The point at which I am writing this is nearing the end of my research period for the summer, and I could not be more grateful for the friendships formed, growth (as a researcher) observed and lessons learnt during these few weeks. 

Working on Time Management

I have come to realise the biggest issue with procrastination and time management during a research project: that one can be easily deceived into believing we have endless time for a singular project. Although I never did fall off track during my research, I sometimes did find it difficult to maintain a consistent work momentum throughout these weeks. To the (future) scholar reading this entry: always remember to try find motivation, big or small, to sustain your spark.

Researcher Reflections

As correctly predicted in my previous post, pursuing this project did push me to reflect on my own position as a Chinese-Singaporean international student at a British/ Scottish institution. (Recap: my summer project focuses on the role of food/ spaces in the processes of assimilation undertaken by the Chinese/Hong Kong diaspora in Edinburgh) My own life experiences abroad have entailed a reliance on familiar food (both homemade and in restaurants) to adjust to shifts in my cultural and physical surroundings. Hearing the stories of participants' lived experiences and witnessing their shared fortitude and determination, I have gained a lot of respect for them and the livelihoods they have made for themselves in the city. On that note, I would like to extend my gratitude to all my interviewees, my supervisor and my friends who helped to identify contacts and assist with accommodation and some translation beforehand.

To my friends

Lastly, I would like to thank my fellow Laidlaw cohort for their friendship/ companionship over the past month. Your company has proven to be an intrinsic component of my research summer; from one undergraduate engaging with passion projects to another, it means a lot to be able to experience the ups and downs of being a budding researcher with others in the same boat. 

As one can tell, it has been a wonderful summer thus far. Stay tuned as I process my research ;)