This article retells the story of a researcher from the time she prepared for the data-gathering in her home country, to the time she was in the field. The story, in her own words, are reflections on how she utilised the advantages of being an insider to the studied context. The lessons illustrated by the researcher in this article may help other international postgraduate students studying in New Zealand--as well as their PhD supervisors--understand some of the multiple factors that affect the PhD students' study, and how each PhD student may negotiate and adjust to accomplish their mission to gather data in their home country while enrolled in an overseas university.