Week 3: May 15th to 21st
These past three weeks have been super interesting - having to adjust to a new culture while creating a project and connections from scratch is extremely difficult. One of those barriers includes funding - I was unfortunate enough to receive my SUIRP funds, a research grant of $5000, before my departure. In fact, I still have not received it. I am happy that I have been able to save up money and have been keeping a very detailed budget of my costs (I recommend doing this regardless of if you get the money). In terms of research, creating connections from scratch (in a new country might I add) has been severely difficult. Due to this, I currently only conduct fieldwork for ~2-3 days a week in Colegio Jose Olaya; however, this is an experience I will never forget.
I am writing this prior to my departure to the school, as their classes are from 12-7pm, and my observations are from 4-7pm. I enjoy this thoroughly and am extremely excited to learn more. In my downtime, I have been transcribing interviews, working on graduate school applications and meetings, developing my Fulbright and NSF GRFP essays, and working on UF Organization things from home (shoutout to STAAR & Gator Diplomats). From this experience, I have also been gaining incredible insight on various avenues of research, including health communications within the gay community, while honing my skills in executing proper anthropological research methods (i.e., proximity matrix, freelisting, interviewing, observations, visual ethnographies). Since my initial research hypotheses was very layered and critical, I have also found that my observations & initial interviews have drawn me in directions that question concepts of capitalism, democracy, and sexual health.
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