Last post in April 2011...wow. So it's been a while and things have of course changed. I did return in April to Liskwartier and Bergpolder and through the help of friends and family there, I was able to give a short lecture (40 minutes or so) in DUTCH!
I think my previous Dutch instructors would be quite proud but really I have to thank my editing team (one in particular J.O)who did their best to make my thoughts comprehensible in Dutch. Again, I thank you.
I've been working hard since then, getting my first draft of my PhD dissertation ready by September 1st, 2011. While I would love the luxury of thinking over my 500 pages of field notes, 70 + interviews, and reading more of the literature out there, I'm no longer being funded as a PhD student by my institution and so - the race to finish is on.
Luckily for me, my supervisory team (they've expanded) and I have made the deadline to graduate this fall semester. My dissertation is submitted after many hours of grueling work of which I'm sure had the effect of my supervisors having sworn off any new students in the future. I defend on December 8th and give a public lecture on the 7th.
At this point, I haven't started preparing for my defense. Last week I had the pleasure of attending the AAAs in Montreal and gave a paper on urban gardening as a means to identify belonging and non-belonging in Rotterdam North. This was a very small part of my research really but it made a great short presentation. In the coming weeks, I'm going to describe each of my chapters in turn on the blog and of course, provide the link to my dissertation once it's defended and any final changes are made (thinking positively of course!).
Following that, I'm still trying to keep my head above water teaching a class (my first class) in Business Anthropology - the explanation of which is for another blog - and working my part time job on campus, which is not related to the anthropology department at all. Which reminds me, I'm going to be late.
After a long hiatus, well, it's nice to be back.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Returning to Rotterdam
It has been quite a long time since I've been back in Canada. I've busied myself with writing, reading, and teaching these past two semesters. I've just finished the second semester at school and it's now a race to finish up my writing before September. I'm still on track to have my first draft finished by August but will be paying one more semester's worth of tuition so that I can defend my thesis some time between October and December.
In all my planning for this year, I thought for sure that I would have been a bit further along by now but the truth is, there is always something else to do(and I don't just mean watching terrible television or enjoying a weekend up north)! One thing that I've been busy with is my impending trip back to Rotterdam!
You heard me! I'm off to Rotterdam for a return trip from May 16th to the 31st. While it's only two weeks I'm going to try and fit some interviews in there, visit with lots of friends, and give a lecture to the community that I worked with last year. It's not for sure yet when or where I'll be able to give this little speech but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out.
Luckily for me, I've been keeping my Dutch up throughout the year with my friend the photographer. We speak about 6 hours a week in Dutch! Hopefully this will mean that my lecture...which will be in Dutch!...will be understandable.
For now, I will start thinking about what I need to pack, what presents I need to buy and of course, what things I can write about on my return trip!
In all my planning for this year, I thought for sure that I would have been a bit further along by now but the truth is, there is always something else to do(and I don't just mean watching terrible television or enjoying a weekend up north)! One thing that I've been busy with is my impending trip back to Rotterdam!
You heard me! I'm off to Rotterdam for a return trip from May 16th to the 31st. While it's only two weeks I'm going to try and fit some interviews in there, visit with lots of friends, and give a lecture to the community that I worked with last year. It's not for sure yet when or where I'll be able to give this little speech but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out.
Luckily for me, I've been keeping my Dutch up throughout the year with my friend the photographer. We speak about 6 hours a week in Dutch! Hopefully this will mean that my lecture...which will be in Dutch!...will be understandable.
For now, I will start thinking about what I need to pack, what presents I need to buy and of course, what things I can write about on my return trip!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Lekker Koffie!
When I was in the field, where did I do the majority of my interviews? Well that's simple, Nika Cafe in Oude Noorden.
When in the field, it was always a question that I asked right after someone agreed to an interview. If their first inclination was to invite me over for coffee then I accepted. However, if they preferred to meet out in public (I would guess about half of my interviewees did) then I would ask, "where would you like to meet?" If they had a suggestion then I would always agree (after all they are doing me a favour). If they did not however, I would typically suggest Nika! The interesting thing was is that despite the proximity of this cafe, located within the adjoining neighbourhood- my interviewees almost always had never been there before.
