So I guess my MA major project has kind of started, although at this point it’s still something of a soft launch, while I try to get some other loose ends tied up. I’ve been looking forward to and dreading this part of my course in equal measure – excited about the idea of getting my teeth into a subject I’m really interested in over a period of months, and paralysed by the fear that access problems could prevent me from focusing on what I really wanted. I’ve wanted to centre my final project on the UK’s new Roma residents since I applied for this MA in 2009 and for the first time it feels like this is going to actually happen. Assuming all goes to plan, I’m going to be spending time over the coming months with two young Eastern European Roma women who have moved to Manchester, to document their lives. They are from different countries – Romania and the Czech Republic – live in different parts of the city and don’t know each other, and their traditions differ in many respects. As far as possible the project is going to be a collaboration, perhaps one which will manifest itself in different ways with each woman. My number one concern was access – to their families and wider communities – but after meeting and talking through ideas with both my subjects this weekend, I’m feeling much more comfortable about the whole thing. At this point, both are pretty enthusiastic about taking part and recognise the value of challenging some of the stereotypes about their culture. What a relief.