So, I’m planning my
first substantive trip into the districts to do fieldwork. Last year, I made a
few short trips to the city of Baucau and the town of Quelicai in the district
of Baucau, and the city of Liquica and town of Maubara in the district of Liquica.
These were made in order to follow some of the electoral campaigns occurring during
the presidential election. The trip to Quelicai was quite an adventure; you can
read about it in my previous blog which I’ve attached a link to somewhere else
in this blog.
This trip, I will visit
perhaps four or five cities or towns: Manatuto and Laclubar in the district of
Manatuto, the city of Baucau, and Com and Los Palos in the district of Lautem.
I have employed a
research assistant, Benjamin, to accompany me. He is a university student and a
relative of a good friend and colleague, Augusto. They are from Baucau and have
been very helpful in assisting me in organising this trip. Benjamin is not
going to translate for me during the interviews; rather, he will be there to
help me travel around, meet people, make introductions and generally make my
life easier in conducting my research. I did not look forward to the prospect
of doing all of this by myself and having someone to accompany me will take a
lot of stress away and facilitate the process in general I hope.
I’m not exactly sure
who precisely I will talk to when I arrive at these locations. The idea is to
find out what political party structures exist, if any, exist at the district
and sub-district level. Even if I find little or nothing going on there, that
in itself tells me something. I have a feeling most of the action is really
going on in Dili, and that the big people don’t spend too much time at the
lower levels. Previous studies tend to really focus solely on Dili, which is
understandable to certain extent, but I want to find out about the presence and
penetration of parties at a broader, national level. I hope that with Benjamin,
I will be able to make contacts with people at the local level and get their
perspectives on political life.
I’m not sure how much I’ll
find out there; it could be a very frustrating time. However, this is fieldwork
and there’s no real way of knowing for sure until I do it. I’ll spend a few days
in Manatuto, a few in Baucau (including some time at the beach), and four or
five days in Lautem. I won’t have internet access so you’ll have to wait until
early October to hear from me again.
Just some random other
pieces of stuff going on in my life here: I’m reading Gordon Peake’s new book
on Timor, ‘Beloved Land’, which I totally recommend to anyone interested in
finding out more about Timor-Leste. Also smashed through the latest Game of
Thrones book so looking forward to book six, which could still be some time off
from appearing. Also reading Stephen King’s ‘Salem’s Lot’. Leading a fairly
quiet, studious life. I don’t have a lot of money and I’m approaching the sharp
end of my PhD; it’s all going to count. I still have a vague social life,
mainly meeting people for lunch of after work. It’s easy, and expensive, to get
into the ex-pat scene.
I’m walking a lot here
and hitting the gym twice a week, which I hope will keep me sort of in shape.
Pleased to have hit 140kgs on the deadlift, about 1.5x my bodyweight.
Frustrated by having to use the smith machine for squats; there are no other
options. Other muscle groups are coming along ok. Just treading water really,
hate to lose the gains I made thus far. I hate being asked where I work. I don’t
work, I’m a researcher!!! ;-) My office could be anywhere, City Café, Katuas
Hotel, Esplanada, Food L Do, R n R Café etc.
Think that’s about it.
My email is evan.hynd@gmail.com my
number here is +670 7891 0206
Oh yeah, promise photos
from my trip, ate logo.
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