Side note: it took me quite a while to understand that when I said, "let's go to a coffee shop" that I was saying something that had a completely other meaning than to what I was referring to. I always found it a bit annoying to have to say 'place for coffee' but eventually I fell into step with the locals and just said, 'wil je een kupje koffie?' 'Want a cup of coffee'? (Place inferred...)
Nika cafe was first introduced to me by my friend Rev. We met there and chatted as the cars, bikes, trams and people whipped by us. Despite the busy, and somewhat dangerous, intersection - the shop itself brings a sense of tranquility. Although it has yet to expand it's menu, Nika Cafe is always ready to give you an array of drinks and a piece of their apple pie. I may sound like I'm working for the owner, Nihat Kaya, but in truth, I miss my coffee hoekje.
In addition to the warm atmosphere, the owner and his family were extremely nice. I think I became somewhat of a known entity there as I would sometimes have up to three interviews in one day (yes, all at Nika). I bought so much coffee from them, I wonder if they've decided a seat to me? Hmmm.
I think everyone still in the Netherlands should go have a coffee at Nika and say hi from la Canadienne.
When in the field, it was always a question that I asked right after someone agreed to an interview. If their first inclination was to invite me over for coffee then I accepted. However, if they preferred to meet out in public (I would guess about half of my interviewees did) then I would ask, "where would you like to meet?" If they had a suggestion then I would always agree (after all they are doing me a favour). If they did not however, I would typically suggest Nika! The interesting thing was is that despite the proximity of this cafe, located within the adjoining neighbourhood- my interviewees almost always had never been there before.
Side note: it took me quite a while to understand that when I said, "let's go to a coffee shop" that I was saying something that had a completely other meaning than to what I was referring to. I always found it a bit annoying to have to say 'place for coffee' but eventually I fell into step with the locals and just said, 'wil je een kupje koffie?' 'Want a cup of coffee'? (Place inferred...)
Nika cafe was first introduced to me by my friend Rev. We met there and chatted as the cars, bikes, trams and people whipped by us. Despite the busy, and somewhat dangerous, intersection - the shop itself brings a sense of tranquility. Although it has yet to expand it's menu, Nika Cafe is always ready to give you an array of drinks and a piece of their apple pie. I may sound like I'm working for the owner, Nihat Kaya, but in truth, I miss my coffee hoekje.
In addition to the warm atmosphere, the owner and his family were extremely nice. I think I became somewhat of a known entity there as I would sometimes have up to three interviews in one day (yes, all at Nika). I bought so much coffee from them, I wonder if they've decided a seat to me? Hmmm.
I think everyone still in the Netherlands should go have a coffee at Nika and say hi from la Canadienne.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Hiding Out
I've had no posts for a long time. I feels as though tasks over here are taking twice or three times as long as they did in Rotterdam. For example, although I wrote last time that I was planning on working with seniors to better my Dutch...this has yet to happen! I was told that I need a police check in order to work with this group of individuals. Fine, but to do this I need a letter from my volunteer place about the activities and that I will be doing. Still no problem. And before I go back to the police station, I need to have my London address on my drivers liscence.
This would have been an easy task two years ago when I had a car but now that I'm using public transportation (which although is good for the size of the city I live in here in Canada, is laughable compared to Rotterdam's system) - a small task takes all afternoon. Couple that with my other responsibilities here at the university at the moment and I'm running around all over the place. Time spent on my blog is now spent waiting at the bus stop or walking 5km to my destination. So although it looks like I'm hiding, what I'm really doing is RUNNING!
Take home message of the day: I miss my bike!
This would have been an easy task two years ago when I had a car but now that I'm using public transportation (which although is good for the size of the city I live in here in Canada, is laughable compared to Rotterdam's system) - a small task takes all afternoon. Couple that with my other responsibilities here at the university at the moment and I'm running around all over the place. Time spent on my blog is now spent waiting at the bus stop or walking 5km to my destination. So although it looks like I'm hiding, what I'm really doing is RUNNING!
