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Multicultural Interview Paper Hallis

Multicultural Interview Paper

Brittany Hallis

Chadron State College

Multicultural Counseling

COUN 535

Dr. Lauren Coffey

May 1, 2022
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Multicultural Interview Paper Hallis
Demographic information

Annie is a 38 year-old female who was born in Tamuning, Guam. She identifies as

Chamoru and Filipina. Annie is married, has two children, and zero grandchildren. She currently

lives in Anchorage, Alaska but has lived in Guam and Hawaii.

Interview items/questions

Question: Tell me about your birth.

I was born in the only hospital in Guam at the time in 1983. My mother had a cesarean

section. I was a healthy baby.

Question: Describe your concept of family.

Family to me is important. When in need, our extended families and friends will come

together to help. We have a big sense of community and every person, even child, has a role to

play.

Question: Thinking back to when you were a child/adolescent, as an adult how have your views

remained the same?

The values my family and culture have instilled in me would be respect as one of the

most important values. Respect for our land and water as they are our ancestors, asking

permission to enter, guide us and protect us. Respect for our elders or manamko as they hold the

wisdom, stories, and knowledge of our people's past. Respect for the food, the homes we visit,

the gatherings we are invited to. Then, mamahlao, which literally means to have shame or be

ashamed.
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Question: Thinking back to when you were a child/adolescent, as an adult how have your views

changed?

Growing up I feel I never had a sense of identity with being CHamoru. It was almost

looked down upon, and I had not appreciated it growing up. CHamorus have been repressed for

so long with the Japanese and Spanish coming to Guam in World War II, not being able to speak

their own language, etc. I was speaking with my 71-year-old mother-in-law, and she recalls that

speaking English was the "cool" thing. It was up to the individual families to continue speaking

the language at home or not.

Question: Describe the primary influencing factors impacting your personality and world view.

Understanding and learning more what our island and our people have gone through with

oppression, and the artifacts, aquifers and environment that have been taken for granted due to

colonization.

Question: Describe the historical and/or cultural events that have profoundly influenced you

(e.g., changes in society, changes in family, war, economic crisis and depression, discrimination,

technology).

What our people have gone through with World War II, and colonization, and currently

with the pandemic, our lives have drastically changed.

Question: Describe the current major sources of satisfaction in your life.

My kids and spouse. I want a better life for my kids, and I want them to grow up strong

and resilient.
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Question: Describe the current major stressors and challenges in regard to your personal growth

and identity.

Even at 38, I'm learning more and more about myself every day. I wouldn't think of them

as challenges, but that I'm more open minded to looking inward. Major stressors and challenges

would maybe include oppression and microaggression, especially living here in the United States

where there is still racism.

Question: Describe the challenges/changes you foresee in your growth over the next 10 years.

I suppose gaining more of a voice for myself.

Question: Describe the role spirituality/religion plays in your life.

It is a very important aspect in our lives. Our beliefs are the driving force in our culture

and the ways of our ancestors. I believe there is a God, and I also believe there are spirits and

loved ones all around us as well.

Question: What thoughts do you have about the end of your life?

That we will become the ancestors to our children to guide and protect them.

Question: What do you want your ancestors and future generations to know about you?

I am proud to be CHamoru, and we are helping to pave the way for Independence for Guåhan

(Guam).
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Reflection

Prior to the interview I had only heard of Guam, but never really knew where it was at or

what type of ethnicities or cultures lived there. During the interview, I was surprised to hear there

was a whole culture being repressed due to the war that took place. It was disheartening to hear

the CHamoru people lived their life in such a way where they were ashamed to be of that culture.

This interview challenged my counseling skills when it came to listening fully to what

Annie had to say. I found myself interrupting occasionally and not letting Annie finish her train

of thought. By the third question, I was able to wait and let Annie finish her explanation.

Throughout the course of Multicultural Counseling, we have learned about various

influences that impact culture, ethnicity, and what a person values. This knowledge helped me

understand who Annie is and what she values as a person and in her culture. It also opens the

door for further conversation about her culture when we interact with each other.

Regarding developmental issues, I could see how growing up in Guam, being CHamoru

has affected Annie to not have confidence in herself or speak up for herself. With the history of

her people being repressed and herself feeling ashamed of being CHamoru, it must have been

difficult for Annie to feel heard, valued, or respected. This was also a challenge she foresees in

her growth over the next 10 years.

During this interview I gained an appreciation for the CHamoru culture and experiences

that Annie and her ancestors went through. How respect, family, community, and sense of

identity has an impact on Annie in all aspects of her life. Annie has her mother living in their
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Multicultural Interview Paper Hallis
home, she helps around the community, and she was able to find her voice in calling me out in

an instance where I showed disrespect, when I was oblivious to my comment.

Annie’s cultural background and experience is different than my own because she grew

up in a time where her family lived through World War II and the oppression, colonization, and

the loss of claiming their identity. Whereas I grew up in a time where my family was taken care

of and even though my father experienced job loss during 2008, I was still able to speak freely

about my ethnicity and culture. Annie is from Guam and identifies as CHamoru and Filipina, I

am born and raised in the U.S.A and identify as Caucasian.

I believe this experience has enhanced my understanding of Multicultural Counseling

because I could hear firsthand from a close friend of mine the hardships she and her family have

endured over time. I think it also showed me there is still a lot for me to learn and understand to

become a multicultural competent provider.