Half Way!

Hi Module 3'ers,

So we are half way through our 12 week study period so I thought it was a good time to asses what I have achieved so far, and difficulties there has been, findings I have made and what I have left to do.

At the beginning of the term, I separated the weeks into thirds with a plan of what I wish to achieve in those weeks.

Week 1-4

• Write feedback response
• Use these weeks for literature research
• Start literature review
• Plan and organise interviews
• Create interview consent form
• Write my initial reflection/thoughts on inquiry topic

Week 5-8

• Conduct interviews
• Analyse data collected
• Write "Introduction" and "Evaluation" of Critical Review (first draft)
• Continue literature review 
• Brainstorm "Artefact" ideas

Week 9-12

• Further Analysis
• Decide Artefact
• Complete Critical Review
• Complete Artefact
• Final proof read (May 11th 2015)

As we are now in Week 7 here is what I have achieved:

• Feedback response written and sent
• Literature research is continuing, have so far found useful Books, Articles, Podcasts, Films and Blogs.
• Literature Review is ongoing (I have been delayed in literature due to the vast change in my inquiry topic at the beginning of this module.)
• Initial thoughts about my inquiry topic have been logged in my journal.
• Consent form has been created and signed by the interviewee's so far.
• 4/5 interviews have been conducted, the final interview is arranged for week 8 (This is due to the interviewee's busy work schedule.)
• I have not yet begun analysis of the interviews.
• Introduction and Evaluation first draft will be done in week 7 and 8.
• I have not yet brainstormed my artefact as I still have data to collect.

I am relatively pleased with what I have achieved in my inquiry so far, and I am finding out new things about my topic constantly which has taken it into different directions, very much away from food which I wanted. I have been delayed slightly because of being able to arrange the time to conduct the interviews (Dancers and mothers are very hard to get hold of with an hour of their time to spare) and I am glad I have nearly finished them. Although I am behind I did not want to rush them as I would probably miss out on some of the interesting responses I have had so far.

My SIG group (fellow Module 3 students on a Facebook Messenger group) have been a great help in terms of keeping me on track and giving me advise about where I am in my work.

Here's to the next half! 

Your Last Meal?

I am currently going through the interview process of my data collection and have been left so inspired by a particular part of this evenings that I feel I must share it with you.

Tonight I interviewed a chef in order to get their perspective on the aspects and definition of nutrition. During the conversation I asked about peoples possible emotional involvment with food to which they gave a most marvelous and interesting aneccdote:

The interviewee had been a part of a group discussion where they were asked what their chosen last meal would consist of. A question that I believe many of us have adressed rather casually. As expected, many of the others in the discussion group answerd with the most luxurious and expensive food items i.e lobster, caviar and steak but my interviewee did not. They replied that their perfect final meal if given the choice would consist of a ham sandwich, packet of crisps and a "White's" lemonade. I found this absolutely fascinating as it was an answer I had ever heard before and never expected of a chef who has worked with the most pretigious of companys, creating the most lavish of meals. The reasoning, however, was very heart warming. The interviewee said this was because as a child they would run home from school every wednesday to be met with this meal waiting for them, made by their parents. In further discription of the amount of overwhelming condiments used it sounded the most awful of meals, but to them it was perfect. Because tthis meal was more than just food, a source of survival, it was a memory. And forever loccked within this meal would be that memory.

A lot of my research so far has brought me to how negative emotion can effect our eating habits and therefore circle back to our emotions but this response was a completley differrent perspective. The sheer fact that the most simple of gestures (looking further than food) can have such a massive effect on a persons emotions and attitudes is remarkable. This is a power that can greatly benefit a persons well being if we are able to channel such positivity so easily. For this outlook I am very grateful to my interviewee and look forward to anaylsing their responses further.

I would love to hear what other people "last meal" would be and why? I am going to have a very serious think about mine...