how this trip becomes more meaningful for me every day

i am in Singapore right now for a Conference.  3 days ago, i was one of the 15 Young Scholars picked from various Asia-Pacific countries for a 2-day Tutorials on Research in Communications then we were registered to attend this Conference on Communications.  I get to pick select Sessions that i think are relevant to my work (and hopefully to future studies, should i decide to finally start my ph.d.).  it was nice to be able to ask intelligent questions on papers that were presented, especially on methodology and impact of study.

this leads me to thinking on how different this trip is.  from the last time i was here, which was honeymoon from my past life, this is another official trip that i'm thankful for but i do have some personal musings on.

our accommodations might have been simpler and modest compared to my previous travels but it allowed me to make the most of Singapore's efficient transport system.  a friend (from UPD) lent me an EZLink Card that afforded me to take the bus/train at my convenience and compelled me to read maps as if (my) life depended on it.  the only time i took a cab was when i shared it with another friend (from UPD) when we finished late from our foodfest-dinner in MakanSutra in Esplanade Mall.  i was dropped off last but i felt safe, and i didn't feel robbed off.  i got the right change and was issued a receipt (despite the driver knowing that i was a tourist, from the way i was speaking English he said.)

in a way, the Conference forced me (a bit) to consider going back to school and starting Ph.D.  there have been many papers that were presented since yesterday that i felt i could do as well.  the critical questions were just --- is that the route i would want to take, and if it were so, where?

when you are in a relationship like me and have experienced how disastrous an LDR could be, studying overseas is scary even if it were on scholarship and a good academic institution like NUS.  the Program Director on Communications and New Media floated an invitation for Ph.D. and the possibility of a grant because they have, at present, graduate and post-graduate students from the Philippines who are really doing well, and both are my friends.  

which leads me to another careful scrutiny of how different it is (in terms of theoretical building specially) in UPD and foreign universities.  discussing coursework/fieldwork/supervisor (or Dissertation Adviser)-student relationship amplifies such difference.  and i realize, choosing to study in UPD is like committing to either not finishing your Ph.D. (or taking years! to complete it) when you haven't even started anything.

but it'd be nice to be able to pursue further studies in your field of interest.  it will always challenge you to read more, learn more, be more and change the world (at least, change your society).

i hope when i get home i would continue to think about these and hope to achieve that dream (of changing the world.)