Remember I said I was going to the USA? Now, here’s the story:
I have been awarded a scholarship to undergo a turtle conservation training in the USA by the Asian Scholarship Program for in situ Chelonian Conservation. The scholarship is only awarded to two participants from the Asian countries every year, since the inception in 2000. I am the first participant to represent Malaysia, and the other participant is a male Laotian student who is doing his Master’s.
It is a 4-month scholarship, and involves professional training in the conservation of turtles (including sea turtles, freshwater turtles and tortoises, I presume). The flow of the program has yet to be finalized but according to the Director of the Program, we (the Laotian Cambodian student and I) would be spending one month visiting turtle scientists and turtle research centers in New Jersey, Tennessee, Florida and maybe California.
And the remaining 3 months would be spent at the Wetlands Institute at Stone Harbor, New Jersey. The training will be conducted at the Wetlands Institute, together with other local participants.
I am not sure how the program is going to be like, so I really can’t be making plans to meet anybody in the US. Plus, I would be under the care of the Director of the Program, so it might not be a very good idea to “go out and meet friends I’ve never met”, if you know what I mean :D But if it’s convenient for you to come and see me, I am sure it wouldn’t be too much a problem (directions to the Wetlands Institute) :)
But I need a favour from you guys..
I have applied for a US Visa online, and my interview at the US Embassy has been scheduled for next week. Have you applied for a US Visa recently? How did the interview go? What were the questions that were asked? Was it tough?
Please share with me your interview stories! :)
Congrats! Congrats! I am going to miss you so badly…. :blank: I wanna go too. (Do you mind smuggling me to the States? I am OK sitting in the luggage for eerr.. a ‘few’ good hours) Wuakakakak
Don’t worry, take it all in stride.
The US visa interviews can range from really tough to a nice chat – depends on the person interviewing you. Don’t worry to the stage that you will stiffen up. Take a deep breath, and tell yourself it’s just a conversation.
I was asked on my education background, my job, and what I was going to do in the US. Nothing major. The only curve ball thrown at me was if I thought working in the US would be attractive to me, to which my answer was yes, but I’m happy with my job now, and I think I prefer to keep travelling around in Asia in my current job. ;)
Hi Pelf – I live in the US, so can’t add any suggestions for the interview. Looks like you have some good ones already, though. Good luck, and Congratulations! You are most deserving of this opportunity.
-Will
way to go pelf!!!!
congratz!
Pelf will be our turtle superhero and save all our turtles when u come back!
WOW! congrats pelf! hope your interview goes well =) So you gonna invite us to visit you while you’re there? hehehee =P
Hey congrats on the scholarship! I didn’t know they have turtles up in New Jersey :)
Congratulations! I feel so proud and happy for you.
THANK YOU guys, for all the congratulatory messages and well wishes :D I wouldn’t exactly say that I deserve this, but I am grateful that I am given a chance to do this. I never knew that I would have a chance to go to the US for anything (a vacation or even a training), let alone a fully-sponsored 4-month professional training!
This is even better that whatever I could dream of, really! :D
I would like to visit you in New Jersey. You will be a 3 hour drive from New York. You can’t get much further in New Jersey from New York City than where you are going… oh, maybe that is why there are living turtles in the water there.
If you have a chance, also visit Cape May, which is near where you will be. A pretty town, beautiful beach. I visited 20 years ago… before getting busy :–)
I got my visa in 2004. I brought my doctor’s recommendation letter along and the process was simple, I was approved right away, no interview. The officer said, “God speed!”. Keke…
Awww… brings back memories. Congratulations! It’s just a short duration scholarship but I am already very proud of you. I wish to go to the U.S. by academic achievements too! But I’m so not smart or studious. Only some pretentious pandai-pandai intelligence. :P