REFLECTIONS FROM THE FIELD IN ARKANSAS

BY fRANK MENG

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I usually like to decompress on plane rides at the end of each trip. But, instead of my typical routine—donning my lavender-scented steaming eye mask and slipping on noise-canceling EarPods—I find myself reluctant to shut out the world on my flight back to Baltimore from our fieldwork trip in Arkansas. As I gaze down at the patchwork of landscapes below, each parcel of land seems to enshrine within it a silent testament to the stories and decisions of those who dwell there. The families we interviewed, the church services we attended, the donut shop that welcomed us—all of their narratives are interwoven into the fabric of transformative decisions, neighborhood choices, love stories, and, perhaps most importantly, their genuine willingness to share their aspirations, resilience, and identities with strangers from Maryland. Although our research aimed to map out the decision-making process of families in rural Arkansas, I did not anticipate how deeply this short fieldwork trip would map its unique and invaluable imprint on my academic and personal growth.

My conversation with a participant, whom I’ll call Hilton, was an insightful journey into the depths at which personal experiences are shaped by broader social structures such as race, sexuality, and socio-economic status. He texted Kaylee (the post-doc fellow and the primary interviewer) right before the scheduled interview time as he was helping a friend and was now at a fast-food place without transportation to get home. She assured him that everything would be fine while grabbing her car keys. Kaylee and I hopped into the red Jeep with an interview material package and the very important recorder. His relief at seeing us was evident, and he quickly warmed up to our presence. We started the interview while we were driving to his house, which is indeed quite odd to talk about life in a moving car with two strangers. But Kaylee nailed it. And even while keeping an eye on the road, she was always giving Hilton the nod or the ahmm” that said, “I’m here, I’m listening, keep going.” It’s this sort of magic mix of being present but not pushy that I picked up from her—something I’m definitely tucking into my own toolkit for future interviews. The qualitative research method class did not tell me how to handle our rolling interview. The unconventional setting is, perhaps, something you would never find in a textbook, so it was like watching a masterclass in fieldwork on the go. Her approach was super casual but incredibly focused, turning it into a smooth ride, literally and metaphorically. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best conversations happen when you just go with the flow and adapt to whatever comes your way. The conversation eased into more serious topics about his life experiences as we approached our destination.

Hilton’s life story is truly a story of trying to balance during a time of constant change. His truly is a story that offers a hallmark to what it means to be human, marked at one point by aspiration and another marked by romantic comfort. From his childhood years, where he spent his time moving homes due to the changing dynamics of his family, to all his different enterprises in his quest for independence and love, every chapter of Hilton’s life has something new to add to narrative of resilience.

After wrapping up an insightful day of interviews, we returned to our Airbnb, only to discover the A/C had gone out—an unwelcome twist given Arkansas’s unusually snowy January evening. It was a reminder of how fieldwork often throws unexpected challenges your way, beyond just the research questions. Kendall, our always-prepared supervisor, quickly took charge. Recognizing that the weather and malfunctioning A/C could potentially leave us in a tough spot, she guided us on a snowy trek to the nearest supermarket. Her leadership turned a potentially stressful situation into a bonding experience for our team. As we wandered the aisles picking out essentials (and a few comfort snacks), we shared laughs and stories about the fieldwork misadventures.

As I pen this concluding thought, I’m still “looking” out the airplane window and observing the intersectional experience from our fieldwork. Like the landscapes stitched together I see, the stories from the beautiful people I hear are incredible. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of these stories and the fieldwork trip. These experiences have left an indelible mark, shaping both my academic identity and personal growth on how to be a better researcher and, more importantly, how to be a better listener. I will continue my flights to different cities carrying much more than my eye mask and EarPods. I will hear more stories and see diverse groups of people carrying the insights and stories from Arkansas with PIRLies.