Wrapping Up My Research...But Just For Now

I just completed my 19th and final interview of the summer, although the informal conversations and discussions will continue. I feel content with the "data" I have collected and have some definite themes to focus on in my thesis. However, I feel like I am still just skimming the surface. I am certain that I will be returning here to do my disseration research and with it beginning to develop programs with a couple of the community organizations with whom I have been speaking. I feel like I am very settled here and have everything in place to start my dissertation research and work with these organizations....so leaving in one week is really disapointing. I just have to be confidant that the foundation I have created in the last seven weeks and over the last three years will be here to some extent when I return. I also know when to say "when," and I´ve decided to spend my last week here not running around trying to get a few more interviews, but instead visiting with friends, going on some of my favorite hikes that I haven´t had time to do, and reflecting on everything I´ve learned this summer about my research and about myself. Somehow I know that these reflections will bring far more questions than answers. But who needs answers anyway. I have so much to say about my research that I want to share...but I am going to hold off on discussing it here until I have processed it a little more.