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! :)