Interview with a First Generation Immigrant to the US - Research Proposal Example

Interview with a First Generation Immigrant to the U.S Introduction Creative expressions of the elderly are rooted in a lifetime of experience and some of their skills gained over the years, and their memories of the past and life in the present could guide future generations in looking at the new world they inhabit in a positive perspective. Oral histories are created when one person (the interviewer) interviews another person (the interviewee) about a specific time period in the interviewee's life or a specific topic they can recall. Interview with a first generation immigrant will help in understanding the struggle they undergone and the economic conditions of their land of birth and the host nation during that period.The decision to migrate is not a permanent one-off decision, and an individual may migrate for a variety of economic, family, or other reasons, and may intend to stay only temporarily, or to settle permanently. For many families, immigration results in growth, opportunity, and the dawning of new horizons. But, there are costs involved in all immigrations, as it is a transformative process with profound implications for the family. Without a cultural competence, control, and belonging immigrants often feel disoriented. Interviews are particularly useful for getting the story behind a participant's experiences. The interviewer takes the interviewee's responses and creates a text of the interviewee's words told through the point of view of the interviewee. This is not an exact transcript of what the interviewee says. The interviewer must edit the transcript-moving parts around, taking parts out, and even adding words here and there (with the interviewee's due consent). The final piece of writing should capture the voice and spirit of the interviewee. A well designed interview is deemed to provide an invaluable link to our past and give meaning and direction to our future. As such, an attempt is made to interview first generation immigrant and his experiences and opinion are narrated below, along with detailed stages involved in conducting an interview. Necessity for conducting the interview As part of my MBA curriculum, I have to prepare an interview report based on the experiences of a first generation immigrant in order to assess the impact of immigration on our economy. The recent literature of migration and exile is forged by perspectives that emerge from cultural identities and languages. The attention of first generation migrant literature is often directed at the act of migration, the passage to another land, the reception in the country of emigration, issues of racism, nostalgia and longing. The insurgence of multi-national corporations in India and associated changes in conglomerate nations provides the context for analysis of the experience of Asian-Indian immigrants in the United States. The influx of multi-national computer industries in India has resulted in the unification of time and space between the homeland of immigrants and the host nation. It is found that cultural importance of family ties and respect for family is maintained both immigrants whose parents reside in America and whose parents are in India. However, younger generations want to free from the control of family and yearn to make their own individual choices, and follow one's own career path. It is also observed that Indian immigrants recognize opportunity in the form of the ability to choose life path themselves. As compared to older generation immigrants, new aspirants are able to maintain close contact with family in India via modern communication networking. Ability to communicate with loved ones and friends allow them to maintain ties with their heritage and maintain individual identity as Asian-Indians, though they are transforming automatically to American identity. In this context, a study of the experiences of a first generation Asian- Indian immigrant to the U.S is relevant to understand the 'cultural importance of family ties' among the new immigrants (Wright, Lisa-Marie). Brief note on interview process The Interview as an exploration into individual experience: An interview is the essential part of gathering information, and it should be conducted in a favourable environment for the interviewee. It should begin with a question or a topic that will elicit a full reply from the narrator, or start with some basic biographical questions. Small questions "where and when were you born" are easy to answer and can help break the ice, and give the respondent time to answer each question. Try to draw out specifics, such as: How long, how many, when, where, etc Absorb the atmosphere of the locale where the interview takes place, with particular attention to what might be a reflection of the interviewee's personality and interest, such as photos of children, trophies or memento, etc. Noting the body language and certain characteristics worth mentioning in the story is also crucial in an interview. Showing interest to what the candidate is saying, encouraging him or her with nods and smiles, and listening carefully will maintain the tempo of an interview till end. Be alert to what the narrator want to talk about, and if he or she brings up a rich subject that hadn't been thought of while sketching interview questions an interviewer should not be afraid to detour from the list of question. Providing name, email address, contact phone numbers, or leaving a visiting card with the interviewee will help in keeping touch with the person in future, if anything pertinent comes to mind after the interview. Preparation for interview Successful culmination