Take home message of the day: I miss my bike!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Te verbeteren mijn Nederlands
I've been home in Canada now for 2 weeks as of yesterday and each day I can feel the Dutch dripping slowly out of my head into oblivion! The words aren't coming as quickly when I try to form sentences in my head and as I read the Dutch newspaper, I find myself using the Dutch translator more and more each time. Since I've decided to give a small presentation this coming May about what I've found during my year in Rotterdam, the gradual dissipation of my language is more than just a little worrying!
To combat this I've contacted more than a couple of seniors' residences this week concerning whether or not they have some Dutch residents who might have some extra time on their hands to help a girl out. Luckily it turns out that they do. After getting permission from their families and getting myself a police check, I'll be chatting away in Dutch again to some new Dutch friends here in London, ON. Hurrah!
I think it will be very interesting however to see what kind of Dutch I'll be speaking when I come back to Rotterdam next year. The people that I'll be practicing with here are my mother (who left Limburg province with her family in 1954), and these Dutch residents. My question is, will I be speaking 50s and 60s Dutch? How will that sound? This time-capsule Dutch will have me singled out more for the old fashioned words than my Canadian accent, at least. Ah well. Some practice is better than no practice at all, I guess.
All in the name of bettering my Dutch (te verbeteren mijn Nederlands)!
To combat this I've contacted more than a couple of seniors' residences this week concerning whether or not they have some Dutch residents who might have some extra time on their hands to help a girl out. Luckily it turns out that they do. After getting permission from their families and getting myself a police check, I'll be chatting away in Dutch again to some new Dutch friends here in London, ON. Hurrah!
I think it will be very interesting however to see what kind of Dutch I'll be speaking when I come back to Rotterdam next year. The people that I'll be practicing with here are my mother (who left Limburg province with her family in 1954), and these Dutch residents. My question is, will I be speaking 50s and 60s Dutch? How will that sound? This time-capsule Dutch will have me singled out more for the old fashioned words than my Canadian accent, at least. Ah well. Some practice is better than no practice at all, I guess.
All in the name of bettering my Dutch (te verbeteren mijn Nederlands)!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Relocated (at least physically)
I'm back in Canada now. It's amazing; I feel as though I'm here for a two week vacation as I was back in April 2010. I'm sure reality will set in but as of yet, it hasn't.
Coming back to Canada was both a wonderful and sad experience. I never realised how deep the connections I made 'in the field' were until it was time for me to leave. In addition to the genuine life-long friends that I made, the people I met through my research made me realise how my time there affected them. I blame them for 180 Euro surcharge on my suitcases for my return flight, which charged for all the excess weight and baggage. They were wonderful at providing me resource material and Dutch paraphernalia so that "I wouldn't forget them or the Netherlands". Well people, I couldn't if I tried.
Although this blog was originally developed as a field blog, it will now follow my adventures as a thesis writing PhD student in Canada. I will at times include posts from the last couple of months when I was a bit too caught up in life to write (my apologies!). It will also resume its proper role as a field blog when I return to Rotterdam in May 2011. You heard me correctly, I'm returning for about 3 weeks in order to face the music. By facing the music, I mean that I will be giving a very short presentation in Dutch (be still my racing, palpitating heart...speaking Dutch still makes me extremely nervous as I'm sure it will do for many years to come) concerning what I've learned throughout my year in Rotterdam Noord. This is a time where people who participated or who would like to participate in my research can tell me what they think about my ideas and conclusions. I expect to hear a mix of "that's nice but have you thought of this point?" "Wow, I've never thought of it in that way before, I think you're right/wrong/confused/crazy etc." - I expect to hear many different things, many of which will end up, in some form, in my thesis. We'll see how it all works out, but that's the plan anyway.
For now, I sit on my living room floor typing at the computer (we're still in need of some furniture) physically being in Canada and mentally being somewhere half way across the Atlantic.
Coming back to Canada was both a wonderful and sad experience. I never realised how deep the connections I made 'in the field' were until it was time for me to leave. In addition to the genuine life-long friends that I made, the people I met through my research made me realise how my time there affected them. I blame them for 180 Euro surcharge on my suitcases for my return flight, which charged for all the excess weight and baggage. They were wonderful at providing me resource material and Dutch paraphernalia so that "I wouldn't forget them or the Netherlands". Well people, I couldn't if I tried.
