Nethmini Weerasekera Oral History Interview, February 23, 2022

Partial Transcript: State status at OSU

Segment Synopsis: Introduced that she is a senior at OSU and said that she is a Biochemistry and Molecular Bio major with a minor in chemistry.

Keywords: Date: 32rd Feb, 2022

Partial Transcript: what is her major?

Segment Synopsis: Her major is biochemistry and molecular biology and minor is chemistry.

Keywords: biochemistry; chemistry; molecular

Partial Transcript: Place of birith

Segment Synopsis: She was born in 1999 in colombo, sri lanka. Colombo is the capital city of Sri Lanka.

Keywords: 15 years; sri lanka

Partial Transcript: famly background what they do now and what they did in sri lanka.

Keywords: 5 members; 7/11; PhD; business; father; kentucky; mother; newspaper; older brothers; portland; stay at home wife

Partial Transcript: What was it like growing up in sri lanka

Keywords: family; friendly; friends; memories; neighborhood; sun

Partial Transcript: What is the political situation like

Keywords: bad; downhill; okay; ongoing war; parliament

Partial Transcript: Affect of China in Sri Lanka

Keywords: chinese people; colonialism; control; debt; economy; government; port; soldout

Partial Transcript: What are some likes and things worth caring about

Keywords: best part; cousin; cricket; everyday; family; hangout; trips

Partial Transcript: were you religious

Keywords: 5 precepts; alms giving; buddhist; everyday; practice; praying; religious; temple

Partial Transcript: were parents supportive

Keywords: career; culture; doctor; dreams; engineer; friends; goals; lawyer; parents; pressure; succeed; supportive; understand

Partial Transcript: Differences in school systems and curriculum between the two countries.

Keywords: COVID; Oregon; Sri Lanka; advanced; better; big difference; college; competitive; completely different; counsellors; entrance exams; freedom; future; good; harder; health; high school; language; mental health; parents; rigour; school system; stressful; strictness; younger

Partial Transcript: mental health in sri lankan schools

Keywords: Therapy; changed; considering

Partial Transcript: science studies in both schools

Keywords: basic; biology; chemistry; college; entrance exam; high school; indepth; physics; syllabus; tough

Partial Transcript: getting to know others

Keywords: adapting; culture; easier; friends; hard

Partial Transcript: how has media helped

Keywords: 12; American; Sri Lankan; changed; consume; developed; different; dreams; fun; high school; internet; media; movies; perception

Partial Transcript: Transition from homeland to foreign land

Keywords: culture shock; don't know anybody; family; novelty; stressful

Keywords: A levels; OSU; PCC; Sri Lankan; advisors; classes; community based; community college; experience; finance; freshman; friends; good; long tem; overwhelming; small; transfer; university

Partial Transcript: why pick osu

Keywords: Brother; OSU; UO; apply; biochemistry; campus; create; doctor; gap year; graduate program; knowledge; liberal arts; long term goal; medical research; medicine; pharmacy school; scientific research; skills

Partial Transcript: what are you doing in lab

Keywords: Sri Lanka; advanced; curriculum; deciding; experience; graduation; job; lab; learning; protein; research; research field; technology; therapeutic agents; thesis; tools; work

Partial Transcript: Opinions on current living situation and sri lanka.

Keywords: 2017; MU; apartments; beautiful; buildings; fall; library; linus pauling; quad; small lawn; special

Partial Transcript: Connections to other sri lankans

Keywords: 2 girls; American; Americanized; born and raised; different

Partial Transcript: What do you think the problems international students face

Keywords: English; barriers; discriminated; hard time; international; issues; jokes; language; phrases

Partial Transcript: Living situation after graduation.

Keywords: bad; country; get out; good job; not best option; oregon; permanent; work

Partial Transcript: Traditions and culture of sri lanka

Keywords: American; Japanese; New year; Thai; authentic; christians; christmas; churches; cultural cuisine; curry; eat; families; food plates; games; good; healthy; junk food; kottu; midnight mass; spicy; tortilla; traditional

Partial Transcript: How does the situation in america help understand or solve

Keywords: African Americans; Americans; Asian; POC; Sri Lanka; Trump; career; communities; don't know; economy; handled; mandates; minority; money; pay attention; people's need; problems; racism; sides; violence; war

Partial Transcript: what american cultural aspects surprised you

Keywords: Individualistic nature; community; longterm friendship; shocking; united