How to get a scholarship abroad

Since I've applied countless times and have been a successful recipient of scholarships, it might be useful at least to someone how I managed to get one. To me, there are four basic steps: 1) know what you want, 2) research and selection, 3) preparation, and 4) application. Waiting is inevitable and of course, when selected, the pre-departure process is another post.

What Matters

What's your criteria for a successful life? Some measure it in monetary terms, some in prestige, some in honor and integrity, others perhaps by being of service to others. Some by raising obedient and upright children. To each his own.

Today, I listened to an elderly Spaniard who just finished a European Union project overseas as a Team Leader. Of course, to become a team leader in a specific sector and country, one must have demonstrated decades of technical and management experience. He wanted to express his availability in case a project comes up. He said he wanted to make it clear he was not retiring. 

He was so humble. He didn't even mind getting sent to Afghanistan. Anywhere, even with -35C as long as it is not Syria. He said his wife will join him anywhere as long as it is not Syria. Their kids are all grown ups so he said what matters only is his wife. And his wife loves moving around, exploring cultures, meeting people. He said it was just perfect for his job. To stress the point further, he said: 

"If the wife (relationship) is ok, the project is ok. If not, the project is not."

Simple. 

One Afternoon in March

Personal collection as usual

Sometime in March 2006, I was in Madrid on holiday. During the same trip, I made a courtesy visit to the Philippine Embassy (PE). I exchanged views with one of the of the Madrid PE staff (career minister level), which I suddenly remembered on this March winter afternoon in Hamburg.

You see, while supposedly reading up on materials on development cooperation, I found myself reading a STRAFOR article on Gaza, Catalonia, and Romantic Nationalism. Then I realized, about six years or so after I decided to skip international relations (IR) and diplomacy for development work, I inevitably find myself drawn to IR stuff (if I’m not drawn to food and travel).

While in Madrid, I told the Madrid PE staff that I wanted to be part of the Foreign Service because I really enjoyed dwelling on international affairs and at the same time, do public service. And her response? “Just stay in the family business (which is inter-regional anyway) and just read the newspaper for global affairs. Look at [President] Ramos, (he attended the World Economic Forum then), do you think he can shape or change the world? You’re better off doing what you’re doing.”

Of course I was stubborn enough to move on and find my own path. But some things will never change.

From Hamburg with Love

119 impressive pages on the political economy of the aid system of Afghanistan from 2002-2007. I've spent the past few days reading the PhD dissertation of a woman I’m becoming to admire more each day.

I'm always in awe of anyone who has nearly perfect or absolute command of a foreign language in terms of understanding, speaking, and writing. Written entirely in English, I do not have the words to express how amazed I am with her ability to communicate the difficult context of state-building in post-conflict Afghanistan interspersed with themes on good governance, democracy assistance, aid effectiveness, and the overall development cooperation climate depicting the disconnect among the donors’ domestic constituencies, the multi-layer/contractor implementing agencies, the central government, and the rural communities to which aid must reach.

It is almost like a summary of what I have been striving to do the past ten years except the regional cooperation part, which is a little bit more complicated to tie in an in-depth study such as that even if  Afghan history has largely been shaped by the powers that controlled its regional neighbors.

I’m here sitting in a warm office in Volksdorf, supposedly one of the wealthier neighborhoods of already rich Hamburg – the city with the highest per capita income and highest concentration of millionaires in Germany. Sometimes aid efforts must be ‘backstopped’ from this comfort, far away from the communities intended to benefit from the help.

Yet here I am also away from my comfort zone. Or maybe not.

Hamburg reminds me of my three favorite places: Amsterdam, Antwerp, and Stockholm. It’s culturally diverse but not as shocking to me as Rotterdam even if it has the second largest port in Europe. Hamburg has plenty of bridges, rivers, and canals. It’s also cosmopolitan and old at the same time. I saw very few people wear Jack Wolfskin jackets even if there’s a very big store near the Rathaus. Although I do not expect much from Asian restaurants, I can pretty much eat everything here.  There’s a lot of meat and a lot of seafood. (Even a store that sells dulce de leche but no alfajores.) If only there were crabs, I’d be very, very happy. But who needs to be very, very happy? Being happy alone is enough.

It’s just been almost 3 weeks since I moved here doing what I enjoy doing most – development cooperation in my favorite continent working on my region – Asia. Just what I always tell everyone: “I couldn’t ask for more.” Well, perhaps if my friends and loved ones can all be here too (even for a visit) but that is asking too much.

