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.
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