Gathering research perspectives
Based on the secondary research, you will with your group prepare to have the first contact with the families in Santiago Mezquititlan.
Introduction:
Last year, we were working with a family: Araceli and her father Don Jose. They are both still learning the traditional methods of agriculture. They are both open to sharing their know-how and their experience. Based on our personal experience in Santiago we believe that it its their family that most holds a grip on indigenous thought and traditional processes. However we understand that the source of all knowledge in the family lies with Araceli´s Mom. She is quite reserved, and talks sparingly. Our main mission would be to gain the humble confidence of this family to share their experiences.
Then we shall move on to have lunch with Doña Vicky and her family. They too store maize and have their own Milpa. Vicky is rather modern in her thought process, but her mother is quite traditional.
This is our one chance to get to know our community in study.
Our preparation
We shall on the first site visit, focus on anthropological research: listening, observing, documenting. While we already have our groups, our research questions and our methodologies in mind. We shall not impose the methodology on them on the first visit. This visit is a chance to tune our understanding, refine our questions and rethink our methodologies.
We shall be documenting all our research, as a continuous document . Images shall be uploaded on this folder. You shall upload your written experience and images by 9:00 am on 6th March 2018.
Schedule
9:45: Briefing and Meeting at Hotel Escuela, Amealco: with Eugenio
10:00: Driving to Santiago Mezquititlan
10:30: Arrival at Home of Don Jose
2:00: Lunch with Doña Viky
3:00: Visit to home of Doña Vickys moms house.
4:00: Departure from Santiago Mezquititlan
Rules
- Introduce yourself, your motive with love.
- Be humble, as much as possible.
- Do not have a preconceived notion of anything.
- Do not take anything for granted.
- Keep a notebook and a pen handy all the time.
- Bring cameras: Take photos, with permission.