in Ukraine is Football, which is Soccer to the United States. Hockey is also a major sport in Ukraine, but Football is the major sport. Ukraine seems like an interesting place I would like to go on a visit the country at some point in my life.

Alex Ivanov Interview Transcribed

Sarah: What country are you from?

Alex: Ukraine, use to be USSR, became in dependent, in 1990 something not sure when it came dependent.

Sarah: What made you decide to move to the U.S?

Alex: I wanted to see the world and um.. I guess there are more opportunities in the US.

Sarah: What is the biggest struggle you have had while living here?

Alex: The very first time was language barrier, I didn’t have practice in English, I only knew British English, and plus when I started working, people would use slag words. When I first came here, I thought I would find a job right away, wanted to be Engineer, but I started as a cashier instead.

Sarah: Do you have any family that lives in the U.S. that came over with you?

Alex: No, the only family is my wife and child, but parents are in Ukraine.

Sarah: Do you have citizenship?

Alex: Yes

Sarah: Was it difficult for you to get your citizenship?

Alex: No, when you get on that path, it is just paper work, you follow rules, fill out paper work, pay money, and wait, then you take exam, and that’s it. It takes time; I got in the U.S. in 2002 and didn’t get citizenship till 2008.

Sarah: Was it difficult for you to learn English?

Alex: I would say no, but I am still learning.

Sarah: Do you miss your country?

Alex: No, will never move back to Ukraine.

Sarah: Are other languages spoken?

Alex: Very first language was Ukrainian, then went to University and had to speak Russian. The languages are similar.

Sarah: What is the dominant religion?

Alex: Orthodox, Christian that is more Central West Ukraine, on East Ukraine is Catholic

Sarah: What is the attitude towards divorce?

Alex: The same as the U.S, didn’t work out, and then divorce, no big deal.

Sarah: What is the attitude toward drinking?

Alex: Tolerant, more tolerant than the U.S people drink a lot, part of culture.

Sarah: Is the price asked for merchandise fixed or are customers expected to bargain?

Alex: If it is store it is fixed, say here Best Buy, you can negotiate for a TV, in Ukraine you can’t what label says period, but if you go to markets, there are huge markets where you can buy clothes, shoes, house hold stuff, stuff from Home Depot, you have to try to bargain, it is expected. There are huge markets, two Metro domes.

Sarah: What foods are most popular and how are they prepared?

Alex: The closet cuisine is Italian. Potatoes, soups, meat. Food is similar to America. Chicken and Pork are most popular, Beef is more expensive. Pork is national meat in Ukraine, I would say.

Sarah: What things are unacceptable in your country compared to the US?

Alex: It is not acceptable to burp and fart in front of others. Here people can fart and burp in front of people, no one puts up a big fuss, but in Ukraine it is very bad manners.

Sarah: What is the usual dress for women? For men? For students?

Alex: Pretty much the same, but women ware more skirts and dresses, more women clothes, more lady like.

Sarah: What are the special privileges of age and/or sex?

Alex: Pretty much evenly, it is equal.

Sarah: What are the important holidays?

Alex: New year, biggest one, then Orthodox Christmas January 7, March 8 Women’s day Mother’s Day to the U.S, May 1 Labor Day, May 9 Victory Day, Soviet Union won World War 2 war, November 7 older generation celebrates it as Revolution Day, when Revolution happen in 1917.

Sarah: What sports are popular?

Alex: Soccer, but in Ukraine it is Football, number one is Football, then goes Hockey, that is number 2, two biggest sports.

Sarah: What is the normal work schedule?

Alex: 40 hour work week, same stuff as the US.

Sarah: What games do children play? Where do children get together?

Alex: I don’t really know what children play here. Classis, it’s a square game it goes through 1 to 11, I don’t know how to explain it without showing you. It’s mostly boys games vs. girls games. Boys play more sports, like football. In Ukraine, people won’t buy game consoles, like the Wii, Xbox, or Playstation because it makes more sense to buy a computer, than a game console, because people don’t have as much money as they do here in the US.

