ANTH499E/EALC398E
Team Assignment #5: Interview Transcript
Leejin, Sandra, Mike, Jonghyun
[S: Sandra, L: Leejin, P: Interviewee]
S: Ok, let’s start. Ok so, what year in school are you?
P: Senior.
S: And what’s your major?
P: Nuclear plasma and radiological engineering.
S: And how do you, how do you like it?
P: How do you like it? I really like it. [Laugh]
S: So you’re a Korean citizen,um, studying here for all four years?
P: Yeah, um, I am Korea citizen now and senior year in undergrad, I am also planning to go to
grad school.
S: Oh, in the US as well?
P: Yeah.
S: Okay, cool. Um, Uh, when did you start learning English?
P: Probably, when I was in third or fourth grader in elementary school.
S: And you were learning in Korea?
P: Yeah, I was learning, I was… first learned English in Korea and then, came to United States
when I was a tenth grader.
S: And you went to high school here, then?
P: Yeap, from since tenth grader to twelfth grader in Indiana.
S: Oh Okay. And how like, what did you think of high school?
P: Eh, Here?
S: Yeah, in the US. Like how was it different from Korea?
P: Oh well, couldn’t really tell that much difference because I only went to one semester of high
school in Korea and then rest of high school in here, but then the only difference I can, I could
say the atmosphere in United States’ high school has … a lot more … freedom? [Laugh] And …
like in Korean, Korea, we just got, get to, we wear just school uniform, and here you don’t
except when if you are going to really expensive boarding schools here.
S: Did you notice any other differences?
P: Other differences? Well, classes. You don’t get to choose your classes in high school in Korea
but here you can, so that means like whether you are doing, [?] whether you’re doing good in
math or not in Korea you get to, you just have to go, go to advance classes as you go to upper
class … so, that makes life tough for some students in Korea.
S: So, we know there is um, there is an exam you have to take before going into college in Korea.
P: Yeah.
S: So, did you have any intention of taking that or, or potentially going to college in Korea?
P: No, I never thought about that.
S: So, you always knew you wanna to go in the US?
P: Yeah.
S: Why?
P: Why? Because, purely because…my major. You know, nuclear engineering and…there are
not many good school Korea have that program, so I just decided to come to United States and
study that.
S: So you always knew you wanna to do that.
P: Yeap. I decided to go there, go for nuclear engineering since I was ninth grader.
Cool.
S: Cool. Um, do you, did you make a lot of friends in high school when you first came?
P: First year, maybe not. Because it was more like time for me to get myself adjust to this new
environment, but then like second year, yeah I don’t think I had any problem making of friends.
S: And did you make friends was mostly like other Korean students or English… or American
students?
P: Mostly American, because, just because, my school, there weren’t that many Koreans there.
S: Um, do you still like keep in contact with your friends?
P: Only a few.
S: Yeah, um what about at U of I, um we have a pretty big population of Korean students, do you
interact a lot with them?
P: Oh yeah, a lot, a lot. [laugh]. I would say pretty most live here without speaking any words of
English [S: Ha?] because since there are so many Koreans around here.
S: And, what like, what groups of Korean you noticed at U of I?
P: What do you mean - what group?
S: Like, are there different types of Koreans here?
P: I will say there are two major groups, like, Korean American and, can I say FOB Koreans?
[Sandra laugh]
S: Yeah. Um, who you prefer to hang out with, like of, any student?
P: Mm… like, are you asking between Korean American, or native Koreans?
S: Yeah or, or Americans or like other international students, anyone?
P: I would say I probably feel most comfortable with FOB Koreans because I am a FOB Korean,
but [both chuckle] then I don’t mind hang out with other people at all.
S: Um… are you associated with KSA or KASA?
P: Yeah, I am a member of KSA.
S: And how do you like it?
P: How do I like it? Mm, well, it like in KSA, there are lots of different teams, and my teams,
what, my team’s due is mostly voluntary jobs, for example, just, what I do is, I go to, well, what
is calledKorean conversation table every Friday, and there I teach Korean language to non-native
Korean speakers, and it is pretty fun, I mean, looking at not, looking at non-Korean speaking
Koreans.
S: Mm-mm. Are you friend of a lot of KSA?
