Abstract
This is anything but an average doctoral thesis. It takes both the author and his audience on a socially-constructed journey of self discovery. It explores the emotional world of evocative 'heartful‘ sociological introspection. I aim to target your imagination from the outset. I attempt to illustrate the unmistakeable influence that our memories inevitably have on the way we subsequently (re)interpret our sense of personal and public belonging to the present. In doing so, I explore the multiple ways in which we all continually (re)establish and socially categorise our much-needed self esteem. More specifically, I look at our unique attachment and emotional affiliation to the various cultural societies within which are all located. This is my attempt to not only locate, but legitimise my personal involvement in the field of special interest 'sports-related' tourism. This is my autoethnography.
My thesis explores the potential of embracing, not ignoring, our emotional subjectivity. I look openly at the powerful influence that our cultural identities, both personal and professional, have on our professional behaviour. It is a tale about the socio-psychological importance of finding the right balance between ‘being there‘ and ‘being elsewhere‘. It is all about me accepting my self indulgent personality. It is not, however, a personal tribute. I could not have done this alone. My autobiographical story has been influenced by the inspirational work of many likeminded individuals. This is not just an honest academic reflection on who, or what, I discovered during my three ethnographic excursions to Melbourne, Auckland and Wellington. It is not just a candid analysis of why being there was deemed to mean absolutely everything. It offers an emotional reinterpretation of the impact and implications of allowing a little self indulgence, and a lot of sociological imagination, into our ever-changing academic identities.
I will never forget the things what I have discovered during the construction of this thesis. I found an alternative path to follow. I found a place in which I now wish to inhabit. I found that the findings are always waiting for us at the end of the day. The biggest challenge, however, is discovering the time to stop. It is only once we finish what we are doing that we can truly re-interpret, everywhere we have been and everything we have seen. Having done it myself, I call for every ethnographer to stop and fully familiarise themselves with the person they see in the mirror.