This is an exciting week in the classroom. For many of us, we are embracing our first opportunity of conducting preliminary research in the health humanities discipline. For me, being introduced to my group mates’ interviewee and their inquiry approach were already exciting. Whether it is eating disorders or a terminal disease that has impacted a loved one, I felt deeply drawn to my group mates’ project and I can not wait to read their finished product. There is a strong urge in me to interview more people and explore more topics. After taking Medical Anthropology (ANTH147) with Dr. Rivkin-Fish last semester, I discovered my passion for reading ethnography and illness narratives but I have yet to construct my own. I’ve gained valuable tools in that course such as cultural humility practices in the medical system, Kleinman’s theory of explanatory models and analytical lens to dissect disparities in health care, but I have yet to apply them. This unit project is the perfect moment for me to test out all of my learning so far in a cumulative way.
After engaging in our class discussions on interview etiquette and strategies, I felt prepared going into the interview but still nervous. However, as the actual interview unfolds, I completely lost track of small things that I promised myself to be mindful of. I was often thrown off because one answer would lead to a question that I haven’t asked. I was so naive to assume that I would be able to ask all my questions as they were ordered and to take neat notes in the blanks that I intentionally left out in my organized document. As I rolled out of bed at exactly 11:55 pm to dial the number, I learned a thing or two about making accommodations. If I want something (valuable information for my paper) from someone (my interviewee), I need to make sacrifices. I soon realized that I can’t participate in conversations actively if I am also trying to formulate thoughts into words. It’s time to accept that I’ve never been a multi-tasker and I will never be. After a few failed attempts to take notes while my interviewee is talking, I decided I will devote my attention fully into the conversation and just rely on the recording later. From then on, the interview became smoother and deeper because I was able to react to her responses thoughtfully and not seem distracted. (I still stand by my choice but as I spent an hour and a half simply dissecting the first twenty minutes of the recording on Monday night, I felt kind of miserable and light headed.) This interview experience taught me the importance of practice and flexibility again. I believe as I interview more people, I will become more at ease. The highlight of the interview for me happened at almost 2 am, when I learned an honest lesson on battling endometriosis and battling life. I was happy to develop a rapport with my interviewee who was practically a stranger.
Alongside developing our listening skills, we also explored the underlying theme of social justice throughout this course. Whether it is indirectly addressing gaps and biases through the first natural sciences report and the current health humanities story, or it is directly addressing inequities through the second social sciences project, this class has equipped me with critical thinking skills to approach social injustices and an understanding on how to use my voice appropriately and effectively.
On Saturday, I volunteered for the Housing March organized by the Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) and the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC). The goal for the march is to advocate for affordable housing for folks who earn less than 30% AMI (Average Median Income) here at Chapel Hill. Two things compelled me to join this endeavor. On one hand, it is clear that minimum wage is not a living wage. On the other hand, as a student, I feel like I’m contributing to the skyrocketing price in the housing market in surrounding neighborhoods and displacing communities. I have to do something to counteract my negative footprint. We marched from the peace and justice plaza to the Marian Cheek Jackson Center, the police helped us block a street so we were able to have a celebration on the road at the end. Along the way we kept chanting, hoping to attract as much attention as possible. As many instances I mentioned above require me to be a good listener, this was the time to use my voice. My role as a volunteer involves advocacy and base building. I carried clipboards with advocacy petitions around. I was approaching people who attended the march for their contact information. If their vision aligns with our demands, I will help connect them with future affordable housing advocacy work. This wasn’t an easy job and almost felt like conducting impromptu interviews. I asked strangers questions and answered some. I had to always stay on my toes because there is only a short window of time to make a compelling case before I lose someone. I also had to accept rejections and be aware of different backgrounds that people came from even though we are all gathered at the same march for the same cause. Everything we’ve done in the small classroom such as discussions, critiquing and especially the recent interview has prepared me to be a good conversationalist in the world, as well as using my voice on paper or out loud.
This week marks a week of connections and learning. I was impressed by my interviewee’s passion and resilience. I also was impressed by all the community organizers. They kept the protest fun yet serious, organized yet interactive. Their tenacity, their charisma, their drive to uplift people and give back to the community are all things that I hope to adopt and incorporate into my daily life. Curiosity has led me to discover inspiring people and stories. I’m grateful for every opportunity this week brought me, where I had the pleasure to meet new people and learn a tremendous amount from them.
Featured Image Source:
Morrison, Gabriel. “Community Members March on Franklin Street to Demand Local Affordable Housing.” Digital photograph. The Daily Tar Heel, 2022, https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2022/04/city-affordable-housing-march-0409.