Interviewing a Foreign Woman | Teen Ink

Interviewing a Foreign Woman

December 11, 2015
By Alyssalynn06 BRONZE, Oxford, Massachusetts
Alyssalynn06 BRONZE, Oxford, Massachusetts
2 articles 0 photos 0 comments

I interviewed a 57 year old woman named Rosane Rose. Throughout her life, she has been through some difficult situations. For example, moving from Brazil to the United States. Rosane lived in Brazil for most of her life until she graduated college. Therefore, she wasn’t fluent in English. Rosane moved to the United States knowing very little. Here she met an American man who she ended up marrying at the age 27, and had 3 children. Their home was a mix of American and Portuguese culture. Not knowing much English, she had to speak Portuguese while the husband, Hank, spoke English. That way, the children grew up to be fluent in both. She stated, “American lifestyle and Brazil’s lifestyle is different. The foods, music, activities. The interaction between people is a drastic change. In Brazil, we are very physical and friendly, even to knew friends. Hugs are the normal greeting, and passing someone and touching their shoulder for them to move isn’t uncommon.” In Brazil, they hug and kiss each cheek to say hello. Whereas in the United States, we shake hands or just say “nice to meet you.” It was hard for her to get used to that and also the foods, music and activities. In the USA, the biggest meal for us is usually dinner.. But not in Brazil! In Brazil the largest dinner is after lunch and before dinner. The food here is more processed than where she lived. Which was a city but everything was natural, she said. Moving to the United States has been difficult and very different but, she mentioned “I’m proud to have come here and been able to give my family a comfortable life.”



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