Interview One:
- Aesthetics: What is “beauty?” What are examples of beautiful art, music, dance and architecture? "BEAUTY is not only skin deep, but it is very important that you find your own inner beauty. Children are instructed to keep their figures reasonable, homes should be well kept. Etc. An example would be a large house with a nice front yard or creating something out of nature, etc (beauty). Music tends to be either soft our fast-moving songs that are considered beautiful (I.e. Christian music, opera singers, etc.
- Ceremony: What is appropriate behavior for greetings, and departures? What is appropriate behavior at various types of social gatherings? "Appropriate behavior is a simple kiss on the cheek or a handshake when greeting or at a social gathering. Haitians tend to be very loud so it is very unlikely that someone in our culture is quiet when speaking or attending a gathering."
- Ethics: What are your definitions of honesty and morality? Who transmitted these values to you?
"My definitions of honesty and morality are living the life that Christ has planned for me. My parents transmitted these values in my siblings and I as we encounter the journey God has for us." - Courtship and Marriage: What are your attitudes about dating, marriage and child rearing ? "I am very serious about dating with the purpose of marrying that special man. In our culture, divorce is not something to be appreciated or accepted. Also, we believe that the number of children we have is Gods plan"
- Family ties: Who is your “family?” How important is “proximity” in your family? "My family is both my parents and my 5 siblings. We have extended family members but to my parents in the Haitian culture, this is our "family". Proximity is neither important nor unimportant. The closeness our family is very important to each other than an uncle or an aunt although they are valued in our family."
- Health and medicine: How do you react to sickness, death, mental and physical well-being? "In any Haitian Family, having an illness can be very hard to deal with. My parents are not opposed to medicine or doctors, but they do believe in the power of prayer."
Interview Two:
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Interview Three:
- Rights and Duties: What are your beliefs about duty to your government? "It is very important to be a good and respectable citizen. We all play a part in society, and that needs to be active in order for our city, state, and country. Haitians love the community aspect and working together to make the society grow as a whole."
- Sex/Gender roles: What are your regards for your sex and the opposite sex? What are your feelings towards traditional and non-traditional male and female roles? “I am a religious person, and I believe that the man should be the leader of the household. The woman should be his partner. I believe that traditional roles are good. But, that does not mean that women are unimportant on unnecessary. Like they say, “It is a man’s world, but its nothing without a woman”.”
- Space and Proxemics: What are your attitudes toward personal space? “Haitians LOVE their personal space! There is an understanding that your space is yours, as someone else’s space is theirs. No need for anyone to invade that space, unless it is for a greeting.”
- Subsistence: What are your beliefs about responsibility to provide for yourself and others? "I am all for lending a hand to those who need it, or do not. God calls us as followers of Christ to serve, instead to be served."
- Time: What are your feelings about tardiness and promptness? How do you view others in terms of their tardiness or promptness? “Usually in our culture, Haitians plan events, but are always late to them. My family raised me to be attentive and arrive early to wherever I need to go. If other people are consistently tardy, it displays how disorganized and chaotic their life is. Tardiness shows how much the person cares about that event, or place, that they are late to.”
- Values: What are your feelings about “freedom,” “honor,” “education,” “philanthropy?” "I value all of these things highly. My parents made the choice to give my siblings and I, a better future; I value education and gaining knowledge. I desire to be informed and intelligent. Philanthropy is very important as well. Haiti is a destitute and deprived country. Therefore, giving back and showing generosity is important for any person from my culture. Freedom is something I honor as an American. We have the freedom to speak, to choose our religion, to have a home etc. I think that every human on this earth, deserves to taste and see the gift of freedom."