Although this blog was originally developed as a field blog, it will now follow my adventures as a thesis writing PhD student in Canada. I will at times include posts from the last couple of months when I was a bit too caught up in life to write (my apologies!). It will also resume its proper role as a field blog when I return to Rotterdam in May 2011. You heard me correctly, I'm returning for about 3 weeks in order to face the music. By facing the music, I mean that I will be giving a very short presentation in Dutch (be still my racing, palpitating heart...speaking Dutch still makes me extremely nervous as I'm sure it will do for many years to come) concerning what I've learned throughout my year in Rotterdam Noord. This is a time where people who participated or who would like to participate in my research can tell me what they think about my ideas and conclusions. I expect to hear a mix of "that's nice but have you thought of this point?" "Wow, I've never thought of it in that way before, I think you're right/wrong/confused/crazy etc." - I expect to hear many different things, many of which will end up, in some form, in my thesis. We'll see how it all works out, but that's the plan anyway.
For now, I sit on my living room floor typing at the computer (we're still in need of some furniture) physically being in Canada and mentally being somewhere half way across the Atlantic.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Changing Places
I'm sitting tonight booking hotels for my mother and I, for when she arrives next Friday to spend my last week in Rotterdam with me. It appears that my time as a researcher/explorer in Rotterdam is quickly coming to an end.
It's almost unfathomable to think that I'm wrapping everything up, that I'll be leaving this way of life here just when everything got rolling! (or so it seems)
I have been thinking about this for a long time now - that I very much appreciate the Dutch PhD system where PhD Candidates start out Year 1 on their projects so they can make their connections, learn their languages, etc. To do this, one must apply through a specific professor or their project and not apply to an institution, with their own project, as I did in Canada. The down side to the Dutch system (this may be true for other European universities but I am not sure) is the potential lack of creativity for one's own ideas for research and that one's project might have to stay closer to their university in order to facilitate their research project (i.e. Dutch students living and working in the Netherlands or surrounding countries). Having said this, there are researchers who spend a couple of months in the field on and off but there doesn't seem to be any year long stints in which researchers venture out in the great wild yonder to bust their learning chops in the field, so to speak.
I'm sure both systems have their advantages and disadvantages and I see my leaving the research portion of my PhD in the same 'pro and con' light. Pro: going 'home' to see my family and friends after an extended period of time. Con: having to keep up and better my Dutch languages skills from afar. Pro: having one whole year just to write up my dissertation. Con: being very far away from my research field and my contacts. Pro: McMuffins with Peameal bacon and maple syrup. Con: Lack of authentic Hagelslag/stropwaffles/dropjes, etc. The list is endless!
But unlike my list, my time here is limited. Very soon, I'll be changing places once again.
It's almost unfathomable to think that I'm wrapping everything up, that I'll be leaving this way of life here just when everything got rolling! (or so it seems)
I have been thinking about this for a long time now - that I very much appreciate the Dutch PhD system where PhD Candidates start out Year 1 on their projects so they can make their connections, learn their languages, etc. To do this, one must apply through a specific professor or their project and not apply to an institution, with their own project, as I did in Canada. The down side to the Dutch system (this may be true for other European universities but I am not sure) is the potential lack of creativity for one's own ideas for research and that one's project might have to stay closer to their university in order to facilitate their research project (i.e. Dutch students living and working in the Netherlands or surrounding countries). Having said this, there are researchers who spend a couple of months in the field on and off but there doesn't seem to be any year long stints in which researchers venture out in the great wild yonder to bust their learning chops in the field, so to speak.
I'm sure both systems have their advantages and disadvantages and I see my leaving the research portion of my PhD in the same 'pro and con' light. Pro: going 'home' to see my family and friends after an extended period of time. Con: having to keep up and better my Dutch languages skills from afar. Pro: having one whole year just to write up my dissertation. Con: being very far away from my research field and my contacts. Pro: McMuffins with Peameal bacon and maple syrup. Con: Lack of authentic Hagelslag/stropwaffles/dropjes, etc. The list is endless!
But unlike my list, my time here is limited. Very soon, I'll be changing places once again.
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