I returned to the UK a week ago after spending four weeks in Japan conducting preliminary fieldwork. It was a pilot observation in my home country, but still, it was an amazing experience.
Since I had worked on literature reviews of Japanese healthcare issues while living in the UK, every interaction, every event felt genuine and significant in Japan.
When I was in ‘the field’, I had a strong sense of ‘who I am’, even though I was in a place I should have been familiar with. I often came to a point where I recognised myself as an ‘outsider’ in the field. My sanctuary (a place away from the research site and where I can take a break) was my family and friends. I really needed a period of time away from my data and research.
The hardest part of this preliminary fieldwork was explaining the research to potential research participants. As other researchers have often said, this was the most unpleasant feeling I had in the field, because I could not hide my intention when speaking with each potential participant: ‘I want your data.’ I have seen advice to start doing what you do in any non-research situation and show interest in them quite simply. I tried to make conversation with them on non-research topics, but it was really hard to keep it going. It was because the professionals were very busy, and I needed to rush to include everything I needed to explain.
Soon after I returned to England, I organised my field notes and some documents that people had given me. I also worked on my documents for the probation meeting in two weeks’ time.
My achievements in Week 35
- finished writing my field notes and all my drafts for the probation review, and submitted them
Goals for Week 36
- have some proper rest
- prepare my presentation and questions for the probation review
