Before the weekend, I noticed people putting up signs and banners all across the federal government area and throughout Islamabad as well as outside the city limits into Rawalpindi as well. I am assuming these signs are all over Pakistan during this time too, given that it is something observed throughout Pakistan. https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/385427-pakistan-to-observe-black-day-on-saturday-to-express-solidarity-with-kashmiris https://nation.com.pk/28-Oct-2018/black-day-observed-against-indian-atrocities-in-kashmir https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/386465-black-day-observed-against-occupation-of-kashmir-by-india They have made October 27th, “Black Day,” in Pakistan. Black Day is a day in which they commemorate the Kashmir Crisis, which is often a forgotten crisis. I believe it is a day to support the Kashmiris fighting for independence in IOK (Indian Occupied Kashmir), and also to acknowledge their struggle and loss of…
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Presenting on Social Network Analysis at SDPI in Islamabad, Pakistan
Last week I mentioned that I was asked by some members of SDPI to present a “brown bag” seminar on Social network analysis. Today, I cherished my first opportunity to share the methods to a renowned and prestigious institution in Pakistan. It took a lot of preparation, time and energy, but I felt I had done a nice service. Even if I was able to persuade just a few people about the value of these methods, and have the opportunity to share my ideas and research, it was no doubt a great experience. I have never done an academic presentation in Pakistan before, so this was the first time. I…
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Happy United Nations Day….A Day of many “Firsts”
This week has been very fruitful so far. However, time is flying by fast. It has already been 12 days and it still feels like I just got here! I guess 10, not counting the weekend I arrived. I am getting a little concerned about how fast time is drifting by. The pace I am going is not nearly at the pace I need to be treading, in order to be able to reach my targets. Nevertheless, progress is evident and I have to appreciate what I am getting accomplished. I began the week by returning to the National Rural Support Program again, located at the Institute of Rural Management…
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Taking time to reflect during fieldwork…
A few nights ago, in the weekend, I walked into the back area of my residence here in Islamabad, to get some fresh air. The night was clear, and the moon was more than half full, but bright and gallant. The Full moon will be coming this Wednesday on United Nations Day. I am looking into seeing what kind of activity there may be for UN Day here in Pakistan. After a brisk walk, I sat on a park bench and just breathed in the fresh air and stared at the moon for a while. I then took out my notebook and favorite pen and…
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A Productive First Week of Fieldwork in Islamabad…
It is truly a blessing to witness the sun glaze the mountains in Islamabad, when I leave the lodges just several minutes before it’s time to set. My mind is rushing with so many thoughts about all I have to do, and all the people I have to meet, and at the moment in particular, another critical “informant” I must convene, but I cannot forget to take in the surroundings as well. Just like when you hear the Azaan, five times a day, no matter where you are in Pakistan, you stop and take a moment to listen, meditate, forget everything, and just remember God. Some of the best field…
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The World Bank HQ in Islamabad
It has been going full speed in my first week of fieldwork in Pakistan. I did not anticipate this, and although the jet lag hasn’t worn off, I am definitely very pleased and excited about what I am learning, exploring, seeing, sensing, hearing, experiencing even in these first initial days and it is only the middle of the week. Today, I visited the headquarters of the World Bank project in Islamabad. I had a meeting/field interview with the Task Team Leader of one of my major case studies, situated in the Sindh Province. I appreciate that many of these areas are in close quarters to my residence and from each…
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Snowballing and Facilitating Contacts…
A major part of conducting field interviews is the employment of the “snowballing” strategy. When you speak to one person, you ask if they have contacts, and then speak to those individuals, and ask for their contacts, until you have a sufficient number of interviews at the end of your fieldwork timeline. This is also a key method for Social Network data collection. Today, after several months of contact while in the States, and from Karachi last year, I finally had my meeting with my contact at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, and specifically the headquarters in Islamabad. The Sustainable Development Policy Institute is a research policy think tank, conducting…
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And the Fieldwork Begins…
Immediately, Day 3 upon arrival within Islamabad, I had my first field interview. I was very happy that, similar to my first field interview in Pakistan Last December when I first arrived in Islamabad, it was with a woman CEO of a rural development organization. That is quite remarkable from my purview, not only for breaking down barriers, but also for debunking misconceptions and assumptions about women in Pakistan. Today, I had a fantastic meeting and interview with the CEO of the National Rural Support Program Network (NRSP), a key organization to help provide their insight on what “successful” locally-owned, sustainable programs look like, adopting social capital generation through social…
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Arrival Within Country….
I landed in Islamabad early this morning on the 13th of October, and at ease. This was the first time I flew into a different city in Pakistan, directly from the US, that I am not too familiar with, by myself, and without family to greet me. So granted, there were apprehensions coming in and apprehensions throughout the first day in Islamabad, but frequent travels allow one to adjust, and by midday today, despite on jet lag, the thrill of being in Pakistan again, especially in a different environment than usual, was evident. It was a beautiful gorgeous first day in Islamabad. Wonderful to be back again to Pakistan’s Nation…
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Preparing for Dissertation Fieldwork…Take 2
In just a little over two weeks, I will be embarking on my second field assessment for my dissertation, which will consist of three months of travels to various cities in Pakistan. In addition to a year or two added to your timeline for dissertation completion, fieldwork and original data collection – (involving various pieces like survey questionnaire, field interviews, recruiting respondents, snowball sampling, archival data collection from field offices) – naturally becomes a whole league on its own. Fieldwork overseas and in challenging contexts, provides an entirely different layer of challenges to several elements to your dissertation research both conceptually and in the design. Necessary steps include completing multiple forms…