Sarah: What kind of local public transportation is available? Do all classes of people use it?

Alex: Oh yes, it is huge in Ukraine, because cars are very expensive and people cannot afford them. There is a tram, big network of bus, and there are electric boxes, private companies will have electric boxes for their employees, and all classes of people use them, there are no classes in Ukraine, there are very rich people, and not rich people.

Sarah: Do many people own cars? If not, why not?

Alex: There are much more personal cars now, but majority of the people will use Public Transportation.

Sarah: Is military training required?

Alex: Yes, for boys, not girls. When you reach 18 you must go the army.

Sarah: Are women allowed to go into the Army?

Alex: Yes, they could if they can afford it, it would be hard.

Sarah: Do you women have jobs?

Alex: They all have jobs; it is very rare for women to stay at home.

Sarah: What is the history of the relationships between Ukraine and the United States?

Alex: Ukraine is pro the US. US has a good relationship with Ukraine. Ukraine does not require a Visa, but if you want to go the US you need a Visa, which is nearly impossible to get a Visa.

Sarah: Have many people emigrated from this country to the United States?

Alex: I don’t have a number, it’s cause people from Ukraine emigrate from every where.

Sarah: Are there many American living in Ukraine?

Alex: I don’t think so, in Ukraine, I haven’t met a single American, but I did meet Americans in customs, but that was because the Americans were looking to adopt a child.

Sarah: What kinds of health services are available? Where are they located, near where people live?

Alex: Health Care is public in Ukraine, practically everything is available, and they are easy to access. There are lots of hospitals lots of clinics, in every city has a clinic if you compare it to Minneapolis, and every county has a hospital.

Sarah: Is education free? Is it required?

Alex: Education is required, you go to school like here, for 8 years, and then you can drop out, or you can go to 11 years and get your diploma, or go to College or University, school is free, Universities are not free, right now you have to pay for it. There are government scholarships; it is very hard to get them.

Sarah: In schools, are children segregated by race?

Alex: There is no segregation, because 99.9% people are White. There are some African Americans in the cities.

Sarah: What kinds of schools are considered best: public, private, or parochial?

Alex: There are private schools, but since you have to pay for them only rich people will enroll their children in private schools, they are considered prestige. Most people will enroll children in public school.

Sarah: What would you say is the biggest difference between the two countries?

Alex: Quality of life, that is the biggest difference. When you walk down the street in the US, people will smile and ask how your day is going, in Ukraine people don’t do that, when that first happened to me, I thought that person was weird, I was thinking why would you do that what is going on.

Sarah: Do you plan on ever moving back to your country?

Alex: No

Sarah: Do you have a lot of international friends? How about American friends?

Alex: No, not really. I have well three or four American friends, well people I would consider my friends.

Sarah: Are there lots of opportunities to travel to other countries? Is it encouraged?

Alex: If you have money, it is encouraged, people mostly travel to Europe.

Sarah: What do you miss most about your country?

Alex: I don’t miss anything

Sarah: What is the political system like in your country? Is it similar to America?

Alex: It is similar, pretty much the same.

Sarah: What is your impression of Americans?

Alex: They are different, let’s put it that way, they think differently their expectations are differently. Like with money, people will use credit, and will think later how you will pay for it, but in Ukraine, if you want something you save up for it.

Sarah: What is your favorite thing about the US?

Alex: Quality of life, opportunities, much less limits, if I want to I can go wherever I want, I can afford things I want, I can make a good living.

Sarah: Your least favorite?

Alex: It is pretty much the same everywhere, I travel, and it is pretty much the same everywhere. I go to LA, and still the same.