of an interview depends on preparations made before conducting the interview and the depth of research done in advance on the person or topic we are working on. It involves identifying the major objective of the meeting, developing some basic questions, planning the session, and inviting potential members to the meeting. Once it is decided to interview someone, an appointment should be made with the interviewee in advance through making a written request or a call. The interviewer should identify him/her-self by name and inform purpose of the interview, what the story is about, and name of the publication or institution you are affiliated should be briefed. It is also necessary to obtain an informed consent from the participant and maintaining confidentiality of information. Informed consent from participants It is ethical on the part of an interviewer to gain consent of the interviewee for reporting on personal information. Whenever a researcher is focussing and reporting on personal information about a research subject, he or she should obtain permission from the subject to do so. They should understand what interviewer is doing with them in the study and how any information associated with them will be reported. It is also necessary to clearly conveying the terms of confidentiality regarding access to the report. The interviewee should have the right participate or not and an informed consent form should be got signed from them. A sample informed consent form is given at Annexure-A. Drawing up Questions for the interview Anticipate questions, appropriate and relevant to the research data, about the person to be interviewed should be drawn in advance and written note should be kept ready for referral, but avoid showing the questions to the interviewee as it creates very formal atmosphere. An important part of the interview is preparing questions [A model question enclosed at Annexure-B]. Questions should cover past, present, or future of an interviewee and sequence of the questions play crucial role in gathering information. Topics that cover in an interview questions will be about the behaviour of a person, what he or she has done or is doing, opinion about a topic, feelings about a topic of interest, knowledge about a topic, their sensory perceptions, and standard background questions covering age, education, etc. Sequencing of the questions should begin with more easily engaging ideas interspersed with fact-based questions that may engage the respondent throughout the interview. Present issues should be covered in the beginning of an interview, as it will be usually easier for them to talk about. Interviewee should be taken steadily to comment about past and future with adequate time to reminisce their memory and last question should be aimed to provide any other information they prefer to add at the end of the interview. It is also important to consider the wording of each question, so that the respondents are able to choose their own terms when answering questions. Questions should be neutral, worded clearly, and asked one at a time. When the shape of the story change during reporting, ask other questions based on what the interviewee says or something new that might come up on the spur of the moment. A working tape recorder, pen (or pencil), stenographer's notebook, and a camera will help in gathering the information correct and clear. Getting the permission of interviewee to use a tape recorder will be advisable, as some may feel reserved to disclose personal experiences and refrain from recorded proofs. Taking fresh notes, in addition to the probable questions that has already been prepared, as and when the situation warrants will help in the reconstruction phase and clarity to recorded message. Conducting Interview: Identifying a suitable interviewee, explaining the purpose of the interview, addressing terms of confidentiality, getting informed consent, explaining the format of the interview, fixing duration of the interview, and choosing a setting with little distraction are paramount in conducting a successful interview. (Carter 1997-2007). Choosing a setting with little distraction is crucial to ensure that the interviewee is comfortable with the setting. Often, they may feel more comfortable at their own places of work or homes. The place of interview should be conducive to the interviewee and loud noises or lights should be avoided. Reconstructing the story after an interview is the crucial part and it should be done as soon as it is practical. As some of the scribbled notes may contain abbreviations that may need deciphering and delay in review of handwritten notes will obstruct clarity in final presentation, drawing a sketch of the story as soon as the interview is over is important to avoid mixing up of themes. Putting some notations or underlining, along the quotes that seem most compelling, will speed the process of writing. "Filling whatever gaps exist in the notes" will help the interviewer better understand when writing final story. (Silver Stringers). Choice for the interviewee Mr. Sam (fictitious name), our Model Interviewee, is a first generation Indian-Asian immigrant, who migrated to the U.S in mid-1970s. One of his nieces, Ms. Angel, is now doing her MBA in the U.S and she was acquainted in our college library. During casual conversations it derived that her uncle is settled in the U.S and running a chain of hotels in Los Angeles. When I got the project work to prepare an interview report relating to first generation immigrant the first name that came to mind was of Mr. Sam, my friend's uncle whose description seemed to fit the purpose. The choice for Mr. Sam, as the interview