ABSTRACT
Fieldworkers anticipate some turbulence in settling in to a strange place in the field. Few prepare themselves for the shock of reintroduction to the familiar but sometimes unfathomable place from whence they came. For some, the arrangement of data comes only with the process of writing, while for others data organization must precede writing. Many fieldworkers spend tireless weeks and months cleaning and reorganizing data files upon their return. Motivation problems can be acute in the post-fieldwork phase. Some researchers give themselves clear incentives, positive or negative, to begin and keep writing. Reassimilation can be difficult, and in extreme cases even temporarily paralyzing. Culture shock or personal responsibilities may necessitate a hiatus from the project. For example, one coauthor took a two-month break to spend time with his pregnant wife and two children after returning from a three-month unaccompanied research trip abroad.
