Interview 2 Transcription (Niraj Sitaula)

Interview 2 Transcription

Nathan Altenberg (Me)

Niraj Sitaula (Interviewee)

So what made you decide to come to the US?

I came to the US to study abroad. The degrees that I can get over here are recognized all over the world. But I also came because of the political situation back home, it is not going that well, so maybe for that reason too I decided to study abroad.

You said that the political situation back home isn't going that well, could you elaborate on that?

There is a conflict going on between the political parties in Nepal. Maoist have been trying to eliminate the monarchy and bring communism into the country. So they have been fighting with weapons for about 10 years. After the peace agreement there were still strikes and law and order was paralyzed. So the situation was not going well when I came over here.

I know that Nepal is now a democratic republic and parliament has dissolved the old monarchy. But I was curious, which did you like more in Nepal, the monarchy and the royal family, or the current political system?

I am really not that involved with the political aspects in Nepal. As for either one being better for the people, then if the monarchy supports the citizens of Nepal better I would prefer the monarchy but if the political parties have a real scientific political stand point I would consider them. But really I don't have an opinion on either one.

So in other word you really weren't involved with any of the political stuff in Nepal?

I wasn't committed, I had no time with my studies. Sometimes my family and friends would talk about the political situation and what we could do and sometimes just about what's going around you know, and that's it.

Alright, now I am going to change the subject a little bit here. You said earlier that you came to the US for the better education that you could receive, but why did you come to St. Cloud in particular?

St. Cloud State is a cheaper college for international students and also by brother and cousin are already studying over here so it is like I already have family here.

That makes sense, I have heard about the program they have here to make tuition cheaper for international students so that definitely would be helping you out.

Yes, but also when I compared this to other colleges I found that the living costs were cheaper here too, so that really helped.

I can tell already that you speak English very well, and I was wondering when did you start learning English?

Back in my home county I went to a private high school and for one year in school you have to speak English even if you speak Nepali naturally and a school day would go for about 8 hours. So you would have to speak English whether you are talking to your friends or your teachers, that's how we learned to speak good English.

Is that how they teach English in every school in Nepal or just the one that you went to?

In most of the private schools that is how they do it but in some schools they do have their English courses but they do not do it the same way.

*This is only a partial transcription because I have lost the rest of the recording.