I survived and even had fun. I just checked and I have the audio file for sure, it’s on the laptop now and I can transcribe it this afternoon. Wowa, that was exciting! I think it took longer to set up than to have the meeting. TIme just flew by. One more meeting with the children tomorrow , then one with the teachers, and then Easter break 🙂
xoxo
After spending last week at the Early Childhood Center playing, observing, and getting to know everyone, this week I have a few focus groups lined up with the children and the teachers. I got my participants on board last week. Three teachers and five children and everyone is happy to help. While I asked the children for consent, one of the boys said “But how are you going to do that?” Good question, we’ll see this week. They are eager to help me write a story about their school.
I’m meeting my supervisor tomorrow to go over the topics for the focus groups. So much has happened since I last saw her, I feel like I could spend all day with her tomorrow. I’ve also organized a recorder from school and will have to practice tomorrow to make sure I’m really recording the meetings. Busy week ahead, but then we’re off for Easter.
I AM EXHAUSTED ALREADY.
Half way done, two more days to go. It’s been amazing and I will definitely have lots to write about. Someone gave me a beautiful journal and I’ve been taking lots of notes. Tomorrow I will join the teachers for their staff meeting, so that I can talk to everyone briefly and arrange the focus groups. Everyone has been so helpful, I feel like my research is doing itself.
After spending the last couple of days at home doing homework in my little broom closet (mixing potions, memorizing spells…), I HAD to leave the house this morning right after rolling out of bed. I went to a market and bought a bag full of apples. Why do they taste so much better than the ones you buy at the store? Then I sat in a cafe beside some German fellows who talked about last night’s party over breakfast… I didn’t listen, I was busy jotting down my initial thoughts on the ECE center I visited last week for my research project. Now, I need to squeeze out a couple more words for the literature review, obviously I’m running out of time if I want to have a draft ready before starting my observations on Monday… Oh well, I will do my very best.
What a sweet life we have together.
My first visit to the childcare center went really well. I couldn’t have hoped for a more suitable setting for my project. I can start next week. Woooohooooooo. So excited. Living the life of a researcher.
This afternoon I’m going out to the center to meet my ‘participants’ for the first time. I am more nervous about getting lost on the way there, than I am about the meeting. Dani (she’s in Oslo now) reminded me that I don’t get lost, I’m usually the one to bail us out. So I should be fine today. Oli (she is also in Oslo) leaves extra early, so I’ll do that as well. You see, my friends are still here, even when they are not…
My mom is in Germany this month, but I don’t think I’ll get to visit her, because I am going there in the middle of April. It’s ok, I will see her in Vancouver in May 🙂
… because the early childhood setting agreed to participate in my study! Yes³!
What a relief. I hope to meet with them this week, discuss what lies ahead of us, and then start before our Easter break. I can’t believe that I am actually going to do this! A big thanks to my supervisor who helped me to get this far. I’m going to be pretty busy – starting right now.