Third interview with an International student

Interview with an International student

 

Donald: Could you tell me about yourself? (Your name, home country)

Sushant: My name is Sushant Baijant. And I am from Nepal

D: What are you planning to do after school?

S: I want to go down south and become a Police Officer and work my way up and become a Detective. During that time I will find a police department that will be willing to pay for my graduate degree. If I can't find a police department to work at I will go to school down south for my Master's Degree in Criminal Justice.

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

S: Saint Cloud State University offers a great Law Enforcement program. Also it is only one hour away from the inner-city in which that is where my family is. Also this university tuition is less expensive than some universities in Minnesota. Another reason why I choose SCSU is because my older brother attends this school and he recommended me to come here.

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

S: I believe the difference in educational system in North America compared to Nepal is money. The ideal that is if you don't have money to eat then, a person would not have money to attend school. In Nepal discipline is enforced all the time. We had to walk 2 miles in order to attend school. I attended a all girl's school in which we had to wear uniforms. In comparison with North America, students have more free will. The transportation is not a issue here. The textbooks are more up to date and the cost of school is more expensive. Here in North America there are more opportunities in taking classes compared to Nepal.

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

S: It is an independent country. In my country we are very family-orientated. If we could all my family members would live in one house-hold. Also we have coffee ceremonies, in which we drink coffee three times a day. The purpose of it is to have gatherings and bring closer the community.

D: Could you tell me about your country's traditional process regarding marriage?

S: In Nepal there are a lot of arranged marriages. My parents didn't experience that area of life. There are Dowry's marriages, in which a person has to give a livestock gift to the bride's parents. The gifts can range from a cow, to a pig to money.

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

S: In my country children like to play soccer and be outdoors. I remember when I was a child I loved to watch my mother cook in the kitchen. I wasn't an outdoor type of person. The children in the country I remember love to skip rocks into the river.

D: What is your traditional food?

S: Traditional foods in Nepal are Injera, in which we use to eat with most of meals. It is a spongy pancake looking. Most people eat this with our stews. Another food item that is traditional in Nepal is wet. Wet consist of chicken, beef, lamb, vegetables, lentils, and ground split peas stewed with hot spice.

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

S: Nepal is a democratically country. A party can have a religious belief. But when he is electing you come not changes the constitution or promote your own party.

D: What are your country's major religions?

S: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhist, Jews, Sikh, Ets.

D: What’s considered offensive in your country?

S: Something’s that are offensive in my country is when you don’t respect other person, not respecting your elders, being violent to women and kids. Also behaving deviant to society is part of offensive to one's own family. This is offensive, because of the repetition families have.

Preparation

It was easy to find the person because I knew a lot of people from Nepal. The interview was interesting and a little bit shocking because she seemed very comfortable and later she said she did not want to add something before the end of the interview. I used my cellphone to do the interview.

After the interview

We were both on time for the interview. At the end the interview, was wonderful and I got my experience on it.

 

 

 

Country report: NEPAL

Donald Akroman

10681094

ENGL 191

November26, 2012

Nepal is landlocked country between India in north and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China in South, West and East. The area covered is 56,827 square miles. With an area of 56,827 square miles i.e. slightly larger than the size of Arkansas has a population of approximately 27 million it is the 41st most populous country. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and the country's largest metropolis and has estimated of 5 million populations. The country has 14 zones and 75 districts. Nepal has a rich geography, extremely diverse terrain ranging from fertile plains and broad valleys to the mountainous north which has ten tallest mountains including Mount Everest, called Sagarmatha, the highest peak in the world.16.07% is the arable land and the main occupation of this country is agriculture. Nepal has a climate that ranges from sub-tropical summers with mild winters in the southern lowlands to an alpine climate with cool summers and severe winters in mountain. The main language is Nepali though people speak more than 100 languages. The main religion is Hindu which comprises 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3% and 2% others. The population growth rate is 1.76% and the birth rate is 21.85/1,000 population which is greater than in US. The net migration rate is 2.58 migrants/1,000 populations. 30.9% of population lies below poverty line. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita which is extremely low compared to that of US is just $1,300. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy providing 34.9 % to the GDP.

The flag of Nepal is unique because of it shape’s and symbol used. It is the only flag that is non-quadrilateral. The flag has two triangles, one stacked upon and slightly overlapping the other. The surface is dark red and the edge is blue. In the top triangle is a crescent moon; the sun is in the lower triangle. The color and symbol has its own significance. Red symbolizes closeness and blue symbolizes distance, whereas white symbolizes neutrality. Red is related to fire and blood, and blue is related to the vast sky. Red is the symbol of extreme heat whereas blue is the symbol of extreme cold. It seems quite meaningful that the sun, the moon, and the blue and red colors are used together. Red symbolizes the victory. It is even the symbol of good luck in Hinduism. Blue symbolizes knowledge, wisdom, honesty, and peace.

The highest peak in the world, Mount Everest lies in north of Nepal. It reaches 29,035 feet above sea level. The three main rivers are Kosi, Karnali and Narayani. The longest is Kosi with 453miles. Nepal is the world’s best place for pilgrimage tour and it is a tourism country. Of the many historical sites in Nepal ten are listed in the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The first is Royal National Chitwan Park which is rich in its variety of vegetation and wildlife. The park provides one of the last habitats for endangered species like the Asiatic one-horned rhinoceros and the Royal Bengal tiger. The other park is Sagarmatha National park where rare species of birds and animals are preserved. Kathamndu Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Changu Narayan, Bouddha, Pashupati are the other world heritage sites. Lumbini which is located in Nepali is the birth place of Lord Buddha.

The main agricultural products are pulses, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat. Hydropower is abundant in Nepal. It mainly exports to India. Nepal's main export items are Tibetan carpets, grain, herbal treatments and oils, pashmina and jute goods. Only 8% products are exported to US. The main imports of US are machinery and transport equipments. Others include petroleum product, medicines and electrical goods. 65.2% of import is from India.

Nepal is among the developing countries but recently the political instability has hampered its ability to implement key economic reforms. Government is cutting expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries and laying off civil workers. Nepal has considerable scope for accelerating economic growth by exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism. Prospects for foreign trade in other sector are poor due to small size of economy, its technological backwardness, its landlocked geographic location and its vulnerability to natural disaster. Nepal’s environmental challenges are largely a consequence of dependence on fuel derived from wood and expansion of agricultural lands includes removing trees without measures for replanting which results in deforestation and soil erosion. There is a refugee problem from Bhutan and border disputed with India are few transnational issues.

References:

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/asia-oceania/nepal

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Nepal.pdf

http://www.gfmag.com/gdp-data-country-reports/212-nepal-gdp-country-report.html#axzz2BR8RgEny