Interviewing a Friend: Bad Idea?

This weekend I was given the opportunity to see an old friend who I haven't seen in quite some time.  I got to interview her about a performing arts trip to China that we were both on in 2010.  I was a little skeptical about interviewing a friend (and especially about something that I had been involved in, as well).  However, with all that aside, I discovered a different side of the trip.  She saw different things and had a completely different experience than me.

It is challenging interviewing a friend, though.  It's difficult to put that friendship aside and learn about her experiences on the trip to China.  It's difficult to not to start a longer conversations about things that aren't relevant to the interview.  We got past this and were able to have a normal interview as if I didn't know anything about the trip or the program we went with.  I'm glad I was able to interview her; it was fascinating and good practice for when I interview someone I don't know.  I think that will be somewhat easier to interview someone I don't know.  There won't be any interruptions and I think I would be more confident in what I'm doing that way.

Of course, by interviewing someone about something you've experience as well could seem pretty biased, right?  Or maybe the interview never happened?  Well, my friends, I am here to assure you that the interview really did happen and most of the information in the article came directly from her.  I certainly learned the lesson to not interview someone about something you've done, as it's difficult to separate your own views and thoughts from hers.

Here, have a picture of two awkward high school freshmen after a performance in China:

(Anna and me, circa 2010)