I was sitting in Cape Town, specifically during a class on public policy and reform management at the University of Western Cape thinking, “this scholarship was God’s way of reminding me that His plans are better than mine.” And He continues to surprise me every single day through the people He sends my way.

And for that, I am very thankful.

Christmas 2012

It's Christmas in Manila for me but just like last year, it's different. Amidst all the festivities that I have yet to weave through, I'm ambivalent of all the sights and sounds so far. Even the joyous and peaceful aura that Christmas brings elude me. Maybe I should start shopping? Nothing ushers in Christmas than generosity and gifts.

House Parties

House Party in Bochum

Personal Collection

Filipinos love to eat, and some love to cook and entertain but hosting house parties have become less and less as I grew up. Although my mother still prepared merienda for almost 20 of my relatives every Sunday, cooking and hosting at home has become less common. If it were at home, it is often catered. It's just much more convenient. Otherwise, families go to a restaurant, and for bigger parties, certain sections of restaurants are closed off to make it private. 

But not in Germany. Or maybe in all of Europe? Or perhaps it's a student thing. Aside from the notes above, I've become accustomed to eating and drinking out when with friends. Gone are the drinking/load up sessions at home before going out back in college. Perhaps, it is indeed a student thing. 

Newspapers and Me!

on board CX from Hong Kong to Beijing

Personal collection

Above is a picture of FT Weekend and the International Herald Tribune (the global edition of the New York Times). I assume these are publications taken for granted by business professionals and perhaps any one who could afford such subscriptions. High level employees often have this delivered to their desks daily. 

When I was studying in the Czech Republic, I was so deprived of English. I lived in a dorm that had no cable TV (which we take for granted in Manila) and internet. That was a time when laptops were quite new and having wifi on one's laptop was quite a big deal. To go online, I had to go to an internet cafe or go to a hotel's business center. 

So whenever I traveled through airports or visited friends and family billeted at any of Prague's hotels, I would hoard newspapers to have access to the rest of the world and not forget my English. It kept me abreast of world events and made me feel I was still plugged in. We Filipinos may be a developing country but we're very much in tune with what is going on elsewhere in so many ways. In Podebrady, it was just a parallel world of Czech language, international students, and elderly who all spoke Czech better than English most of the time. 

Years on, I still have the same habit. Although I could possibly afford these papers, I still found it expensive to buy them. With the wealth of information available online, it didn't make sense to spend on it either. But when I have the chance, I get newspapers. 

 

Newspapers + Fika at the Dusseldorf Airport

Personal collection

I just wish I have time to read them. On a recent trip to Prague, I hoarded newspapers at the Dusseldorf airport again. But thanks to school work and the actual holiday, I haven't read them. Literally, old news. 

Top Inspiration Links

Entrance of VVG Something in Taipei - another inspiring space

Personal collection

When I need to be inspired and have a glimpse of the rest of the world, I visit a few websites that never fail. A few for travel, food, music, and some in between.  Enjoy browsing!

What's next?

From Yatzer's Timeline

Development Cooperation

UN Secretary General speaking on the Value of Partnerships to young people 

I may or may not have written it here before but as soon as I was conscious about United Nations Day celebrations in school, I knew I wanted to work for the United Nations. I was about ten years old. At the same time, I was equally smitten by food. 

Sweden-infused Berlin

Berlin has always been one of my favorite cities in Germany - hip, cool, funky, adventurous, alternative, and creative. It's the only place in Germany I do not expect to be traditional yet it is very historic. As much as I love Berlin though, it is not my favorite city in Europe. Prague will always be a favorite but I have been smitten with Brussels and Antwerp. Antwerp is a port city with the vibrancy of creativity. Brussels is this old and new European seat of power. Lots of grand old buildings. 

Then last weekend, I went to Stockholm, and everything changed. 

It's like a seamless blend of Brussels and Antwerp without the shabbiness of Berlin. It's just love. My adoration of Stockholm deserves an entire post altogether but for this post, I want to note my delight about discovering a Swedish blogger based in Berlin. You see, I was both in  Berlin and Stockholm this month so I am still clinging on the inspiring vibe that these cities imparted on me. 

The blog is by Ms. Sandra Juto. She mainly posts about everyday things on the street, interesting interiors, and her food. Yes. The things she eats. The coffee she drinks -- Fika or non-fika. And yes, I was so excited to read the words 'Fika' and 'Gatan' again. But more on those later. The things she posts about are often the ones I'd like to do myself but never found the time. My daytime occupation consumes me so much, I opt not to document the beauty of my surroundings. 

