Interview of Immigrant
For the above project, I interviewed a 22-year-old youth named Li Xiu Ying. Notably, Li Xiu Ying said that he had moved from China into the USA about 11 years ago together with his parents along with three of his siblings. He mentioned that he was currently pursuing a college degree. Before the interview, I made sure that I informed Li Xiu Ying that I was carrying out the interview for a school research project and that I would use the answers that he had provided to write a school report. I also carried out the research project with his consent. I interviewed Li Xiu Xing to gather the required information. The following are the list of questions that I use.
Questions
When did you move into the country?
How did you move into the country?
Why did you move out of your Native land?
How is your experience living in the USA so far?
Has your immigration in the USA being beneficial, or has it put you at a disadvantage? Explain your answer.
How easy or hard is it to interact with the people around you?
Have you faced any discrimination or any racial tension while living in the USA?
What has been your being your economic experience so far?
How is your experience living in an industrialized community?
What has been your dating experience so far?
If you were given a choice, would you continue living in the USA or would you move out of the country?
The following was the feedback that I gathered from Fernando
Li Xiu Wing said that he migrated from China to the USA about 11 years ago when he was just 11 years old along with his parents and his sibling. He mentioned that his parents moved to the USA in the aim of looking for a higher source of income since the USA had a significantly stronger economy back then relative to China. Markedly, his parents believed that they stood higher chances of growing economically in the USA. At the same time, Li Xiu Wing migrated to the United States because his parents felt that the United States gave people freedom away from intolerance due to one’s particular view.
Most importantly, they believed that the U.S people with something higher or bigger than monetary prosperity. The USA also provided better education and higher employment opportunities as compared to China. Notably, Li Xiu Wing explained that they had moved in the country illegally through the help of their family friend who offered to smuggle them in the country in exchange for 6,000 US dollars. They then settled down in the state of California, specifically in the city of Santiago.
Li Xiu Wing said that he found life in the USA to be fair. The USA presented numerous advantages to him. However, it has also paused a substantial amount of challenges. He, however, believed that the benefits of living in the USA overweighed the disadvantages. The efficient education system was one of the biggest advantages in his life, especially because he had spent most of his time in the USA as a student. Li Xiu Wing believed that the education system in the USA would soon equip him with the necessary skills required to make a successful career which would eventually earn him more money and a better life as compared to the life that he would have had back in China.
Nonetheless, he also mentioned that the USA offered a higher number of employment opportunities and a higher income as compared to China, which also made his future more secure. He also added that he and his family were safer living in the USA as compared to Li Xiu Wing, which is known for its high insecurity levels. Therefore, he believed that living in the USA reduced the amount of anxiety he had, therefore, giving him a better life. Lastly, he also believed living with people who hailed from different races and cultural backgrounds had given him exposure and taught him how to interact with people from different backgrounds which would be beneficial for his career in future. However, Li Xiu Wing also reported that life in the USA had paused several disadvantages living. For instance, life in the USA had made him forget his culture; in fact, he could hardly remember his native language because he mostly used English to converse with the people around him. Additionally, the cost of living in the USA was significantly higher as compared to that of china.
Separately, Li Xiu Wing said that he sometimes found it easy to interact with the people around him. However, in other instances, he also found it hard. Interacting with the people from his neighborhood was quite easy, especially because it was majorly made up Asian people. However, he found it hard to interact with people who were not Asian, especially white people because they looked down upon him. He admitted that he had been discriminated numerous times because of his Asian origin, especially when he was new in the country since he was not familiar with the English language. Most of the discrimination occurred in school, especially from the students and occasionally teachers. He pointed out one instance when he was in high school when he was suspended for four weeks from school by his class teacher because a package of cocaine had been found in his class. It was not until three weeks later after his suspension that his class teacher discovered that Li Xiu Wing was innocent when the real culprit turned himself in. Li Xiu Wing has also faced other instances of racial discrimination school, especially from the policemen who constantly searched him for drugs. In fact, on some occasions, his Asian origin has sometimes cost him job opportunities because some employers are afraid that he might steal from them. Li Xiu Wing explained that he was angry US citizens because they often label him as a drug dealer or a criminal even before they got to know him character. This fact frustrated him so much that he decided to dye his hair blond in the effort of fitting in the community.