model, was based on the reason that he is one of the successful Asian-Indian hoteliers in the area, and the friendship with her niece gave added advantage of getting introduced him easily and establishing a rapport fast. Contacting the interviewee Ms. Nancy, niece of my prospective interviewee, was contacted immediately and invited her for a tea in the college cafeteria to discuss the subject of my project work. We had a nice friendly discussion and she was more pleased to introduce her uncle for being interviewed for the project work. She gave Mr. Sam's contact number, and instructed to ring him in the evening to have a brief direct personal introduction, after confirming his convenience. As instructed I had rang up Mr. Sam in the evening and briefed him about the purpose of the interview and assignment requirements. He was more interested in being a part of the project and was willing to spare his precious 2hours for an academic purpose. It was decided to meet him at his home along with his niece during the coming weekend as he thought it will be a pleasant idea to utilize a weekend for reflecting on his life along with family members and it will also give a chance to meet his children, the second generation immigrants as well. Mr. Sam was again contacted on succeeding Friday evening to ascertain his convenience and confirmed the final date and time of interview for Sunday at 3.00PM to 5.00PM. Equipped with a tape recorder, camera, and noting pad the model was met at scheduled date and time at his home, along with niece. After getting introduced to his family members we set out for the interview in his study, which was found to be more ambient and comfortable for an interview. Once again Mr. Sam was briefed about the purpose of the interview and its relevance to my project work, assured him of maintaining confidentiality to the records, and got the informed consent form signed. Thus, we proceeded with the interview that turned out be a real incident to explore the intricacies and experiences of immigrants to the United States. Interview with Mr. Sam, first generation immigrant Q: Mr. Sam, it is great pleasure to meet a successful person of your caliber, and I feel lucky that one of my friends happened to be your niece, making my project work of interviewing a first generation immigrant more comfortable to both of us. Since I know you are an Asian-Indian and have gathered some knowledge about you from your niece, I would like to know the reason why you left your native land. Shall we begin this interview with this aspect of your childhood ambitions and what prompted you to migrate A: First of all, I am very pleased to be a part of your project activity that may help assess immigration status at present and contribute to formulate new strategies. I hail from an agrarian family, in one of the rural area of India, and of the seven brothers and sisters I am the second son among three brothers. My grandfather had worked for the British army and took part in First World War, and when I was a child he used to narrate stories about the British Empire and success of modern capitalist world. My grandfather's stories about the life and leisure of capitalist world planted the seeds of migration in my mind, which was growing along with my age. My father was a farmer and found it difficult to educate and support his seven children, because agricultural income was very meagre to feed the entire family. However, I secured a scholarship and completed my graduation in science from one of the prestigious colleges in Madras (new name for the city is Chennai). As a child I was inspired by British and American supremacy in the modern industrialized world from the anecdotes of my grandfather, and dreamt to be a part of these awe inspiring nations. My ambitions became more ardent after graduation, when I started looking for a better paying job, which was difficult to find in those days. Considering the pecuniary position of my family and fulfil my ambition to complete masters degree I stayed in Madras, and took up part-time clerical job in a hotel. It was an occasion for me to learn the basics of hotel management. My parents wanted me to become a government servant or a teacher, but I had a childhood dream, of migrating to any of the industrialized country, to be fulfilled. Q: Mr. Sam, how old was you at the time of leaving your home country Will you explain the conditions in the country when you left A: I believe immigration results in growth, opportunity, and the dawning of new horizons, for many families. During the time of my graduation there were very few employment opportunities, except a few government jobs or becoming a teacher, which was low paid. Industrial growth was at low pace, and it involved hard labour. I just completed twenty one years when I was leaving home in search of new horizons in the more advanced countries. There was an interview being conducted at the hotel, where I was working part-time, for recruiting labours for a Singapore hotel. I was more interested and wanted to test the waters of Singapore as my stepping stone to modern advanced world. I got selected for clerical job and a week after celebrating my twenty-first birthday I was flying to Singapore, to begin the long journey of my life and struggle to reach the U.S. Q: How did you prepare for your trip and get here What did you leave behind for achieving your ambitions A: Since I was pursuing my studies in Madras, I was able to arrange passport and visa at the earliest through some personal contacts in concerned offices. However, money was a hindrance in arranging air travel and I opted to take the journey to Singapore by a steamer, as it was a cheapest mode of