Thanks to Ms. Juto, now I can have a regular glimpse of two places I loved. Her posts just lives up to my mantra of "when the ordinary has been extraordinary all along"  topped with her witty comments too. Although I haven't encountered Stockholm-related posts, the Swedish aesthetic applied to Berlin everyday life is enough to pique my interest, and keep me glued to her blog. One big YAY!

 Just look at this spread of olives, cheese, bread, and mint drink.

First Loves Never Die

 Sala Bai in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Photo from my personal collection

I know, that seems grammatically wrong but I have two first loves: food and travel.

I'm still procrastinating while resting (why work when one should rest, right?) and my Facebook newsfeed led me back to food and travel. I checked my work e-mail with the utmost desire to do those presentations. That was a little over an hour ago.

A few weeks ago, I had the realization that I wish I traveled around East Asia more -- Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia (excluding China). I add that to my bucket of regret. Thank God, it's superficial regret.

Then this morning, I saw this CNN Go link about 10 great international cooking classes by Lina Goldberg. Anyone who knows me is fully aware I love to cook, and if we've talked at length, I really wanted to be a chef before I realized, I needed a day job. And pleasurable activities like cooking, eating, and traveling should remain enjoyable. Not a chore or task like those powerpoints.

Whenever I travel, I always intend to take cooking classes but never get to do it. Sightseeing and eating are priorities or work, then the next chunk of free time somehow doesn't allow me to take classes. The Intercon arranged it for me in Bangkok last year but none started early enough for me to reach my afternoon flight the same day. While in Malacca last year, my friend and I managed to eat way too much in one weekend but also didn't have time to take cooking classes. In Siem Reap, we prioritized the temples and the boutique hotels too much that by the time we had a free day to visit Sala Bai, it was closed for the day.

Just like the KOTO concept, Sala Bai is about using food to help the community through skills transfer. I've written about this dream before but I guess it will have to wait a few years again. Cooking school will have to wait for me and so will philanthropic work. I think I could be forgiven since my day job's mandate is to reduce poverty in Asia.

It's just a pity that most of the cooking schools in the CNN Go article are from the Asia Pacific. Then I saw another article on Asia's 10 great street food cities. Thank God I have an upcoming trip to Taipei, or else, I would be in deeper regret! Just so much to see in our region.

Then a few more clicks and I found myself reading the entire blog of Ms. Goldberg at MyBigFatFace. I'm just like that, I need to read the entire blog before saying I like it. Reading the blog is just so inspiring.

I wish I can do freelance development work and combine it with my love of food and travel in the future. That would be absolute work-life integration.

Hopes and Dreams

 Photo from the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

When I was a Global Xchange volunteer for VSO about five years ago, we were often asked to write about our hopes and dreams. Then toward the end of our volunteer stint, our program supervisors (PS), Abi and Patrick sat each of us down, and asked us what we have done the past six months, and what we thought were our accomplishments and contributions to the team and community.

That was one of the toughest moments of my life. But volunteering was one of the best moments of my life.

It was hard to look back about our hopes and dreams, to figure out and claim aloud our inputs to the cause. But an hour or so later, we had figures and rough statistics. Community action days came to mind. Hours spent on something. Outputs and results.

Most of my teammates and I have come a long way since our volunteering days. Our PSs have much to be proud of, I think.

Yet five years on, despite what seems like an uphill trajectory for me, I still have hopes and dreams that have not materialized. My closest friends and former colleagues at work often say, "if only outsiders knew what we actually do, they wouldn't wish to work here."

Yes. A few years ago, I started working for a dream organization. That January, I was choosing between working for the United Nations or the Asian Development Bank. Then I got thisclose to working on my dream topic: development effectiveness.

Simply put, my dream career would be about making sure that development interventions and every $ spent achieved its desired development results, and has a positive impact on the community.

My most fulfilling job function ever was reviewing development results for technical assistance projects completed by the institution I worked for. The analysis was based on sector and themes, which we had to link with different fund sources as well as overall institutional strategy. It would have been more fun if we checked how aligned they were with country strategies. A bit nerdy, I know.

But these things thrill me. I was so thrilled I even wrote my thesis advisers thank you notes for enduring my stubbornness to do aid coordination and transaction costs between two multilateral funders for my master's thesis.