Li Xiu Wing reported that he and his family were low-income earners. More so, when his family first moved in the country, his parents had a hard time starting life afresh, especially because they were illegal immigrants. Besides, the stereotypes that exist in the USA about the Asians further made it harder for his father and mother to get decent employment. Eventually, Fernando’s mother got a job as a nanny while his dad landed a job as a security guard in a local bank. The financial situation has worsened over the last five years after his dad was incarcerated for smuggling drugs. Therefore he left his mother as the sole provider for their family. Li Xiu Wing has also found it difficult to get a well-paying job seeing that he has also faced numerous discrimination cases from the public and the employee. Additionally, the fact that he also has to help his mum in raising his younger siblings has also put a strain on his pocket. However, Li Xiu Wing is hopeful that his income will increase once he is done with his college degree.
Li Xiu Wing admitted that the USA was indeed more industrialized as compared to China. Li Xiu Wing explained that numerous benefits came from living in an industrialized community. The biggest advantage is the availability of more employment opportunities because of the massive amount of companies found in the USA. Industrialization also made it easier to access basic goods and services. For instance, he is easily able to access transport services because of the availability of roads, medical services because of the availability of hospitals, internet services.
Additionally, he also reported that America has better standards of living as compared to China. For instance, he explained that the USA has better roads and medical services when compared to China. Li Xiu Wing also reported that he believes that he stands a better chance of improving his economic status because of the ready market and the facilities that are around him. For instance, the availability of the internet makes it easy for him to start an online business. Additionally, the culture of online shopping is well vested among US citizens as compared to China, which further makes it easier to start an online business. However, Li Xiu Wing believes that industrialization in the USA has also presented several disadvantages. For instance, he mentioned that industrialization has led to the pollution of the environment in the USA, especially the air. This has sometimes paused a great challenge to his health, especially because he is asthmatic. Additionally, he also believes that living in an industrialized society has weakened the bond that he has with the people around him, such as his family. Li Xiu Wing mentioned that he rarely ever has a sit down with his family because most of his time is consumed by work and school activities. The same applies to his mum. He believes that he would have had a stronger relationship with his family had he been living in China.
Li Xiu Wing explained that his dating experience has been slow over the years especially because he does not have a substantial amount of money to cater for the needs of his girlfriend, his needs, coupled up with the needs of his family. Therefore, he prefers being single. He is also mentioned that he is currently too busy to have a girlfriend. More to this, Li Xiu Wing is hesitant to date American girls because of their religious and cultural differences. More so, because his was he is a Muslim which is a religion that dictates dating girls with Islamic faith. Unfortunately, Li Xiu Wing has never come across a Muslim girl who is staunch in their Islam beliefs. Furthermore, he also mentioned that there is a cultural difference between him and most of the girls that he comes across. For instance, Li Xiu Wing strongly believes that it is paramount for his girlfriend to get along with his family. However, most of the girls are not willing to establish a relationship with his family members because they term this as too much trouble. He also said likes women who dress conservatively, unfortunately very few girls dress conservatively in the USA.
Li Xiu Wing reported that if he was given a choice of staying in the country or leave the USA, he would choose to stay in the country for several reasons. For instance, he acknowledged that the education system in the USA is efficient, and he regards this as one of the core necessities towards building a brighter future. Furthermore, he also acknowledges that the USA also provides numerous opportunities for one to build a successful career even if it is not based on education. For instance, Hollywood provides an opportunity for people to build their acting career. He also reported that the USA provides a convenient environment for one to live in because of the high level of security and the facilities that are offered by the government such as the smooth roads and efficient medical services. Finally, Li Xiu Wing mentioned that despite there being discrimination, he believed that the USA community provides equal chances for everyone to grow their careers. He borrows inspiration from celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Li Xiu Wing, who have established a successful career through hard work and skills.