Interview with my parents

Stepfather Age:70. American jew

1. What do you consider a meaningful life?
A meaningful life is that you have obtained some level of success and that when you pass people would say he was a good guy.
2. What do you remember about having a good life when you were a teenager?
In the neighborhood where I grew up, we had a group of maybe 15, mostly boys. We spent a great deal of time participating in sports. The sport depended on the time of the year. These were not organized leagues. These were like going to a park and picking up strangers to join the game. This was a weekend thing, and when the weather was nice, an after school thing. Sports were very important to our lives.
-More about the competition or fun? It was more about the participating and meting new people.
3. As you grew older did the priorities change?
As you grew older, achievement in school grew important and a great deal of time was spent talking about your future.
-More with friends or family? In my case, it was a friend thing. There was not that must dialog between teenagers and their parents in those days.
4. Do you see these priorities changed in my generation of teens?
I think that teens today are much more interested in NOW then their future.
5. What was it that made the COOL KID back in your days?
The “cool kid” was not necessarily someone that people looked up to, in some cases the “cool kid” was the flashy dresser, the greased hair and the one who was neither practically intelligent nor active in sports. He was just COOL.
6. What the main memory of your teen days?
When I was 18 there was a universal draft. Almost everyone had to serve some time. I opted to join the army after high school rather then going to college and then having to go into the army after wards.
-Did not going to college put you in a bad position? Back then college wasn’t really necessary.
- Was going into the army, the heroic thing to do? Had not to do with heroism. It was an obligation that I had to fur fill and I chose to do it as soon as possible.
-Do you know you army serial number? That’s one thing you never forget. US51414784
7. What big media messages where going on/What was the corporate "it"?
TV back in 1950 was pure entertainment.
-So no MTV? There were channels 2, 4,5,7,9,11,and 13. There was no cable, no MTV no VH1. TV was not programmed 24 hours a day.
8. Do you believe you have lived a meaningful life?
Yes.
"I believe life was less complex then it is today and there was more face to face contact with people."


Mother Age:37, born in the Dominican Republic

1. What do you consider a meaningful life?
A life that is lived enjoying every moment of it like it is your last one, enjoying your surroundings, giving meaning to things; when u look at a flower and u see the purpose of it; when you see your neighbors and have a conversation. When you met someone and remember them the next time. Interacting with people and always making something purposeful. Going through experiences and becoming a better person on the way. Helping people. Money isn’t everything in this world, love is.
2. What do you remember about having a good life when you were a teenager?
Getting along with everybody, and being the person everyone went to for advice. When we use to play truth and dare and the truth hurt, I always use to know the right thing to say to break the tension and that’s why everyone admired me. In high school we use to play pranks at each other and just have clean fun. Throwing water and powder at each other, putting eggs in our friend’s book bags on the last day and dropping it so all the books would get messed up; basically just enjoying each others company.
3. What changes do you notice about teens now and how they live their life?
Here (in America) teenagers have diffrent mentalities, not necessarily a good one. They have a different way of thinking, different priorities then in my country.
- Do u think the teens now in D.r are different then your time? Things have changed but not as drastic as it is here. People still have values, respect and maintain their priorities high up. Here you tent to lose your culture and your values.
4. What made the “cool kid” in D.r?
The one with the latest fashion, the one with the most friends, the one that was at all the parties and everyone wanted to be around. In my society it was more about hanging out and relaxing, especially gossiping.
5. Do you think that teens in USA are ignorant towards the meaning of a meaningful life?
Somewhat; yes. Teens now are centered on technology. They pay attention more to there TVs, computers and cell phones then their parents.
6. DO you believe that teens lost their values for family?
Yes. Back then you respected your parents; you interacted with your family. Now days forget it, it’s you go your way and I go mine. It’s not only with teenagers but with parents too. In D.r every Sunday was atomicity family togetherness. My parents and their friends use to get together and bring their kids. We had a lot of picnic days. We use to go to sugar canes fields and ride horses and playing around with the neighborhood kids.
7. How big of a role did technology play?
We didn’t have any cell phones, had Tvs but we barely watcher it. We use to go to dinners and parties instead.
8. Life back then more meaningful then now?
Defiantly!
9. Do you believe you lived and are living a meaningful life?
Yes, especially because I had you! {I added that!J}