conveyance. But, my first voyage through turbulent sea was unforgettable, as I was sea sick and got drained all my energy by the time I reached Singapore. In addition, the working condition in the Singapore hotel was nod conducive. Though I was recruited as office clerk I had to attend all chores of the hotel, and had to work 14 to 16 hours at a stretch, for a meagre return. It was really testing time, as I was cut off from my family and friends. Nostalgia, compounded with tiring work, haunted me all the time, and compelled me to return to my home and loved ones. As my elder brother was not in a better paid job, and age and hard labour put my father less productive it was my responsibility to support family and marry off my sisters. With the meagre income from my Singapore hotel it was a difficult task. But, through perseverance I worked and learned many things from Singapore, and the knowledge gained there paved way for latter day success as an hotelier. Q: How did you reach the U.S, Mr. Sam What was your first impression of this new haven A: I was in search for new openings and avenues to migrate to the U.S, my child-hood dream destination. My qualification in science and experience in a hotel was not enough to get an opening to the U.S, but communication skill was prime requisite to be successful in an interview. As I was educated in native mother tongue I was poor in verbal communication in English, though good at writing skills, and it obstructed my career prospects. Getting immigration clearance from Singapore was also difficult to come, as there were many formalities to be completed, which was free from corruption. After knocking at many doors, I ultimately got recruited to the U.S as a labour, putting an end to one-and-half-year stay in Singapore. The fast life and culture of the America was strange and my poor communication skill made me feel withdrawn from the main stream. Realizing the problems encountered in communicating, first step I took was to enrol in a couching class for English speakers of other languages. There I got exposed to immigrants from various nations and made friends with many of my liking. It gave me an opportunity to share dreams and difficulties of new migrants to the U.S, which assisted me in searching for more job opportunities and engage in further professional learning in hospitality management. It was a continuous struggle, doing hard labour for four years to get a well paid job of my choice. Being in possession of professional diploma in hospitality service and conversant in English communication I was able to get selected as manager in a hotel run by an Iranian family. This gave me foot hold in the U.S soil and made me confident and comfortable to visit my family and friends in my home-country. Q: Where you comfortable being away from friends and relatives A: Don't remind me of those struggling days. I was cut off from friends and family, except infrequent postal communication. After these five-and-a-half-years stay in Singapore and the U.S I was able to be with my family and friends and it was a memorable occasion of my life. As all four of my sisters were married off and there was not much family liability I was entreated to get into wedlock. I took it as best suggestion and considered bringing new phase to my life, but very few parents were willing to marry off their daughter to a person employed in a foreign country. All were sceptical about the Western life and culture, and preferred a government employee for the groom. However, my friends were successful in locating a suitable match and marriage was solemnized immediately. After a month's marriage bliss I had to leave my family and friends, for joining work in the U.S alone. Getting passport and arranging immigration clearance for my wife was not easy as I perceived, and living a solitary life after marriage was dreary. However, efforts fructified and my wife joined me after two years, ending my lonely monotonous life in the U.S. Q: Now, Mr. Sam, you are a successful hotelier in the U.S and your cousins are more popular. Would you like to share your beginning as an hotelier A: It was quite an accident of chance. I struck gold when the Iranian owner of the hotel, where I was working as manager, decided to sell it and return to their native land. I was keen to own a hotel of my own and expressed my wish to my employer, who was more interested to handover the property to their trusted ambitious hard worker. Getting finance was next problem, but luckily a friend, from ESOL class, working in a bank promised to solve it and arranged for funds. On 10th June 1982 I became the owner of the Iranian Hotel, which happened to be the first birth day of my first child, Betty, and hence my hotel chain is named 'The Betty's' (a fictitious title for the project). Within few years I was able to expand my horizon with the help of my relatives, who have been brought to the U.S to share my success. Though an Asian-Indian, priority is given to Iranian cuisine in my hotels, besides specific continental specialities, to maintain my memory and gratitude towards my first employer in the U.S. Q: It was really amazing to hear your personal experience. Shall we sift through national interests as first generation immigrant to the U.S What is the Immigration status in the U.S and the U.K and its influence A: Immigration is the source of the majority of a nation's population growth, and it is marked by increasing racial, ethnic, cultural diversity. Immigrants bring with them countless languages, styles of dress, family cultures, and world views. According to the U.S Census Bureau, more than 49% of the nation's foreign born entered the U.S. since 1990. In 2003, 53.3% of the U.S foreign born were born in Latin America, 25.0% were born in Asia, 13.7% were born in Europe; 4.0% were born in Africa; and 4% were born in other world regions.