Yet as a I write, I've procrastinated on 4 power point presentations, with just 4 slides each, about 4 sectors (trade policy, transport, trade facilitation, and energy) for a meeting in June that I will not attend anyway. The presentation is simply about the achievements and issues on these sectors. Easy. But I have no motivation.

And I wonder why. Maybe because I do not see the results of these meetings. I participated, prepared and was privy to several meetings online and offline that came to naught simply because one country rejected the participation of another. So much for cooperation. Despite the infused billion $ and opportunities to "discuss" and "harmonize" during meetings, what outcomes have really been achieved?

I had the same impressions after volunteering in Mindanao. After the grassroots organizations got funding overseas, they would hold these training sessions, pass an attendance sheet, have the training in video. And was that it? Where's the results? How do you measure effectiveness?

This topic has always intrigued me. Although I must admit, I have never really applied for a job related to this, I hope someday, I get to work on this. Maybe through an internship while at RUB, and a proper career after. I hope this dream can come true too! Just like working for that organization, and getting a scholarship. Again.

As I procrastinated and slept today (I am recuperating from a life-threatening illness atm), I had time (I was procrastinating!) to read most of my e-mail subscriptions, and even LinkedIn. Then I saw this discussion thread on M&E for someone aspiring to be in the field and would want to know where to acquire skills. One link led to another and I came across this M&E Manual. It's like M&E for dummies. I love!

Maybe, just maybe, I can intern at InProgress next year too!  Although I would much rather be in Bonn or Frankfurt, I fell in love with Berlin the first time I went there. It was both old and new but not in a London kind of way. It was chic, cool, funky and very socially oriented. Just the right size. And has more canals than Amsterdam, and practically a direct train ride from Prague. But far from Frankfurt where my heart is.

We will see how hopes and dreams materialize. Either way, I am very thankful for every result! And I owe much to the mentors that appear when needed.

I really didn't answer all the questions above but certainly working on M&E makes me feel good. Work is at least 8 hours of my day so let me indulge. The other 8 I would rather spend sleeping, and the other 8, most of it goes to food, movies, friends, design, family, and I wish, more travel.

On Teaching

Wikipedia defines a teacher as a person who provides education for pupils or students, often in a formal and ongoing manner, carried out at a school or another place for formal education. (I know, you may cringe at the Wikipedia citation.)

I've never really regarded myself as a teacher as the job description seems to entail massive responsibility -- to educate, at a formal institution at that. Yet since 2009, I've been a lecturer at one of the premier universities in the Philippines at its European Studies Program. Lecturer refers more to an academic rank -- an entry level designation among those who could eventually become professors. I initially handled a class on cross-cultural communications but more recently, I have been handling the political economic and business relations of Asia and Europe.

Beijing Mission - Postponed By Request

Visa and tickets were already issued. Our hotel was booked, and I already reserved a room at a quaint hostel called Red Lantern House at the Xicheng District (I was advised to avoid central Wangfujing if I wanted real Beijing) so I could extend and see the Forbidden City and hike to the Great Wall of China. Then four working days  before departure, the meeting was postponed.

Thankfully, I didn't make any other preparations aside from the ones above. I knew who to ask about a good operator but didn't make the effort to ask. The only thing I read was a page from a Turkish Airline booklet that featured their destinations all over the world.

I've never been interested to go. This time, I bothered because it was work, and more than $2,000 was going to spent on me for five days just to be there. So why not?

But I'm still thankful it got postponed, to at least July this year. I would rather go to Taipei. No, I would really like to go to Taipei!

This is not the first trip this year not to have pushed through. There was a meeting in Bangkok last February to negotiate a cross-border agreement that included Afghanistan, and there was a a trip to Donsol last March, which was my 3rd attempt since last year to see the sharks. This meeting should have happened this week. I could have said tonight, I just came from the Great Wall of China! 

Sometimes, you never know it is for real until you're already on the plane. 

Foreign Language # 4

In college, I took up basic Spanish and followed up with a module with Instituto Cervantes when I came back to Manila after a year spent abroad. I stopped because our teacher spoke with Guatemalan Spanish instead of Castillian. And while lost in San Sebastian a few years later, I still managed to find my way around to the best restaurants without a word in English.

After University, I moved to the Czech Republic to primarily learn Czech. About 35 hours a week of intensive Czech. Cviceni a tak dale. Years later and without practice, it's still useful when I haggle when shopping in Prague, especially when a local tries to rip me off.

