21st century skills: Tutors in the Wild, Henrike Hoogenraad
Under this rubric, we want to report on our tutors' international and intercultural experiences. Most of our tutors at BA International have done some sort of fieldwork for their Bachelors, masters, PhDs or post-doc projects. In these articles they share their experiences and tell their funny and memorable stories when being abroad and being part of another culture. They also share their experiences and reflect on the challenges that the COVID-19 crisis is putting on their research and teaching. In this edition, our tutor Dr. Henrike Hoogenraad shares her insights on “intimate borders” and her research on transnational love and intimacy for which she conducted fieldwork in Zanzibar (Tanzania) and Adelaide (Australia).
Henrike, what exactly did you do researching transnational love and intimacy?
My three research projects all focused on ‘intimate borders’: transnational, bi-national love and intimacy, and the things obstructing intimate relationships. Think, for example, about border policies, but also racism and prejudice, and ideas about gender and gender roles. My first two projects took place in Zanzibar. For about three years I travelled back and forth between the Netherlands and Zanzibar, spending well over a year ‘in the field’. I conducted my last research in Adelaide, Australia. While I worked at the University of Australia, and in that sense was conducting a ‘local’ study, for me as a Dutch national it meant that not only the fieldwork, but the whole 4.5 years it took me to complete the research were in the field.
As an anthropologist I conducted ethnographic research: participant observation, in-depth interviews and informal conversations were the main methods I used, but also photo elicitation and life histories. Anthropologists understand trust to be an essential part of the relationship between interlocutors and the researcher. Therefore, I spent as much time as possible with interlocutors: we met for coffees, a beach walk, a play date with our children, for a drink in the city, and we would even go dancing together (especially in Zanzibar). I also used to join interlocutors during special events such as weddings, the horse races, birthdays, and funerals. I feel very lucky to have met such a diverse set of people, that I—if it wasn’t for my research—would have never met. Every single individual I spoke with taught me something, and even though I do not always agree with ideas and actions, to learn about why it is that people do what they do, is what I think one of the biggest privileges in life. Listening to and learning from people is a very humbling experience. It was also interesting to learn about the structures in place that impact our chances of finding love and happiness more broadly. Passport privilege, but also classism, racism and sexism, and ideas about beauty play a role and impact (and obstruct) experiences of love and intimacy.
A basic aim for an anthropologist is to make the familiar strange, and the strange familiar. Since love and loving are such intimate things, it can feel like what we understand by (doing) love is ‘normal’ and ‘right’. It was very interesting to learn about different ideas about love and intimacy, and to see how everyone I spoke to has an ideal version of intimate relationships, but in real life have very different experiences. Especially the Hollywood idea of romantic love is unrealistic and sets us up for disappointment: real stuff happens when the movie ends.
What did you discover about “the other” and about yourself during your time abroad?
I learned so much about Zanzibar and Australia, and from living in the countries, and I am still learning every day. I learned that coffee is super important in Adelaide, just as making words smaller: a mozzie (mosquito), a smoko (cigarette break), a postie (post man), etc. Australia is generally believed to be a relaxed and laid-back country, and in many ways it really is. Because Australia is pretty far away from most countries in the world, and Adelaide is not as big as Sydney and Melbourne, life feels quite secluded and safe: the city is an island within an island, so to say, and this has both positives and negatives. As for Zanzibar, this was my first location of research and I learned the importance of speaking the local language, and living local. It was here where I actively learned how to do research, to work independently, and to create meaningful relationships. And I had the opportunity to eat the most delicious seafood and live both in Stonetown and right on the beach.
I also learned much about the Netherlands / Dutch culture. You can recognize Dutch tourists because they are always in a hurry and always know everything better. Rather than enjoying the view and the drink, they will talk about something inconvenient or inefficient they noted. This really fascinates me. This observation—importantly—made me reflect on the way my background has influenced my own identity and being in the world. And reverse-culture-shock is definitely a thing. In Australia and Zanzibar, small talk in shops and while waiting for the bus are considered normal. In the Netherlands, this is not really appreciated. And of course, don’t get me started on the food. Dutch people would not have time for brunch like the Australians do.
What did you learn from your research and from living in other cultures for such a long period? What would you like to give our students as advice?
The most important thing that I learned from my fieldwork is that people and groups of people are incredibly complex, and that trying to understand processes and structures takes time and patience. I also learned to listen (better) and practice self-reflection. Out of politeness, others will often not tell you what you did wrong, but you can generally still sense discomfort. So, I would say, as an advice, avoid talking too much and really approach the experience with an open mind. Further, hang out with the intersections in mind: with people from all genders, class backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, etc. This will help to get a thorough understanding of what it means to live in this particular location.
Cross-cultural understanding is such an important quality to have, especially for BAIS students that will probably work in a highly diverse context. This is something that requires effort and practice, and a good understanding of the self. For those who want to do research: it is so very important to keep in mind and to really acknowledge the efforts of those you will be working with. As a researcher you take ideas, knowledge, and practices from others, and it is important to these individuals in mind when analysing your data and when sharing your results: how do you represent them, and what can they gain from your work? What do you provide them with in return?
What impact did the COVID-19 crisis have on your research and teaching?
Corona hasn’t impacted my research endeavours much, as I had finished my last research project and was on parental leave when the pandemic started. I was still in Australia, teaching and writing. Because Australia immediately closed its borders and kept them closed for almost two years, Adelaide remained largely Covid-free and therefore teaching and life in general carried on mostly as usual. If anything, the pandemic would have been a chance to start new research on how the border closure obstructed transnational family life.
For students, my advice is to remember or trust me that if you are lucky enough to live a long and healthy life, there is plenty of time to come, to spend with those you love and to experience the world—whatever that may mean for you. Enjoy time with your friends and family as much as you can, and trust your fellow academics when it comes to knowledge.