Encountering the Other

Abstract

It has been a long journey to finish this dissertation. The idea for this project is partly based on my personal experiences of being the Other. Many of the stories presented in this thesis are, one way or another, similar to my own Othering experiences within everyday life, academia, and beyond. Finishing up this PhD trajectory, however, means that I came to peace with being the Other. I could transfer my anger into hope. As my favourite poet, Sohrab Sepehri, says "I have stayed long enough in the darkness to speak of the light." This dissertation is an important stage in my life to move forward, emotionally, personally, and professionally.Writing this book would have been impossible without the support and encouragement my supervisors. Bettina and Sander, I learned a lot from you. Your comments and suggestions on research ideas improved the quality of the arguments. You supported me throughout my journey. I very much appreciate all the opportunities that you generously offered me, including teaching activities, links with co-authors, call for papers, fellowship in Tallinn, and attendance to courses and conferences. I appreciate, admire, and cherish your dedication to my work.Many thanks to my paranymphs, Erik and Donya. Erik, bruh, I had the pleasure of sharing that legendary office with you. We had indeed great times discussing ethnography and the fleshiness whilst playing dart competing over high or low score with the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly in background. Thanks for being a great friend. Donya, you are the contemporary embodiment of Khayyam, the appreciation of the passing moment, joy, laughter, light in the deep darkness. You never let me feel alone. For your friendship, and for many other things, thank you.Thanks to all my colleagues at the Faculty of Spatial Sciences those with whom I could share my thoughts, feelings, teaching, and fun including Dimitris,