Work

• What jobs did you have before coming to the United States?

  • How did you get each job?

  • How long did you stay in each job?

  • Why did you leave each job?

• What jobs have you had in the United States?

  • How did you get each job?

  • How long did you stay in each job?

  • Why did you leave each job?

  • What if any problems or difficulties in this job did you face because of your being an immigrant or Asian-American?

Marriage

• How did you get engaged, and how was that different from how your parents (or I) got engaged?

  • Was your marriage arranged?

• How did you get married, and how was that different from how your parents (or I) got married? 

  • Was there anyone else whom you proposed to or who proposed to you? 

Parenthood

• Why did you have kids when you did, and not sooner or later? 

• How did you decide what languages your kids (or I) should learn?

• What did you want or hope your kids’ lives to be like when they grew up?

• What limits did you think your kids would face growing up in the United States?  Do you think you were right or wrong about those limits?

Religion

• What were your religious beliefs or practices before you came to the United States?

• How were your religious beliefs similar to or different from your parents’ (or mine)?

• How did your religious beliefs or practices change when you were in the United States?

• How did you decide on any churches you belonged to?  Why them and not another?

Politics

• What were the big political issues before you came to the United States?

• How were your political views similar to or different from your parents’ (or mine)?

• How did your political views change when you were in the United States?