A Detailed Interview Questionnaire
Question: What is your first and last name?
Answer: My first name is Marcia while Juliana is my last name.
Question: Where were you born?
Answer: I was born in Piaui, a rural town in Brazil.
Question: What is your ethnic/ cultural background?
Answer: I am a Cafuzo, an ethnic group in Brazil that is commonly known due to our ancestry. We are of both Amerindian and African ancestry.
Question: Do you speak other languages/Dialects?
Answer: Yes, apart from English, I speak Bororo, a local dialect.
Question: What was your family size growing up? Who lived in your home?
Answer: My family consists of five children and both my parents, making a total of seven. We all lived at home as I was growing up.
Question: What was it like growing up in your family (Culture, Customs, Religion, Gender Roles, Spirituality, Superstitions, Education, Work, Ethic, etc.)?
Answer: Growing up in my family was fascinating. The rich culture and customs like the Churrasco and the Parintins Folklore Festival were interesting. Being brought up in a catholic family made me grow spiritually. Gender roles were clearly defined with the males having their own and men having their own. Superstations were a common thing during my growing up, we believe that eating a mango with milk can kill someone. Education was valued hence I was taken to school at an early age.
Question: What is important or valued in your culture?
Answer: The capoeira celebration is much valued in my culture.
Question: How are children viewed and cared for within your culture?
Answer: Children are viewed as a blessing in my culture and are well taken care of. They are also considered to belong to the society,each adult is responsible of guiding the children.
Question: How are elders viewed and cared for within your culture?
Answer: Elders are respected and considered wise in my culture. They are taken care of and given proper medical attention due to their age.
Question: What is your family’s opinion toward seeking intervention services such as medical and educational?
Answer: My family is open to seeking intervention services like the medical and educational. They believe they are beneficial.
Question: What is your family’s opinion towards seeking mental health services?
Answer: My family believes that mental health is vital for wellbeing and general health of an individual and one should seek mental health services when need be.
Question: How are children and adults with disabilities viewed within your culture?
Answer: Children and adults with disabilities are embraced and respected within my culture.
Question: Can you please describe your emigration experience? (Did you have advance notice? Did you have time to pack? How did you travel? With whom did you travel?)
Answer: My emigration experience was nice. I left my country in search for a better job. I had advance knowledge and had enough time to pack. I travelled alone via airplane.
Question: What was it like once you arrived the United States?
Answer: I was devastated on arriving the United States. I did not have enough money for my upkeep and a place to sleep on that fateful night.
Question: What is your current family size (relationship to those who live in your home?)
Answer: In my current family, we are three. We have a strong bond and love each other.
Question: Is there anything unique about your family or culture you would like to share?
Answer, Yes, something unique about my family is that my siblings and I have all succeeded in life despite being one of the poorest families in our locality. It is remarkable that we conquered the many challenges we went through.