P: Yeah, yeah. Probably more than ten. And there are about 90 members in KSA.
S: Um, what do you think about Greek society at U of I?
P: I was, I honestly have no opinion because I know nothing about it
S: So, have you ever considered like joining a frat?
P: Uh, No. Because I mainly heard that that’s for white people. [both chuckle]
S: Um, what is your favorite moment or thing about studying abroad in the US?
P: That’s hard question. Can you go back to that question later?
S: Yes, okay. Um, so, at the U of I, do you identify, like how do you identify yourself?
P: Are we talking about…
S: Like what kind of person do you identify is?
P: Engineering student, international student, Korean, or, someone in nuclear engineering
department…
S: [laugh] Has you’re like the way you thought about yourself fitting in with other groups has
that changed at all throughout your time in the US?
P: Can you… what are you saying? What do you mean?
S: Like, have you felt more connected to like a certain group or certain identity has changed at
all as you’ve been here?
P: Well, as an engineering student, I feel more connected to like any other people who is in the
engineering department or engineering areas.
S: Mm. Um, Had there been any uncomfortable or embarrassing moment or experiences as an
international student?
P: Not really, but then, there are always some white kids making fun of Asians [laugh] or
different people or different ethnicity.
S: Have you experienced the like first hand?
P: Well, yeah, I think so when I in the, in my first year in the United States, Because I think, it
was mainly because I was at the really small countryside at Ohio and there was a few Asians,
Indians or other ethnicities except White people. And then yeah, I was the pretty much only
Asian people in my school and probably people were thinking my, it is probably okay to make
fun of me? I don’t know.
S: Did that make you feel like you couldn’t connect with them easily?
P: Yes and no. I mean that mostly matter of that person. I mean there was many people who were
nice to me and tried to be a friend with me.
S: Mm, did like, White people making fun of Asians change your opinion about White people?
Like what were the opinions before you came, and then do they change?
P: Well, [pause] I always knew that was gonna happen. Even before I came to the United States,
I knew that was gonna happen because I have my brother who came to two years earlier than me
told me about his experience so then, after I came, as I told you I also experienced that, and the
idea of like, some White people making fun of other ethnicities I think it is more matter of that
person’s personality than just.. how should I say that?
S: Generalize it?
P: Yes, generalize it.
S: Hmm, have you had any, any barriers you had over come here? Any… culture shock?
P: Culture shock, in terms of culture shock, probably no. Because I already knew America from
movie, news and media. But then I still think I have a language barrier?
S: Yeah.
P: Yap, because English is not my native language.
S: Do you feel like you overcome it? That barrier?
P: I think I am still working on it. Because ever since I came to college, I speak more Korean
than English whereas when I was in high school, I got to say, speak more English because there
were few Koreans in my high school.
S: So then, do you, do you feel like you hang out with more Koreans, because it is easier to hang
out with them or?
P: Ya, I should say that it is really easy to hang out with Koreans just because there are lots of
Koreans around here. And then once you are like, once you start to hang out with Koreans, you
get to know more Koreans. And you don’t feel, you don’t get to feel need of making other, say
White friends or Indian friends or other Asian friends.
S: So, why do you think it is easier to hang out with Koreans?
P: Probably because we share the same culture and language.
S: [Pause] Hmm… how important are English exams like TOEIC and TOEFL to you?
P: At this moment, probably not. Because I don’t have to take any TOEFL anymore,
I mean to get into the grad school, I only have to worry about my GRE and TOEFL I don’t have
to worry about it anymore since I already attend this school where the primary language of
instruction is English.
S: So, after grad school, where you are planning to live?
P: Prefer living in the United States. Because uh, my brother also start to, start to pursue his
career here so I think it is just think it is easier for me to settle down here and start my new life
here [laugh].
S: So do you think you will miss Korea?
P: Maybe, but after now not that much. I mean I just don’t mind where, I don’t mind… where
I…Yeah I don’t mind where I have to live and where I work so…
S: Okay…shall we go back to other questions?
P: Yes.
S: What is your favorite moment or thing about studying abroad in the US?
P: I can’t think of anything.
S: No, there…it can be just like favorite activities you do, like. I don’t know.
