Welcome to fieldworkblues...a space for field researchers in any academic discipline to discuss the various stresses and challenges of doing fieldwork. To find out more about this site and how it works, please consult the following FAQ.

1. "Why would you call a site about doing field research 'fieldworkblues'...that's so negative."

Well, yes...but the thing about doing field research, especially international field research, is that the internet is full of people banging on about how amazing, broadening, enlightening, etc..their year in France/Cambodia/Russia/Equador was. And of course, you'll have PLENTY of opportunity to blather on about how very educational and improving that long, depressing-ass winter you spent on the Mongolian Tundra was when you're writing up that final grant report, or to polish those hilarious anecdotes about your first-hand experiences with Eastern-bloc style oral surgery for use at the next faculty cocktail party. No, no...this site is all about the cathartic benefits of anonymous bitchery and the comfort of virtual moral support from other people who are suffering/have suffered from the same lonelines, confusion and homesicknessness you are.

2. "Is 'fieldworkblues' for me?"

That depends...if, in the process of writing your MA/PhD/tenure-winning book, you've been forced to use a squat toilet, or beat scorpions out of your bedding at night, or endure the horrors of German cooking for months on end, or if you've ever come to the sickening realization that your foreign language skills aren't good enough to follow the plot of a dubbed episode of Baywatch let alone do whatever the HELL it was that you somehow convinced a granting agency you urgently needed to come here to do, then...probably.....yeah.

3. "How do I participate in 'fieldworkblues'?"

Just post a comment in the comments field...you can also ask to be added as a contributer if you'd like to contribute regularly and post your own topics/anecdotes/questions/gripes.