Introduction

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents v
3. Preface xi
4. Introduction 1
5. Part 1.Real Encounters:Predicaments of Ethnographic Fieldwork
6. Introduction 5
7. Tempting the Nāga 7
8. An Anthropologist Behaving Badly 12
9. Attacked in the Field 18
10. A Question of Permission in Pohnpei 24
11. Grandmothers, Sharks, and Other Dangerous Things 29
12. Part 2. Meaningful Encounters:Learning, Representing, Engaging the Field
13. Introduction 39
14. Fieldwork as Transformative Experience 41
15. Fieldwork on Two Wheels in Hanoi, Vietnam, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Enjoy the Ride 47
16. The Cultural Power of Robots in Japan 56
17. Encountering Maoist Propaganda in Pastoral Inner Mongolia 63
18. When the Field is Your Home 70
19. Part 3.Language Encounters:Voices, Discourse, Digital Practice
20. Introduction 79
21. Systemic Culture Shock 81
22. Shóón Pakin, Sóóu Tittilap 87
23. Talking with the Moai on Easter Island 93
24. Blogging in Papua New Guinea 100
25. Part 4. Identity Encounters:Gender, Ethnicity, Nationality
26. Introduction 109
27. Prostitutes, Menstrual Blood, Minor-Wives, and Feeding the Ducks 111
28. Manning Up 118
29. Contested Belonging of North Korean Refugees in South Korea 124
30. “You Filipino, Ya?” 132
31. Part 5. Close Encounters:Marriage, Kinship, Social Networks
32. Introduction 141
33. Sorry, Wrong Number! 143
34. The Invisible Firewalker 149
35. “You Can Do It, Japan!” 155
36. Head Candy/Gut Connection 162
37. Part 6. Economic Encounters:Class, Development, Inequality
38. Introduction 173
39. Tales of the Talā (Dollar) 175
40. Working-Class Hospitality and Etiquette in a Bowl of Rāmen Noodles in Tokyo, Japan 184
41. Entering Moloka‘I Hawaiian Style 190
42. Part 7.Green Encounters:Environment, Sustainability, Restoration
43. Introduction 199
44. From Nuclear Exodus to Cultural Reawakening 201
45. “They Came For Nature” 209
46. The Forest of Contradictions 216
47. He‘Eia Kūpuna Mapping Workshops 222
48. Part 8. Political Encounters:Power, Conflict, Resistance
49. Introduction 231
50. Narratives of the Vulval Curse in Bontok and Kalinga, Philippines 233
51. Digitalizing the Wantok System in West Papua 240
52. Embattled Stories of Occupied Hawai‘i 246
53. Ta‘Aroa is Great, Good and Mā‘Ohi 253
54. Part 9. Deep Encounters:Worldview, Religion, Spiritual Practices
55. Introduction 263
56. Tiptoeing among the Knowledge of the Bodies and the Bodies of Knowledge in Tonga 265
57. Being and Time in Nagasaki, Japan 272
58. Losing My Mind and Loving Mosquitoes, Crickets, and Other Jungle Inhabitants 278
59. “Papa! What’s Money?” 285
60. Epilogue 294
61. Bibliography 299
62. List of Contributors 317
63. Index 323