P: … moment to think about it?
S: Okay. What are some things you like about studying abroad, not necessarily favorite things
you like about it?
P: What I like about studying abroad? ...Well I would say I get to have more chance to meet
people from different background, culturally or…yah, mainly culturally. Different cultural
backgrounds, whereas in Korea I don’t think I’ve ever got to see anyone from different culture,
except Korean.
L: Hmm, I thought it was interesting that you said that it is easier to hang around with other
Koreans at UIUC, right? And you said that you recognize different groups among different
Koreans like FOB Korean, native Korean and Korean American- those are some languages you
were using. Are there any significant differences you can recognize one by one? Some of
characteristics or features?
S: Should I say that again for the recording?
L: Maybe we can do that later.
S: Okay.
P: It is really hard to say it. Because you just look at them, you just kind of know it. Hmm…yeah,
how to say it…between like FOB Koreans and Korean American, there are some differences in
their looks [laugh]. But I cannot really say it in word. Hmm, maybe they dress differently? Ya,
FOB Korean cares more about their fashions whereas Korean Americans, they dress like
American [laugh].
S: Are there any other differences you notice?
P: Maybe Korean Americans have more tanned skin?
S: What about aside from looks?
P: Aside from looks? Well, Korean American’s English is of course a lot better than FOB
Korean’s. They were born in here. And then I guess Korean Americans do hang, hang out with
more, around with Whites and other people of ethnicities more than just FOB Koreans.
L: What about native Korean?
P: What about them?
L: What about native Korean? Are there any differences going on between FOB Korean and
native Korean?
P: Oh, I, I was just thinking that native and FOB are the same.
L: Ah, okay.
S: Hmm, did you wanna say anything more about that?
L: Oh, yep. And how can you define KSA?
[both L and P laughing]
L: I know it is hard….okay, we can start from the easy question [P: okay]. Hmm, any reason to
choose to join KSA instead of other organizations?
P: Nah, just mainly because by friends just told me to do so because she was a director of the
team I was involved in.
L: And do you think it… whether gears toward Korean Korean or Korean American or is there
any particular targeting communities that KSA (?)…
P: It’s definitely for Korean Koreans.
L: Okay. Why do you think so?
P: Because all the people in that group are Korean Koreans…
L: Okay
P: …and all the things they do are for Korean Koreans.
S: What would happen if a non-Korean Korean joined KSA?
P: Never happened before. I mean… I don’t even know if there are Korean Americans in the
group or not so… Yeah, I think only Koreans are allowed to join.
[pause]
L: I thought it was interesting because you said that one of the advantages of living in USA is
exposure to the diversity, right? Culture and ethnic diversity… And it seems like when you
come to the UIUC you choose to hang around the Korean person and you choose to associate
with a Korean association.
P: Mm hmm.
L: Uuum, did you or have you ever involved any other like diverse community in UIUC?
P: Community… Uuum. [pause] I don’t know if I could put this as a community or group, but I
was in Illini Symphony Orchestra. Then um… [pause] Well, just because I like hang out with
more Koreans than I mean the Korean association doesn’t really mean that I only hang out with
more Ko… hangout only with Koreans, but then… Yeah, I do definitely feel more… more
comfortable than I’m around with Koreans than non-Koreans just because… like I’ve said I’ve…
we share same culture and language, but then I also hang out… hang around with lots of nonKoreans.
S: Where do you usually meet like most of your friends?
P: Where?
S: Yeah. Like how do you meet them?
P: …you mean like…
S: Like your… you meet the Korean people all through KSA or…?
P: Yeah, through KSA, through friends…
S: How do you meet the non-Korean people?
P: Met most of my non-Korean friends through KCT and I know from… non-Korean people
from my department… and, yeah, class…
L: Do you see any difference from the Korean you have in you… have any experience (?) like a
FOB Korean and a pure Korean Korean who never been to USA or be educated in the country?
P: Difference… in terms of what?
L: I don’t know, like different feelings and are you comfortable hanging around those groups too,
like Korean Korean…
P: Yeah, uh I don’t mind hanging around with anyone, but then it feels like people who have
been educated been educated up until their high school years in Korea and then came to here for
college. Things to (?) only hangout with Koreans. That was what I saw previous… Lots of
people I know are doing that.
