My field trip began three weeks ago. I traveled to Barisal by plane, only 20 mins in the air, where I met my research team, Unus, Harun, Juneyna. Emdad, lead researcher, had traveled with me that morning from Dhaka. After long discussions around my planned methodology, field work began. Over my three weeks I met with over 160 farmers across 8 villages. Both men and women whom work hard day in and day out to ensure the best outcomes for their family. Households are adapting there way of living against the negative impacts of climate change with both men and women facing different challenges but sharing the same objective of keeping food on the table and their children in school.
After the first couple of FGD I came to terms with the fact that I was going to sweat buckets no matter what and began to relax into the environment I found myself in. I began to enjoy my time in the villages. Always feeling colourless with my pasty white Irish skin and plain western clothes but never feeling unwelcome. Each village I visited I was fed like a queen with fresh fruit from the trees despite it being Ramadan. Each group gave their time to me and put energy and effort into answering my questions despite their busy day to day lives. They welcomed the opportunity to sit, discuss and be heard and I welcomed their willingness to participate with open arms.
As my field work came to an end I had with me great memories, feelings of gratitude for my research team and the many farmers I met, mountains of notes and a clear message from the women of the villages that I needed to find a husband fast before it was too late for me. Now to analyse my data and hope it will contribute, however small, to protecting the livelihoods of those most vulnerable to climate change.
