DoingEthnography@sta

For my virtual peer activity in Introduction to Anthropology, I learned about Emily’s experiences of living in the Philippines and Canada, and I reflected on what ‘home’ means to me. Emily (a pseudonym) was born and raised in a small rural village in the Philippines. It was a close-knit community. Growing up, Emily lived with her older siblings, aunt, and great-grandmother since her parents had moved to Canada to work and provide for their family. Many residents were also unemployed and there was limited education in the village. When Emily was aged 13, she and her siblings reunited with their parents in Canada. The family has been together for the past eight years, living in an affluent suburban neighborhood. ‘Home’ for Emily has more of an intangible, abstract association although the meaning is attached to a physical place. It’s where she feels most comfortable. Similarly, although I’ve only lived in one country of Trinidad and Tobago and in the island of Trinidad, I too feel like h...

Family and kinship are fundamental aspects of human life, shaping who we are and how we perceive the world. Through this reflective journey, I explored the thoughts and experiences of a university student in Canada whose family dynamic provides insight into the complexity of relationships and identities. Dianne (a pseudonym) grew up in the city of Ottawa, living at home with her mother and grandparents. Her father was present intermittently, creating a household dynamic centered on her mother’s family. This foundation left an impression on her, particularly on Dianne’s idea of ‘home.’  Home and family for Dianne meant h er mother. As she shared with me, 'my mother would be the main person I consider for how consistent of a person she was in my life [sic].' Home is also Dianne's current apartment. This sentiment highlights the growing sense of independence and self-reliance she has cultivated over the years.  Dianne shared how reflecting on family made her realize more about...