
Albina: Fieldwork in a hospital in Estonia
“The waiting rooms are designed to be uncomfortable.” This is the first thing I hear from my gatekeeper as I step into the hospital. It’s the first day of my fieldwork, and I’m being given a tour. I look around and see a cramped space, barely touched by daylight. People sit in rows, very close to one another, like in a theatre—but the purpose for being here is far less enjoyable.

Ismail: Reflections from the Netherlands and looking ahead to Denmark
I hope this message finds you all well and that your fieldwork is going smoothly. I’m writing to you during a transitional period in my fieldwork journey, having recently completed my research in the Netherlands and preparing to head to Denmark in about a month. This in-between moment feels like a valuable pause, offering me the chance to reflect on what I’ve learned so far and consider how to approach the next stage of my research.

Zongtian: Between Worlds: A Researcher’s Reflection on Fieldwork in China
There is something quite peculiar about conducting fieldwork in a place that should feel like home, yet it doesn’t entirely. As a Chinese researcher working in China, I navigate a strange in-between space—familiar yet distant; belonging, yet observing.

Sophie: fieldwork in Peru
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to update you on my recent fieldwork experiences in Peru, which were indeed rather different than anticipated in the research design plan you approved – as fieldwork typically goes, as well as seek your guidance on a few matters.

Roanne: dear team, forget about all your plans
Dear Team, As you’re traveling to your fieldwork location by train, bus, or plane, I’m finally able to formally tell you: forget everything we’ve discussed about this research project, even what you’ve written down in your research plan, which – I know, I know – you’ve worked so diligently on for months. The plan that I, as your supervisor, ultimately signed off on with a signature that means “this is a good plan”.