In this third instalment of the Natal Notes, I want to briefly reflect on the first half of my 2nd week stay at the Department of Tourism of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) in Natal, Brazil. I title this reflection as 'the worldmaking possibilities of liminal spaces in academia'. This is … Continue reading Natal Notes III: The worldmaking possibilities of liminal spaces in academia
Fieldwork Musings
Natal Notes II: The joyful hard work of fieldwork adventures in Recife, Olinda and Natal
After two days of intensive teaching we headed out in the early hours of last Wednesday for another 2 days of intensive fieldwork in Recife and Olinda + 1 day in Natal afterwards. A largely enjoyable 4 hour road trip on highway BR-101 brought us to the old centre of Recife. I learned that highway … Continue reading Natal Notes II: The joyful hard work of fieldwork adventures in Recife, Olinda and Natal
Natal Notes: Olá, bem-vindo to Brazil
For the next two weeks, I have the privilege of being a visiting professor at the Department of Tourism of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte in Natal, Brazil. Among other things, I am teaching on a course on critical tourism studies, undertaking research fieldwork, delivering a keynote at a conference here and … Continue reading Natal Notes: Olá, bem-vindo to Brazil
Das Afrikanische Viertel and colonial traces in Berlin: a fieldwork report
This past weekend, I have been on a scoping research visit to Berlin exploring the transformative memory work of tourism in relation to slavery and colonial heritage. It was exciting for me heading to Berlin after 12 years. My first visit to Berlin was in 2012 as part of a study trip during my Erasmus … Continue reading Das Afrikanische Viertel and colonial traces in Berlin: a fieldwork report
Lift every voice and sing: sound, emotion and affect in the fieldwork encounter
During this past summer I was in Ghana for fieldwork as part of my VENI research project. It was such a rewarding and challenging time in the field. I made copious observational notes and wrote my reflections on a daily basis during this time. However, since returning to the Netherlands and given the hectic start … Continue reading Lift every voice and sing: sound, emotion and affect in the fieldwork encounter
New book chapter in print: Images, instruments and the governance capacity of local governments in tourism development planning
In line with taking time to enjoy the rejections and acceptance in academic publishing life, I am happy to share the news of my book chapter which is currently in print in a volume on 'Tourism, Change and the Global South' edited by Jarkko and Jayne. This chapter has had a long incubation period starting … Continue reading New book chapter in print: Images, instruments and the governance capacity of local governments in tourism development planning
Thoughts on Ghana…so far (2nd November, 2014)
What serendipity is this!?! I have been searching for a document I remember I had once made listing all the cost/scholarship amounts of my expensive university education so far. I just couldn't remember the name of this document so I was going folder by folder opening every word file I come across with the faint … Continue reading Thoughts on Ghana…so far (2nd November, 2014)
“But You Are Also Ghanaian, You Should Know”: the iceberg illusion and the story of a research article
So, as you read this research article, please remember that this success you are seeing did not happen overnight. It is only the tip of the iceberg underneath which has been 2 years of sordid hard work, sacrifice, dedication, disappointment and persistence. Don't give up on your manuscript, thesis, dissertation or whatever writing project you face. Keep pushing, keep grafting, and know that disappointments, heck even straight failure would come, but persist until you find a home for that manuscript. Just don't give up......
Metaphors we fly by: 2 weeks at the University of Surrey
How time flies! (that is a metaphor right there but I will get to that later). With a mixture of sadness and gladness, today is my last day in Guildford where I have been on a research visit to the University of Surrey for the past two weeks. It has been a very good and productive … Continue reading Metaphors we fly by: 2 weeks at the University of Surrey
Researcher Reflexivity in Planning Research: My view from Elmina, Ghana*
As a Ghanaian keenly interested in the development of my country I feel very frustrated most times when I think of the considerable abuse of power coupled with the systemic and structural constraints to innovative thinking among planners and policy makers. Within this context of yearning for development in Ghana, the conduct of my fieldwork … Continue reading Researcher Reflexivity in Planning Research: My view from Elmina, Ghana*
Emmanuel Akwasi Adu-Ampong 