1st Interview Report

2009-10-27T14:33:00.000-07:00

In preparation for the interview that I had conducted with Carl Grundell, who is from Sweden, I gathered some information about Sweden, had created a list of questions that I had emailed him prior to the interview, that way Carl would be able to look over the questions. The objectives that I have with the interview is, I want to learn the struggles that someone would have with coming over to the United States and trying to make a living, also want to learn about Carl’s country. When it came time to interview Carl, we decided to have the interview take place at his home, because he is a very busy man and that way it would be most convenient for him. He lives in Lakeville, Minnesota. The interview took place on October 24, 2009 at noon; he could not do the interview during the week because he works and only the weekends work for him. When it came time to decide how I was going to the record the interview, I went and purchased a recording device.

The recording device became very helpful when I found out that I was going to have to approach three students, who are international, and I was quite nervous. The first thought that ran through my head was how am I going to approach students without feeling embarrassed. After class, I had called my mother with ideas on how I could approach students, instead of giving me ideas on how to approach students my Mother suggested that I interview Carl Grundell, who works with her. I thought this was a terrific idea, because everyone else in the class is interviewing students, how great would it be to get an adult’s perspective of the United States. To get in touch with Carl, to see if he would be willing to let me interview him, I had emailed him and asked. Carl was more that happy to let me interview him. So through emails we were able to set up a time that worked best for Carl.

When it came down to decided when, where and how the interview was going to be conducted, I wanted to make sure that it was going to be most convenient for Carl, after all he is taking time out his day to help me. He and I decided the best time that would work would be on a weekend day, we couldn’t do a Sunday, because he loves to watch football, on Sunday, October 25, the Vikings and Pittsburgh were playing each other, and those are his two favorite NFL teams. So we decided that Saturday, October 24^th at noon, would work best that way he didn’t have to wake up early and after the interview he would be able to do what he needed to do. The interview would take place at Carl’s house in Lakeville, Minnesota. The interview was conducted in his office because his wife Kelly, and three-year-old son Eli were home, and he didn’t want them to bother us. When it came to recording the interview, using my small recorder.

The person to whom I interviewed was Carl Grundell. He is from Sweden, the southern part, a town call Malmo. He moved to the United States in 1955. He is 35 years old, lives in Lakeville Minnesota, with his wife, Kelly who was born in the United States, and has a son, Eli, who Kelly and Carl adopted from Guatemala two years ago, and Eli is three years old. His interests are working out, hanging out with friends, going to the movies, and sports especially Hockey and Football. His favorite football team is the Minnesota Vikings, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The interview process for me was easy, because Carl spoke excellent english; he was quite willing to let me interview him. During the interview, he gave me good information, but I do wish I could have gotten more, before the interview started he stated that he could talk about the questions for hours, but he do his best to summarizes. He could not go on and on because his father was in town. The interview went smoothly, there really was not any awkward silence. If I would think of more questions on the fly, he was willing to let me ask them and we would talk about them. He has a dog, which was a Boxer just like my brother dog, and we were able to talk about that for a minute, and we also rambled on about a sports for a bit because we both enjoy hockey and football. What shocked me the most about the interview was when I asked him if he missed his country and if he would ever go back, he stated that he did not miss Sweden and that he wouldn’t go back. I thought he would definitely would miss Sweden, but he thinks of the United States as his home, and Sweden is just a place that he would go and visit for a vacation and not a place that he would live. There was a part in the interview that did move me, and that was when I asked the question, what things are unacceptable in your country compared to the United States. He stated that when it comes to drinking and driving in Sweden no one does it. When people go to a party and have a couple of drinks they do not get into their car and drive home, they will have a sober cab or they will spend the night. Sweden has a very strict no drinking and driving there. He is quite surprised to see that so many people here will go out drinking and then go home, he stated that, that would never happen in Sweden, people know better. Also, when I asked, what is the attitude towards divorce, he stated that Sweden has the highest divorce rate in the world, I thought that the United States would be one of the highest because I know so many people that their parents are divorced. Other than, the absolute no drinking and driving policy and the divorce rate, I wasn’t really surprised or shocked about his answers.