L: So those people who have experienced of studying abroad, they’re like all the study abroad
조기유학 and then coming to the UIUC may hang around those who share the same experience
that’s here (?)
P: Mm hmm. Yep.
L: Do you think any reasons why people do this thing?
P: Any reason? Uum…
L: Just based off your observation.
P: I guess those people who have gone to the United States before… even before college… and
has some experience in American high school are more used to a environment here or used to
people around here, so maybe they feel more easier to make friends… become a friends with
them, and then the people who just came to United States for college I guess they never had
that… those kind of experiences… then that makes them to… I don’t know if they want it or if
they plan it but then it just happened that they… because with become friends with Koreans
more and probably know that they’ll know how to approach to non-Koreans that become friends.
S: Uuum… Why did you decide to come to the US in tenth grade?
P: I wanted it, my parents wanted it. so we just decided to go. Well, I decided to go.
S: So did your parents influence the decision a lot?
P: No. Well, it wasn’t that they were making me to do so, but then they encouraged it.
S: Why do you think they encouraged it?
P: Because they want me to experience the bigger world they had, not just Korea.
S: Uuum… did learning English have anything to do with the decision to come to the US?
P: Yeah, they… the main reason for coming to the United States… one of the main reasons
besides studying Nuclear Engineering. Then I, yeah… I want to learn English more and want to
speak better, read better.
S: So is English proficiency really important to you?
P: The exam?
S: Like, no just in your life. Just knowing English well is it really important to you?
P: I think it will be because I want to pursue my career in the United States.
L: There any specific reasons why you want to stay in the US instead of going back to Korea or
going back to other countries?
P: Well, like I said, I don’t mind working the United States or Korea…
L: Mm hmm…
P: …or even other countries, but then… what I’m studying, like Nuclear Engineering, there are
not many pools for jobs in Korea for what I know. So I think US will give me more chances.
[pause]
S: Uuum. Are there any differences you’ve found from your studying abroad in high school
versus in college?
P: So, are you just basically asking are the experience between (Sandra voicing too) high school
and college?
S: Yeah.
P: Well, in college I guess I do have more free time, but again I have to study a lot, whereas in
like high school I could just enjoy my life whenever. And didn’t have to study a lot, but still got
an A.
S: Uh, do feel like uh you were more social in high school like did you have more time for social
things, in high school or college?
P: In high school?
S: What did you usually do when hanging out with friends?
P: When I was I high school or…? Well, just… just hang around, and I just go eat and go… go
for a movie, you know.
L: What about in here, uh are there any differences, in terms of activities you do with the Korean
Koreans and would do with non-Koreans friends, are there any differences(es)?
[pause]
P: No, uh like hanging out in college always involves alcohol, no matter who I hang out with.
L: What about the amount of alcohol consume you?
P: I see people consume, like Koreans consume more alcohol than [laugh] non-Koreans.
S: Is like the way… the way you drink alcohol different?
P: The way I drink?
S: Like the way Koreans and non-Koreans drink different? Like what they do when they drink
and stuff like that?
P: Well the type of drink are definitely d-different, but then I don’t think that way of drinking is
that much different because I mean, that when you go for pregame at drinking, you just kind of
play a drinking games.
S: Uh, what, what are the different types of drinking- types of drinks that you were talking about?
P: When I hang around with Koreans, we definitely consumes more alcohol made in Korea. And
then when I hang out with non-Koreans, we just drink anything, mostly beer.
S: What’s your favorite type of alcohol? [both langh]
P: My favorite? Makkoli? Do they understand what that is?
S: That’s a Korean rice wine, yeah?
P: Yeah, yeah.
L: So in the interview you said that there, um the appearance-wise FOB Korean, Korean, and
Korean Americans are a little bit different, right? So where do you situate yourself? In terms of
appearance and outfits?
P: Mmm, I get to judge my own appearance? I think I’m more of FOB Korean.
L: Ok.. Can you say how so?
P: How so? Hmmm… Ummm… I think because I was grown up in Korea, that the way I dress
up were the way the way I look, probably much influenced from Korean environment than the
American culture or environment. So I would say I’m more FOB Korean.
