Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2012 Searching for home: Tibetan scholars' decision to migrate or return Kristi Marchesani Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Part of the Ethnic Studies Commons Recommended Citation Marchesani, Kristi, "Searching for home: Tibetan scholars' decision to migrate or return" (2012). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 12677. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/12677 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Searching for home: Tibetan scholars’ decision to migrate or return by Kristi Marchesani A dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major: Education (Educational Leadership) Program of Study Committee: Frankie Santos Laanan, Major Professor Larry H. Ebbers Daniel C. Robinson Monica Bruning Eugenio Matibag Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2012 Copyright © Kristi Marchesani, 2012. All rights reserved. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................................ v ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................ vii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 Background of the Study .................................................................................................... 1 Statement of Problem .......................................................................................................... 3 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................................... 4 Research Questions ............................................................................................................. 4 Theoretical Framework ....................................................................................................... 4 Significance of the Study .................................................................................................... 6 Definitions of Terms ........................................................................................................... 6 Summary ............................................................................................................................. 7 CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................. 9 Tibetans in Exile ............................................................................................................... 10 Emphasis on Education ............................................................................................... 13 Tibetans’ Standing Within India ................................................................................. 16 Personal and Social Identity.............................................................................................. 17 The Tibetan Identity .......................................................................................................... 20 National Identity ......................................................................................................... 21 Religious Identity ........................................................................................................ 26 Diasporic Identity........................................................................................................ 29 The Move Toward Migration............................................................................................ 33 International Student Migration .................................................................................. 34 Decision Making ............................................................................................................... 38 CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY, DESIGN, AND METHODS........................................... 40 Role of Researcher ............................................................................................................ 41 Outsider Researcher Role ........................................................................................... 43 Methods............................................................................................................................. 44 Data Collection ........................................................................................................... 44 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................. 48 Trustworthiness ................................................................................................................. 50 Ethical Issues and Considerations ..................................................................................... 51 Delimitations and Limitations ........................................................................................... 52 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 53 CHAPTER 4. FINDINGS ....................................................................................................... 54 Survey Results .................................................................................................................. 54 Demographics ............................................................................................................. 54 Survey Questions ........................................................................................................ 55 iii Open-ended Questions ................................................................................................ 58 Interview Participant Profiles ........................................................................................... 64 Diki ............................................................................................................................. 64 Dorjee .......................................................................................................................... 65 Kalden ......................................................................................................................... 67 Mingma ....................................................................................................................... 67 Norbu .......................................................................................................................... 69 Pemba .......................................................................................................................... 70 Sonam ......................................................................................................................... 71 Tashi ............................................................................................................................ 72 Overview of Interview Findings ....................................................................................... 73 Searching for Self: Cultural Identity ................................................................................. 74 Tibetanness ................................................................................................................. 75 Spirituality................................................................................................................... 81 Growth ........................................................................................................................ 84 Searching for Answers: Influences on Decision Making ................................................. 90 The Decision to Return ............................................................................................... 90 The Decision to Migrate ........................................................................................... 101 Searching for Resolution: Inner Conflict ........................................................................ 109 Guilt Over Staying .................................................................................................... 109 Second Thoughts on Return ...................................................................................... 112 A Search for Belonging: Perception of Home ................................................................ 115 Summary ......................................................................................................................... 119 CHAPTER 5. SUMMARY, FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......................... 122 Summary ......................................................................................................................... 122 Findings........................................................................................................................... 124 Identity ...................................................................................................................... 126 Decision Making ......................................................................................................