( U.S Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, 2003). Over the past 40 years the national population has increased from 200 million to 300 million. Fifty-five million (55% of the increased population) of these persons were immigrants or U.S-born children and grandchildren of immigrants. Latinos, 29 million in all, made up more than half of that number. Another 22% (12 million) were Asians and Pacific Islanders, while 7% (4 million) were Black. (Pew Hispanic Center, 2006, cited by Bourne 2007). It may be observed that some families are motivated by the promise of better jobs and the hope for better educational opportunities for immigration, and their experiences and adaptations vary substantially, depending on their collection of resources and culture of reception. Some of the immigrants are highly educated professionals, while others are illiterate, low skilled and struggling in the lowest paid sectors of the service economy. Besides the U.S, the U.K is also a haven for immigrants. The age at which a migrant enters the UK is significant, and changing earnings and fiscal profiles of an individual over their lifetime have special implications with regard to migration and economy of a nation. Q: Do you think current restriction on immigration affect nation's economy What are the bitter experiences of immigrants that may hamper their prospects in the country they migrate A: The public debate over migration into the UK is often over-simplistic and ill informed, sometimes distorted by myths about the extent to which migrants draw on the welfare state, and without sufficient appreciation of the benefits they can bring. A 1999 study, by Shields and Wheatley-Price, of ethnic minority migrants living in urban areas of the UK identifies qualifications and English language proficiency as being the two most important determinants of occupational success. Their estimates indicate that migrants with degree-level qualifications (holding their other personal characteristics constant) are employed in occupations that are paid almost 30 per cent higher gross hourly wages than those occupied by migrants with no qualifications. Language fluency is "found to increase the mean hourly occupational wage by approximately 16 to 20 per cent" (Shields and Wheatley-Price, 1999). In the UK, migrants entering through family settlement category are required to support themselves without recourse to the state for a period of one year, whereas fully settled migrants are entitled to full benefits and service provision. Work permit holders are required to work in the job specified by their permit, whereas their spouse and dependents have largely unrestricted access to the labour market in the UK. These legal conditions provide one indication that fiscal outcomes may differ substantially between categories. With regard to age, normally young and receiving expensive education and old consuming costly healthcare are fiscal liabilities. Evidence suggest that migrant children are expensive (NRC 1997a) and those of working age are assets (Ulrich 1994), although results find the elderly migrant population to be less fiscally demanding than might be expected (Luscombe and Fish, 1998) (Gott and Johnston 2002). Immigrants experience acculturation challenges like grieving family and friends left behind, learning a new language and system of life, combating prejudice, and negotiating their cultural heritage with American values and practices. Immigrant youth undergo an assemblage of changes that have a lasting impact on their development. By any measure, immigration is one of the most stressful events a family can undergo, removing family members from many of their relationships and predictable contexts-community ties, jobs, customs, and often language. Immigrants are removed from many of their significant relationships-extended family members, best friends, and neighbours. These changes in relationships, contexts, and roles are highly disorienting and nearly inevitably lead to a keen sense of loss. For many immigrants, the cumulative losses of loved ones and familiar contexts will lead to feelings that range from mild sadness to depression. For most immigrant children a period of separation from one or both parents is normative and the reunited child must first get reacquainted with the family. Q: Do you agree that immigration is a good thing under any circumstances Are there any situations in which it is not good A: I believe freedom of movement is one of the most basic human rights, and the opinion of immigration controllers to think letting people move freely would have catastrophic consequences is denial of freedom of movement. From a global perspective, freer migration could bring huge economic gains, and trying to ban the movement of goods and services across the borders is self-defeating. When workers from poor countries move to rich ones, they can make use of the superior capital, and technologies and institutions, of advanced economies making it more productive. Removing or relaxing immigration controls would enhance economy and yield big gains. Migrants tend to be enterprising and hard working people and those who come from countries that offer fewer opportunities than the U.S or U.K are more willing to do the low-skilled jobs, essential services that cannot be mechanized, that the native aging and increasingly wealthy citizens rely on, but are willing to do. Immigrants bring exceptional skills and their collective diversity and dynamism helps spur innovation