S: Are there any like specific fashion differences?
P: Between FOB Koreans [S: yeah] and Korean American?... Fashion difference… um… well
I’m not really an ex-expert in fashion, so I don’t… I would, well, I would love to explain it to
you, but then [laugh] I don’t know how to explain this. Um… try Google search?
S: [laughs] try Google search?
P: Maybe it will show you difference.
L: You can- y-you don’t have to answer the question, but when it comes to opposite sex, do you
recognize any differences in terms of appearance or the outfits between Korean and Korean
American? Or FOB Korean and Korean American?
P: In my case are you asking, can I say the difference between FOB Korean girl and the Korean
American girl?
L: Yeah, yeah.
P: Oh I think it’s easier to recognize the girls because well of course the way they dress are
different. And I think, like, Korean Americans have more this eyes [gestures] how do you say
that?
L: The chinky eyes?
[Everyone laughs]
S: That’s so racist! Like, their eyes are more angled?
P: Yeah…[laugh] I don’t know if that has to do with any environment or not. But then I see more
Korean Americans have this eye.
S: Um.. So, in terms of like FOB Korean girls and Korean American girls, like, which one do
you prefer?
P: [laugh] Mm.. FOB Korean girls.
L: Why?
P: Cuz I’m not really fond of this eyes [gestures].
L: So, based on your observation, um, are there any difference between FOB Korean and Korean
woman who stay and live in Korea? [P: Can you-?] Uh, the fashion wise.
P: Can you say that again?
L: Uh, are there any difference between FOB Korean who are in here, and Korean-Korean who
are in Korea?
P: Hmm… that’s kinda difficult to answer because umm, ever since I came to the United States,
I haven’t gone back to Korea that much, so yeah, I don’t think I can really answer that question.
S: Umm.. Do you also like non-Korean girls?
P: [both laughs] I don’t have any preference. But then, statistically. from the girls I have liked,
umm, yes I have liked more FOB Korean girls than any other girls…. Or Asians..
L: So in terms of the future place you wanna live, um do you have any like desirable place that
you wanna locate yourself? Upon graduation?
P: Well right after graduation, it will wholly depends on where I get an acceptance letter from
grad school. But then after that, um, if I choose to live in the United States, I would definitely go,
want to live either West or East coast.
L: Any reason?
P: Because its- there are big cities there. I’m just tired of this corn field.
S: We have a big city.. [P: Chicago?] called Chicago [laughs].
L: So do you prefer some some place that has a lot of Korean population, or do you prefer to live
non-Korean or less Korean kind of city?
P: Hmmm, well I don’t really mind about the Korean population, but then I think in the place
where there are lots of diversities, I think people in there have more mature minds and
understanding differences in terms of culture or skin color.
L: What do you mean by mutual understanding—mature understanding?
P: Mature… [L: Like what do you mean by..] like mature understanding? Like I said, the first
year I came to the United States, I was pretty much the only Asians there. Everyone around me
was white. I guess they didn’t- they didn’t have much experience getting to know the people of,
people from other culture, so they don’t know how to understand them? So they’re
understanding- no I shouldn't say that. So there were some, there were lots of people who tried to
make a fun of me. But then in the big cities, there are lots of Asians and non-white or black or
other peoples living there, and they interact with another, right? So they get to they get to
experience more people from various cultures. So… so I think they will… at least they are t- I
think they will have more tendency to try to understand the differences.
L: Why do you think that’s gonna be important trait in your…[indistinct]?
P: Pardon?
L: Uh, why do you think that’s gonna be one of the important trait for you to choosing where to
live?
P: Well, mainly because I don’t want to be made fun of. Or I don’t want people to make fun of
me or be rude to me so.. And I don’t want to be rude to them so..
L: So you prefere to live in the big city where people understand the culture diversity and
everything, right?
P: Yeah, yeah… I think it will just make me feel more comfortable.
[Long pause]
S: Good?
P: Good.
S: Thank you for interviewing with us P [laugh].
P: Why do you look so red?
S: Oh, ‘cause it’s hot in here! Look at him, he’s sweating.
[Laughing]
S: Yeah, I think we’re good.