About three years ago, I also completed two modules of French at Alliance Francaise de Manille. I decided to take up French not because I was fond of it but because it is the language of diplomacy (international relations), development (majority of the poor countries in Africa and Greater Mekong Subregion are French speaking), and of course, the kitchen. Gastronomy is just simply French. Although I love to cook and eat, I don't remember a single french word, except oui but that does not count.

So the fourth language is German. Although the language seems easier than the above three combined, the learning method seems to be challenging me. My ancient brain seems to be rattled with the combination of books, CDs, interactive online modules with forums, chats, videos, matching exercises etc. It's only day 2 and my brain is fried. 23 more months to go!

Women and Afghanistan

I blame my dad for influencing my fascination for spy, investigative, suspense shows shot all over the world or at least, have a cross-border twist. In the past few years, we've been hooked on NCIS. It's one of our bonding sessions.

On this steady Saturday morning, we saw an NCIS episode from Season 9. It was set in Afghanistan (AFG), to rescue a Marine held hostage by an impostor teacher who was actually a terrorist who believes that the proliferation of American ways, especially the freedom of learning and how it is empowering for women and children, should be limited.

It was quite an appropriate episode to watch this March, women's month. Even more appropriate to watch as I saw an opportunity this morning that could further a dream in the form of funding and mentorship.

I am no stranger to AFG although I will not say I am an expert on it. I have not even been there. But I have been schoolmates with one when I was in the Czech Republic, and more recently, I have been working with Afghans on cross-border transport and trade facilitation. The more people, goods, and services traverse territories safely, the more development is likely. The more opportunities for an improved way of life is possible.

Working Class Foodies

My dear blogger-friend recommended Working Class Foodies over the weekend and now I am addicted! "Siblings Rebecca and Max Lando, her dogs, and friends and family, on a quest to find the best local and seasonal ingredients the city has to offer, and turn them into delicious meals - all while keeping the budget under $8/person." Check out this video.



I'd do the same from time to time and if only I have a video cam of sorts. Maybe a little project D and I can do at home. And we've got a dog too, Chewie. :)

At Work or Not

I should not be blogging but I suddenly have free time at work. And below is a cartoon I received from my work e-mail a few weeks back: Work-Life Integration. Indeed the boundaries for both have blurred in my life and I am thankful that the dots are connecting bit by bit. It would be delightful for work and life to be integrated --- doing what I love and enjoying every bit of it. But sometimes, it's just too much. Then I wish, I need Work-Life Balance. Again.

Philippine Elections 2010

The festive mood outside our precinct

Being in Manila for the first time during elections since I turned 18 (in 2004, I lived in Prague, and in 2007, I lived in Leeds), I've really been keen to vote this time. After all, it seems that this year, a new President would make a lot of difference, hopefully positive ones.

After queuing for almost a day just to register last year, I was in no mood to lose my chance and be disenfranchised. Last 10 May, my family leisurely went to the voting precinct past 2 in the afternoon. More than a week prior, I already noticed my name missing from COMELEC's online precinct finder. Whatever. I am gonna go and vote.

And when I got to the designated elementary school, a young PPCRV volunteer directed me to the wrong floor (for my precinct) even if I knew already based on the boards outside. She did not check my name, just my precinct # on the stub. Then turns out, my name's not on the voter's list outside the classrooms, the masterlist next to the PICOS machines, the principal's masterlist and the ppcrv computers.

As I absolutely wanted to vote, I went to COMELEC and found out they misspelled my name and placed me in a different barangay. After much checking, somebody had to write the precinct chairman in my correct barangay and precinct to allow me to vote. So despite the hassle, I happily exercised my right to suffrage. Who knows if I will still be able to vote come the next elections?

At the time of writing, Noynoy Aquino has lead the tally with former President Estrada in second place for the top post of the land. Although I did not vote for Noynoy (I voted for Gordon, whom I believe has much more to show for in terms of demonstrated capacity and political will), my vice presidential bet is leading the race despite the controversy as the Liberal bet Mar Roxas has not conceded yet. I believe in liberal ideas but in the Philippines, theory, is certainly far from practice.

It's the second time we're having an Aquino for a president. We've had a Macapagal twice as Commander in Chief too. And although Estrada might not get a second chance, his family is well in place politically. With our entertaining array of top elected senators, and with GMA, officially proclaimed as congresswoman in Pampanga, what will happen to our country? Education, governance, political will? Whatever!

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sorry for the orange text in the middle. For some reason, despite changing the color, it stays the same - orange.