OK, so I'm probably due this page an update, although my head is still a bit muddled so I'm not entirely sure how informative this is going to be. Data collection proper still has not begun because I'm having to rework my methodolgy and consider the angle at which I should take this project from still. I've dedicated the next five or so days to in-depth literature searching and properly focussed reading. My original proposal as I already mentioned is now totally obsolete, and I'm trying still to find reasons for limited participation in KASAMA. At the moment I'm looking into assessing LEK (Local Ecological Knowledge) and perceptions/valuation of the mangrove and its products, and comparing these two things between KASAMA and non-KASAMA members. The non-KASAMA members will be from two barangays which fringe the mangrove, and where most people will be directly reliant on subsistence activities within the mangrove. Although it would be desirable to have a greater selection of barangays, given my limited time and the fact that this is an honours project, I need to make realistic goals. The two factors which I will assess will be done both qualitatively and quantitively, and hopefully the qualititative interviews/focus groups will elucidate a lot more than just the questions being asked. I also intend to do work within a 'control' barangay at the other side of Kalibo, where people should be more reliant on other subsistence (non-marine) activities and there should also be quite a few young 'professionals', either working in shops, or in business somehow. This is because I will be selecting participants within each barangay through participation in different organisations or social constructs (knowledge of these is to be achieved through a mapping exercise of organisational structures within each community), and I need to have something to compare the organisational networks in marine dependent area to. I'm not sure if that makes very much sense, but it makes sense in my head at the minute.
Another thing which have been holding up my getting stuck in to speaking to the community is the very relaxed way of life out here. Always tomorrow, never today. It gets frustrating but you've got to work with it I suppose. I've requested a lot of paperwork (member lists, payroll, general management stuff) which I've been assured is fine for my eyes, however it never seems to appear. That's two weeks almost I've been waiting. And the frustrating thing is knowing that it exists electronically as I saw someone going through it, but for some reason I've not been given it. Communication is also tough as so many things are getting lost in cultural and language haze. Ask a question one way, no response, or not the response you were expecting. Ask it another way, or simply in context with something else, and voila, you have two different stories. It's all part of the experience though and within interviews I'm going to have to learn how best to address this. Triangulation...
There has been quite a lot of drama this side of the world in relation to my project which may not be suitable for discussion on an open blog page, however, its been a rich learning experience and I know how to tread now, or at least I'm getting there. I feel as though I have learnt an awful lot already, and it is, although sometimes very challenging and terrifying, very exciting. There is still so much to learn, and in terms of a future in conservation, I'm starting to see my path materialising in front of me, it's still hazy, but it's there.
On a lighter breezier note.. we are having fun. Lisa is a massive ball of stress in terms of her project, but I think it should fix itself. These things always do. We thought the rainy season proper had started yesterday but we're back to 32 deg in the shade and sunshine that could melt your face off. It generally rains around 3.40-6am, and there have been a couple proper storms at night. We are enjoying the mangrove and all the crazy beasties we keep discovering, some of them evil, some of them awesome. Assassin bugs are evil! I'm in mozzie misery, and I know nobody at home will understand because we are very lucky to be here and we should not moan, but my feet aren't very happy at all and I have to limp everywhere. I'm just reacting very badly to the bites, possibly becoming more sensitised and it's just a little worrying as if I get stung by anything else which has more a kick to it, the consequences could be very much worse to just feet covered in horrible huge blisters. Everyone but Joe has been knee deep in questionable looking mud in the mangrove which was great fun. The texture is very very odd. I shant compare it to what it reminds me of on here, but let your imaginations wander. The food is great, lots of it, maybe too much meat for my liking, I'm in ways looking forward to returning to a diet of spinach and goats cheese when I get home. We are all out of irn-bru but I'm sure we'll survive, mountain dew is a good alternative. I have been thinking (Lisa not so so much because she is a certified workaholic) about the necessity to have fun whilst we are here. We aren't going to have the chance to travel at the end so I feel it is important to work out some cultural discovery into our weekends (there are >7000 islands to choose from!). We wont be able to get far, but I don't want to have spent 2.5 months here and just stressed the whole time, I could have stayed at home for that. We shall see though, money is tight as prices just seem to go up and up from what we were told initially (lastest discovery is very expensive visa-renewal, which will need to be done twice, not the once as we had thought), and I have to hire an external interpreter (we thought we would be using eco-park staff) to ensure the integrity of my data.
Anyhoos, that is enough for just now. Hope everyone is doing well, those I know and don't know! Toodle pip. Esther.
No comments:
Post a Comment