The Interviewing Process

I interviewed Anita twice: once at a cafe in downtown Roanoke, once at her dairy in Pilot, Virginia.  For the interviews, I used a tape recorder.  I had a list of questions each time, though I often strayed from the plan and let the conversation develop by itself.  Before this project, I did not know Anita.  I bought goat cheese from her one week and then came back the next week to ask if I could interview her.

My Thoughts on the Process

I have to say, I was extremely nervous to approach someone I didn't even know and ask her to tell me her life story.  It just seemed like a personal invasion, one that I know I might not appreciate.  I am also somewhat shy with people I don't know well, so I was worried that I would be a terrible interviewer.  As luck would have it, Anita was the person I asked to interview.  She made the interviews easy & enjoyable with her openness and friendliness.

I feel that by telling me about her life, Anita has given me a gift.  I've learned a lot from her and I feel extremely lucky to have had this opportunity. 

Thank you, Anita.

Through this process, I have learned what a huge responsibility it is to be trusted with someone's life story.  I have the responsibility of representing what Anita told me about herself and I want to be sure that I represent her well and don't abuse that trust.  I have also developed a certain feeling of responsibility towards her goat cheese business.  I like her and I want her business to succeed, so I am excited about the opportunity to make this webpage so I can direct more people to visit Anita's webpage or visit her at the farmer's market. 

I hope to continue to visit Anita at the farmer's market as long as I am in Roanoke.  Plus, her goat cheese is so good - I have to keep my supply up somehow!