Thesis on "Ethnographic Interview"

Thesis 6 pages (1932 words) Sources: 0 Style: MLA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Ethnographic Interview: Levon From Turkey

We, as Americans, take our every day experiences for granted. They are so common to us, so mundane; but yet so different from millions of other people on this planet. It is so strange to even imagine such a different life outside of the United States, but they are there. Thousands of different types of experiences are dependent on their own culture and native lands. Understanding these different experiences can not only teach us a lot about the rest of the world, it can also teach us a lot about ourselves.

And so it was my mission with this assignment to learn in depth about a completely new experience in life, moving to the United States from a different nation. While walking around Nashville, I wondered how t would look within the eyes of someone who was just first seeing it. Finally, I remembered a new co-worker of a relative of mine who had recently moved to Nashville from Turkey around a year or so ago. I asked my relative who worked with him if he might be interested in being interviewed, and fortunately he was more than happy to help and enjoyed every minute of talking about himself and his heritage. Levon had moved to Tennessee after living in New York for about four months. He said the rustle of the city was too much, and so was the rent. So, he found himself here, based on some of his own relatives already living here. After missing his family for so long in a big city by himself, this 27-year-old Kurdish immigrant wanted some reminders of home. After moving to Tennessee, life has changed dramatically for Levon. He has embarked on a new career path and a whole new life. He is proud of his past, yet very optimistic and excited for what his future here in the United States will bring.

Since living here in the United States, a lot has changed for Levon. He describes having to change various sets of behavior, but nothing too extreme as to make him feel uncomfortable in his new home. Also, having so much family here has helped a lot with his transition. In fact, it was a cousin of his that got him a job as a teller at a local bank. His family here includes his grandparents and several large batches of aunts, uncles, and cousins. He as three brothers, but none of them live with him here in Tennessee. One still lives in New York, while the other two still live with their parents in Ankara, the capitol city of Turkey. Levon had already learned English is native Turkey, so it wasn't a horrible transition, for at least he could communicate with his new neighbors and countrymen. Also, his native town of Ankara is the second largest city in Turkey, so he wasn't that out f place in the hustle and bustle of the big city of New York. Living in the urban sprawl of Nashville, he still feels comfortable here in the city; but confesses that he would never be able to live out in the country with such quietness and space. Levon explains that it wasn't necessarily the people or the language which made his transition difficult in any way, but actually the weather! He comes from an area of the world that is probably just as hot as Tennessee, but much more arid. Levon recognized the unfamiliar humidity almost instantaneously as he walked out of the airport from New York. While in New York, the cold bothered him, but here it is the high level of humidity. It is something he admits he has struggled in getting used to, but it could be far worse. The fact that he has so much family and support here is what he believes the best aspect of moving into the United States. Without them he claims that he probably would not have made it, for he would have gotten extremely homesick. Although he misses his parents and two bothers tremendously, he feels closer to them through his relationships with his other extended family members. They have helped him find a place to live, a good job, and have helped fill his time in such a foreign land. "Without them, I'd be nothing," he admits with a smile on his face.

Now, Levon is enjoying life here in the United States. He is currently working o gaining his full citizenship and cherishes his job at the bank. Levon admits that he liked his job back home better because "it felt more like a career than just a dayshift." Having gone to college in Turkey he admit that he misses some of the seniority he had. Loosing part of this through working in the United States with a sometimes looked down upon foreign degree hinters some of his chances to find good work at his level. Levon is annoyed in many ways by the biases people place on foreign degrees. He studied computer science and worked with some of the most complicated systems in Turkey at the time; and he was still relatively young. However, he admits his job is not horrible. It definitely pays his bills and then some. Although he is making much more than he did back in Turkey, he finds that his cost of living has also gone up. Simple things are much more expensive, causing you to have to spend more money than you would living in Turkey, or really anywhere for that matter. This, he admits is "what drove me out of New York!" With expenses much too high and job prospects ridiculously under his potential, Levon left New York to come out to Nashville because he had some family living here. He remembers his cousins gasping at the sound of his total rent in New York and actually hitting the floor when they heard how small his flat was! So, his situation here in Tennessee is much more favorable than his time spent in New York City. Recently, he has been saving up quite a bit, and continues to save a large portion of what he earns. This, however, does not stop him much from enjoying himself. Living off of Church St. In Nashville, he has easy access to restaurants, bars, clubs, and museums. He admits to loving the Country Music Museum, says it's a beautiful building.

Luckily, Levon did not arrive like many other immigrants with no family or place to stay. He hears horror stories and agrees completely because he would not know where to begin in such a vast area if it wasn't for his family. He can't imagine how one would even choose a place to live or stay, much like any American would not be able to see also. It is hard to leave one's family and culture, which is a large reason for such unity and collaboration within certain ethnic immigrant groups. It is a natural instinct to be around one's kin and familiar way of life. Because he had recently moved out to Tennessee, Levon has been living with an aunt and two cousins in a large house. He wants to move out so he is not a burden on his Aunt, but still enjoys living there with all of his family. It was really interesting to see him smile when he spoke about his family. His life is centered firmly around the familial unit, which is odd because his parents aren't actually here. The family structure goes so much farther beyond the typical American nuclear family. Together, they rent a house off of Church, a four bedroom for his aunt, himself, and two cousins. Eventually, Levon wants to move out; but for now he is enjoying saving and having good home cooked meals much more often than his American co-workers; "Cheap rent and free food, you'd be slow to leave too!" Levon owns his own car which comes in handy with work, which is relatively far from his house. He remembers his old job in Turkey was closer to his house there, but much harder to get too. He likes how the roads in Nashville are so wide, and recalls horror stories of some back Turkish roads.

Despite such harrowing traffic moments, Levon remembers Turkey fondly. He had fun there and enjoyed his childhood with his two brothers. They were all very close in age, and so played and fought together constantly. He remembers one time in particular, when they all were watching the Ninja Turtles while at home one rainy afternoon. They were all sick and home for school, causing trouble for their poor mom. Together they built a battlefield in their living room, with forts made out of chairs, pillows, and old sheets. With all three of their conditions improving their mom actually built herself a fort and joined in the slaughter. He always loved how his mother was so animated and inventive. She would go along with… READ MORE

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