Sweden where Carl is from is located in Northern Europe, the capital is Stockholm, and the population of Sweden is nine million. Sweden is called, “The land of the midnight sun,” or, “The land of the Vikings.” The Swedish flag is based on the Scandinavian Cross design first adopted by Denmark about 800 years ago. The colors were taken from the Swedish coat of arms; the flag has a yellow cross on a blue background. Over half of Sweden’s population belongs to the Swedish church, which is a Lutheran Church. The Swedish language is similar to the English alphabet, but the Swedish language has three more letters. The currency of Sweden is Krona, Sweden is not connected to the Euro. When it comes to the food, the food that is most popular would be the Swedish meatball, pasta dishes, they have a lot of German foods, the preparations are pretty similar. The types of clothes that people wear in Sweden are similar to what people wear here in the United States. When it comes to transportation in Sweden they public transportation, many people will use the public transportation rather than use their own vehicle. In family’s household, they will only have one car, rather than each person have their own vehicle. The important Holidays in Sweden are January 1^st, Easter, Good Friday, Church Holiday in May, Christmas Day, and Christmas Eve. When it comes to sports in Sweden the most popular sport is Football, which is Soccer to the United States. Sweden has a similar government system as the United States. Sweden is a great country, I would love to go and visit this country some day.

Objectives Revised

2009-10-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

1. I want to gather all the necessary information about the interviewee's culture.

2. Have well thought out questions, and have the questions well rehearsed.

3. Set up an interview, when setting up the interview, I want to make sure that I am accomodating the interviewee's needs: work around the interviewee's schedule, make sure to have a comfortable place to interview (something warm and inviting).

4. During my interview, making sure I am well prepared, I look professional, I am calm, make sure that I am paying attention, I have eye contact, and I want to be opened minded about the interviewees answers and to what they have for me to learn.

5. After the interview, I am going to make sure that I thank my interviewee for taking time out of their day to let me learn and hear about their culture.

6. Once I have gathered all the information from my interview, I am going to prepare a paper.

7. I will transcribe at least one of interviews on paper.

8. Finally I will hand in my paper for a grade.

Group 8, Maddy, Kevin, Sarah

2009-09-29T17:38:00.001-07:00

MLA PAPERS- p. 592

Modern Language Association

Sources are cite for two reasons:

1. To tell readers where you information comes from- so that they can assess its reliability and, if interested, find and read the original source.

2. To give credit to the writes form whom you have borrowed words and ideas.

MLA is the most used format for writing in School systems.

This is how MLS citation usually works:

1. The source is introduced by a single phrase that names its author.

2. The material being cited is followed by a page number in parentheses.

3. At the end of the paper, a list of works cited gives complete publication information about the source.

Plagiarism:

Three different acts are considered plagiarism:

1. Failing to cite quotations and borrowed ideas.

2. Failing to enclose borrowed language in quotation marks.

3. Failing to put summaries and paraphrases in your own words.

You must also cite any ideas you borrowed from a source: Summaries, Statistics and other specific facts, and visuals such as cartoons, graphs, and diagrams. The only exception is common knowledge.

Summaries and paraphrases:

Write ALL information in your own words. If you do copy the authors or if you half-copy you commit plagiarism.

Maddy, Kevin, Sarah

Group 8

Objectives

2009-09-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

1. I expect to have all my questions ready and prepared

2. I expect to be able to take the answers that were provided from the international student and create a thought-out paper.

3. Being able to take what is answered to me and transcribe the information provided to me.

4. I want to be able to understand the international students culture and where they come from.

5. Work around the International student's schedule.

Sarah Nelson

Questions for International Students

2009-09-29T15:51:00.000-07:00

1. What was the first thing you did when you landed in America?

2. What is one major issue that you have encountered while you have been in America?

3. What do you miss most about your country?

4. Why did you choose America, why not a different country?

5. Do you have any other family members here with you?

6. Where are you from?

7. What is your education system like?

8. Do men and women have equal rights?

9. How long do you plan on being in America, do you see yourself here for the rest of your life?

10. What was the biggest Culture shock?