and economic growth. Look at the success stories from Silicon Valley tells us that cofounders of Intel, Google, eBay, etc. are immigrants, who arrived in the U.S not as highly skilled graduates, but as children Q: What are the hidden costs of current immigration restrictions A: There is high humanitarian crisis from migration restrictions leading to detention, criminalized people-smuggling business, expanding shadow economy in which illegal migrants are vulnerable to exploitation, and corrosion of attitudes towards immigrants. Draconian policies drive migration underground and many enter covertly and overstay their visas, and then work illicitly resulting in huge costs. Current policies are not justly costly and cruel, but also ineffective and counterproductive as well as incapable of protecting society. Q: What are the biggest barriers to enacting upon immigration policies in rich countries like the U.S and the U.K and your message to new generation A: It is viewed that low-skilled immigration is harmful because the newcomers are less educated and willing to take low-paid jobs, which may deprive less educated citizens of their employability. It is also believed that immigrants take local worker's job, on the assumption that there is only a fixed number of jobs for the unskilled. In reality, immigrants rarely compete with citizens in the market rather they complement the efforts of citizens and stimulate extra capital investment. I believe that immigration is the source of the majority of a nation's population growth, and it is marked by increasing racial, ethnic, cultural diversity. Immigrants bring with them countless languages, styles of dress, family cultures, and world views, thereby enriching the host nation's culture. Bibliography BOURNE, Dennis R (2007). Psychological Perspectives on Immigration: Special Section: Immigration Overview. [online]. Communiqu. Last accessed 111 May 2008 at: http://www.apa.org/pi/oema/March_2007_Communique_Special.pdf CARTER, McNamara (1997-2007). Basics of Conducting Focus Groups. [online]. Last accessed 11 May 2008 at: http://www.albany.edu/aging/sna/resources/BasicsofConductingFocusGroups.pdf CARTER, McNamara (1997-2008). Sample Information Release Form. [online]. Free Management Library. Last accessed 11 May 2008 at: http://www.managementhelp.org/evaluatn/consent.htm GOTT, Ceri and JOHNSTON, Karl (2002). The migrant population in the UK: Fiscal Effects. [online]. RDS Occasional Paper No 77. London. Last accessed 111 May 2008 at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/occ77migrant.pdf How to Conduct and Interview. [online]. Community Centric News. Last accessed 111 May 2008 at: http://stringers.media.mit.edu/interview.htm Lisa, Marie. The Ties that Bind: Assimilation and Trans-National Relations among Asian-Indian Immigrants in the U.S.Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, Marriott Hotel, Loews Philadelphia Hotel, Philadelphia, PA, Aug 12, 2005. Silver Stringers. [online]. Community Centric News. Last accessed 111 May 2008 at: http://stringers.media.mit.edu/index.html The Ties that Bind: Assimilation and Trans-national Relations among Asian-Indian Immigrants in the US. [online]. all academic research. Last accessed 111 May 2008 at: http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p21999_index.html Annexure-A Sample informed consent Form I voluntarily agree to participate in the evaluation of the ABC program. I understand that this evaluation is being conducted by Mr. XYZ, to improve the ABC program and is also the basis of his research study. I understand that the evaluation methods which may involve me are: 1. the researchers recorded observations of my circle and its process and/or 2. my completion of evaluation questionnaire(s) and/or 3. my participation in a 90-120 minute interview. I grant permission for the interview to be tape recorded and transcribed, and to be used only by Mr. XYZ for analysis of interview data. I grant permission for the evaluation data generated from the above methods to be published in an evaluation report to the funder, and in the dissertation and future publication(s). I understand that any identifiable information in regard to my name and/or agency name may be listed only in the above-mentioned evaluation report to the funder, that is, this information will not be listed in the dissertation or any future publication(s). _______________________________________ Research Participant Accessed from http://www.managementhelp.org/evaluatn/consent.htm Annexure-B Guiding Questions for Interview - What country are you originally from - Why did you leave this country - When did you leave How old were at that time - What were the conditions in the country when you left - How did you prepare for your trip here - Who came with you when you emigrated Who did you leave behind What did you leave behind - How did you get here Did you stay somewhere else before arriving here - Why did you choose the United States Why not some other country - Who decided you would come here Did you want to leave | - How did others in your home country treat you when they knew you were leaving - What changes in lifestyle did you make when you came here - What was your first impression of the United States Has this initial impression changed over time - What are some of the differences/similarities you've noticed in the cultures here and in your home country - What were your hopes for yourself (and/or your family) when you came here Have you realized these hopes - How were you treated when you first arrived in the United States How are you treated now - Were your expectations of America met Was your idea of America the same as the reality Read More