This document contains an interview conducted by Curtis Palmer with his maid Noi about her Buddhist beliefs and practices. Some key points from the interview include: - Noi regularly visits the temple and observes Buddhist holidays to practice her religion - She does not have a spirit house at home or work since she is usually working and stays overnight at her workplace - Noi wears a necklace as an amulet because she cannot afford an expensive one - Her friend had experiences seeing signs before her mother passed away - Noi's son got a tattoo after being a monk to remember his experience

1. Curtis
Palmer
April
4th,
2011
Mr.
Sheridan:
TSEA
TSEA
Interview
Assignment
Name:
Noi
Age:
47
Occupation:
Maid
Relationship:
Maid
Date:
March
26,
2011
Language:
Laos,
Thai,
English
1. Are
you
a
Buddhist?
What
are
some
things
you
do
to
practice
your
religion?
Yes,
I
go
to
the
Temple
quite
often
when
I
am
not
at
work
and
I
am
always
at
the
temple
on
Buddhist
holidays.
2. Is
there
a
spirit
house
at
your
home?
Why?
Or
why
not?
No,
because
I
am
usually
not
at
home
because
I
am
working
and
I
stay
the
night
at
work.
3. Is
there
a
spirit
house
at
your
work?
Why?
Or
why
not?
No,
(why)
because
my
work
place
is
in
nichada
and
it
is
not
a
Buddhist
community.
4. How
often
do
you
visit
it?
What
do
you
do
there?
I
sometime
go
to
pray
with
incense
or
when
I
see
a
Spirit
house
anywhere
I
go
I
wry
to
it.
5. Do
you
wear
an
amulet?
Why?
Or
why
not?
Sometimes.
My
amulet
it
a
Necklace
but
it
is
not
an
expensive
one
because
I
cant
afford
it
and
also
I
think
expensive
ones
are
no
more
special
than
a
cheap
one.

2.
6. Have
you
ever
had
an
experience
with
a
ghost?
What
happened?
No,
I
have
not.
7. Do
you
know
anyone
else
who
has
had
an
experience
with
a
ghost?
What
happened?
My
friend
had
seen
many
signs
before
her
mom
past
away.
8. Have
you
ever
been
to
an
astrologer?
What
advice
did
you
ask
for?
What
did
he/she
tell
you?
No,
I
have
never
been
to
an
astronomer
because
I
don’t
believe
in
fortunes
telling
using
astronomy.
9. Have
you
ever
been
to
a
ceremony
to
rid
a
house
of
bad
spirits?
If
so,
please
describe
the
ceremony.
No,
but
other
people
I
know
have
done
the
ceremony.
10. Have
you
ever
been
to
a
“bai
sri”
ceremony?
If
so,
please
describe
it.
What
is
the
purpose
of
the
ceremony?
No
I
have
not.
11. Do
you
have
a
tattoo?
Do
you
know
anyone
who
has
a
tattoo?
Why
did
you
(or
the
person
you
know)
get
one?
My
son
has
a
tattoo
and
he
got
the
tattoo
after
he
finished
being
a
monk
to
remember
his
experience
of
a
monk.
Curtis
Palmer
April
20,
2011
TSEA:
Period
1

3. Interview
Reflection
This
was
a
good
experience
for
me
because
it
gave
me
a
better
idea
of
the
ideas
and
lifestyle
of
a
Buddhist.
Also
this
gave
me
a
chance
to
get
to
know
more
about
my
maid
and
also
to
understand
what
she
does
on
the
weekend
and
when
she
isn’t
at
my
house
working.
I
really
found
this
interview
interesting
because
I
knew
the
person
but
since
I
am
not
a
religious
person
I
would
have
never
even
thought
of
speaking
to
her
about
religion.
The
interview
was
very
easy
to
do
because
she
was
very
open
about
her
thoughts
and
feelings
about
Buddhism.
I
learnt
a
few
new
thinks
such
as
that
most
Buddhist
believe
in
seeing
a
Astronomer
to
get
their
fortuned
told
and
also
that
some
Buddhist
believe
that
the
reason
sleep
paralysis
occurs
is
because
there
is
a
ghost
sitting
on
top
of
them.
Although
I
do
find
that
a
little
impractical
I
still
respect
that
that
is
their
belief.
For
me
a
very
interesting
part
of
this
whole
project
was
the
class
discussion
because
I
find
it
amusing
sharing
religious
views
with
other
students
because
I
am
not
religious.
Most
wars
are
caused
by
religions
and
it
seems
like
any
time
someone
disagrees
with
a
religious
topic
it
turns
into
an
argument
into
the
classroom
and
although
there
is
proof
that
some
things
are
scientifically
proven
to
occur
some
religious
people
are
to
narrow
minded
to
change
their
mind.