Wednesday, December 10, 1997

Field Notes from My Master's Project in Japan 1997: Week 14

Week Fourteen
The Longest Week of my Life
Thursday, November 20, 1997 - Columbia, MO

I have been sitting in this same cubicle on the second floor for four days. All day and all night I have been working on writing the research project. There is a very old and very tall tree that arches high into the sky. From the window where I am sitting in the library, a lone rollarblader is skating under the street lamp in front of McDonalds.

I have had countless people edit my photographs and struggled with this story. Although the weeks and days dissolve moving me closer to the time I am supposed to defend, I feel like I am moving in a totally different direction.

Thursday, December 4, 1997 - Columbia, MO
Why do I feel like I am sliding backwards? No task has been closed and no part of this project lies finished. Each portion when completed seems to be a bigger set back. I met with David yesterday and he decided that he wanted to have another look at all my photographs. I do not have a problem with this, and I appreciate all of his feed back. However, I was finally content with the edit after editing and reediting with more than ten different people. I need some closure on some thing for this project. David also gave me a good idea of putting all this together and weaving it all together with a poem. I spent two hours reading haiku in the library and I crafted a few poems. The one I came up with for the photographs is:

When flowers fall
after dancing,
the blossoms sleep until spring.

My thought is to have each line set a mood for the photographs in


I am weary from lack of sleep. I have not been slacking off as far as I know, but I do feel like I am drowning in details. I have even made a list and I am not sure that I can do it all by next Wednesday. I have to hold together.

Saturday and Sunday, December 6-7, 1997- Kansas City, MO
I found a copy editor!! I have been searching since before Thanksgiving. This is a difficult time of year for every one. I totally understand. But I do not think that I could have gotten this done any earlier than before.

I have been writing for days and feeling like I cannot get out of the box I am in. At first I think the writing is Ok, but then I find out it needs more work. I never realized how much of a process this type of big project is. I am organized but there are so many details to remember. I am just taking them one at a time.

Thank you for my friends who are all writing, emailing and calling to remind me that I am almost there. I think I can see the faint glimmer of a light at the end of the tunnel.

Wednesday, December 10, 1997 - Columbia, MO
Its late I am trying to get this done. I think I can do it.