Author Archives: elenakayes

About elenakayes

The key to understanding exists at the nexus where self-interest and practice meet power and policy; I explore this nexus through participatory field research.

The Third Road?

Posted on July 6, 2015 by elenakayes

After spending the past two weeks in Jilin helping out on the farms of friends I first met back in 2010 – Wei and the Lu Family – I sat down this morning to binge out on the news I … Continue reading →

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What about the Family Pig Farms? Part III

Posted on May 4, 2015 by elenakayes

I returned with Anna, my mandarin teacher, to her village for the May 1st holiday weekend. Last time I was there, we had talked about interviewing her father’s friend, who I’ll call Shushu. Shushu is from a neighboring village where … Continue reading →

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What about the Family Pig Farms? Part II

Posted on April 19, 2015 by elenakayes

 I returned with my mandarin teacher to her hometown for the weekend to attend the celebration of her cousin’s daughter’s first birthday. In China, your first birthday is a big deal. And not just for your family, but for your … Continue reading →

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What about the Family Pig Farms?

Posted on March 17, 2015 by elenakayes

My mandarin teacher recently invited me to accompany her back to her village for the weekend. I jumped at the opportunity. Not only because I’ll take any chance for a new insight to life in the countryside, but especially because … Continue reading →

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