I met Cici through my television production class in first semester of last year. Our relationship actually started when she walked into the women's bathroom in Stewart hall where I was having an emotional moment. I had just had a heated phone conversation and wanted to shake it off before going back to class. She asked me to tell her what was upsetting me and she instantly made me feel better. There was something about the compassion in her voice that made me burst into tears and I instantly felt embarassed. She comforted me and I told her what was upsetting me. Talking to Cici flipped my emotional state around completely and we walked to class together as if it hadn't happened.
Our class only met once a week and because of that my relationship with Cici didn't grow much from there. I work the checkout desk for Mass Communications students in Stewart Hall and Cici is a regular there, due to her full load of production classes. Cici and I have become close now that I see her regularly outside of the classroom. She makes sure to come say hi when I am working and we've learned that we have quite a bit in common.
Cici is one of the more beautiful people I have ever met. She has light brown skin and an amazing hairline that leads to bouncy, shiny, flowing hair that most girls dream of. She is kind and it shows in everything she says. Of course I am going to say positive things about someone in an interview, but Cici is one of those people that you want the important people in your life to meet. She "lights up a room" so to speak and is seriously funny on top of it. Her strength and independence are obvious but she's just like any of my friends from home in the sense that she's not entirely positive where her schooling will lead her. She's easy to talk to and the conversation never falls flat or gets awkward. I feel very lucky to have a friend like Cici, and we have even talked about me coming to Sri Lanka when she goes back to visit. I approached Cici simply by texting her and asking her if she could do an interview for me, and we met up at Stewart Hall after my last class and checked out a computer editing suite so we wouldn't bother anyone.
Sri Lanka country report:
Sri Lanka is a country bordering India and rests on the Indian Ocean. The famous tourist spot of the Maldives lies just a ways south of Sri Lanka, and many from Sri Lanka travel there (Cici included). It's a president run country and is the oldest democracy in South Asia. Sri Lanka is known for it's beautiful landscape and also has the nickname of "the nation of smiling people". Sri Lanka makes the top 25 list for Biodiversity Hot Spots in the world. Sri Lanka produces Ceylon tea as well as coffee and various other crops. Rice and curry and string hoppers are common dishes across Sri Lanka and they can even commonly be seen being eaten off of a plantain leaf. Sri Lanka has a high GDP and has a positive outlook for economic growth in the years to come.
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| A picture we found together that we both liked |
Interview:
M- How do you communicate with eachother in your home country?
C- I use Skype mostly or Viber at times but Skype is much more common and easy to access when I'm here. But we also use cell phones and social networking to talk too. Like, while I am here and when I am there. But Sri Lankans are pretty direct when they speak.
M- What is the standard clothing style for men in your country? Women?
C- There isn't really a standard clothing style for men and women. However women in Sri Lankan culture wear an "OSARI" at certain events but otherwise you could probably catch me wearing this any day!
M- How are men and women treated differently in your home country? (things like work or religion or family values could influence this)
C- They like aren't even treated differently. It's a lot like the United States that way, men and women both go to school and work and do the same things as here. Like, I don't know, in a way I don't see many differences at all.
M- How has experience here in America (or on your many trips abroad) helped you respect cultural differences?
C- By getting my self adopted to each culture. Europe was an entirely different way. I have traveled to quite a few places across Europe and people weren't as friendly or warm and the setting was different, SCSU is so used to all these cultures coming all over.
M- Do you enjoy speaking with other exchange students? Do you speak with any from your country?
C- Yes, getting know where each other is from is a wonderful thing, it's the number one reason why I chose to travel. I've met people from all over the world. And the most variety I've seen has been here. I like also like how people here treat each other equal. It's a lot like Sri Lanka that way.
M- How long have you been in the US?
C- Uh... It's been seven years now.
M- Have you seen or visited other areas of the US?
C- Yes, many! I traveled to New York City last winter and this spring I went to Vegas. I've also seen parts of Florida like Miami and Orlando and went to Disneyworld. Ahh I'm going to California in March over spring break. I've seen parts of like New Jersey too I guess.
M- What is the major religion of your country?
C- Buddhism is like the main religion of families in Sri Lanka. But Christianity also is common, I'd say like the second most popular. And then there's like Muslim and Tamil too but not as much.
M- What made you come to the US? How about St. Cloud?
C- Well my education of course but I also wanted to see the United States and see how well I like it. I got a scholarship to SCSU, I would definitely have gone somewhere else if not for the scholarship. Somewhere in a bigger city maybe even a different state... it's too cold here!
M- Do you miss your family? Do you talk to them? What are they like and how do they feel about you being here?
C- I do miss them sometimes. I'm very close with my mother and she is a teacher so I spent so much time with her growing up. I talk to them a lot though and skype makes it not so hard. They send me letters and like litte gifts sometimes too!
M- What's your favorite food from your country? How about US?
C- In the United States? PIES! (laughs) I love pie! That's why Thanksgiving has to be my favorite American holiday. My favorites so far have been pumpkin and that caramel apple one. And in Sri Lanka I'd have to sayyy String hoppers. It's like bread made of rice kind of and it's like sweet and hot. I don't know how else to describe!
M- Do you plan to stay here when you graduate? Why or why not?
C- Yes, I have loved it here and had so much fun! I guess I don't know if I want to spend the whole rest of my life here but I really hope to find a job here when I graduate. America has like so much to offer that way and I like how like fast paced it is here. There's just always something to do and there's so much to pick from.
M- What is your major and/or minor?
C- My major is Mass Communications and I am doing a focus on television producing. I already have a German major from Germany though and I am getting a minor in Geography because it's kind of fitting for me (smiles).
M- When did you decide you wanted to come to the US?
C- I'd have to say it's when I was about 16.
M- Any questions for me?
C- No ma'am!
The interview was pretty brief, interviewing a friend that I knew a bit about already made it kind of difficult to get as much information as possible from it. But all in all I am glad I chose Cici because I did end up learning things about my friend that I did not know. I see her going very far in the United States with her career and friendships. She definitely has the motivation and strength to make it here and I hope that we remain friends for a long time.
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