PhD, closer but must I learn how to speak German?

Two steps forward and one step back, at least that's how I feel about it. Last week was my second interview with Uitm for its Young Lecturer's Skim schorlarship. (Well, at least they don't consider me to be too old). You may have heard me grumbling about writing my research proposal --which I am still unsatisfied with-- and going to Uitm first interview -- which was hell, and so disappointing.

They called me up on a sunday afternoon to tell me that I am required to go to an Interview on wednesday. Disheartened and losing all hope after the first interview, I never expected the phone call. I was left flabbergasted as the news left me ineffable in speech and expression. I thought I had no reason to hope for a scholarship from Uitm any longer, but I was so wrong. Here, I was given a second chance. I must have been good in my previous life or there was probably a big mistake while they were shuffling paper around in the admission's office.

Wednesday came, and they were many people waiting outside the interviewing room. They narrowed down to about 11 PhD. candidates and 54 Master candidates for the Faculty of Information Technology and Quantitative Science that day, and all of us were expecting to be called one-by-one to be interviewed and belittled like little school children begging for someone to buy us ice-cream. This round of interview, the PhD. candidates were called first, which was different from the first interview. But one thing remained, they still interviewed us in groups. Worst, they called all 11 of us into a capacious room with over powered air-cond blowing wet and moldy near freezing air (maybe i was just too nervous then) to our faces.

After a few questions about why you want to do your PhD. and of that sort of questions, while everyone of us trying hard to think of something irreverent to say to impress the panel, finally, one of the panel members decided to adumbrate us on why we were all called at the same time. Apparently, we are all given the scholarship. Their generosity came with a few rules, yes, no, provided that and when.....???

1. Yes we are all given a scholarship.
2. No if we are thinking that we can do our PhD. in USA, UK, Australia or Canada. There goes my chance to be in the USA again.
   
3. Provided that we get a placement in a university at Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, China or India, or other countries not in rule no. 2.
   
4. When we do get a place, we get to secure the scholarship, until then, we have nothing, and we have till the end of 2006 to do that.....ohhh...bummer.....

So here I am thinking that I am now two steps forward in getting my PhD., but with all the rules, I have to take one step back. First of all, its not easy doing your PhD in a country that doesn't even speak the English. Second, people in Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, and China can hardly get a placement in their own country, what more someone from Malaysia and third is that it will be very difficult to find a University in these countries that does Artificial Intelligence, Expert Systems or Natural Language Engineering.

I guess now, I have to wait for another miracle. My next task is probably see how lucky I am in getting a place in Germany, Singapore, China or Hong Kong. After which, depending on where I'm going, I'll have to practice my Mandarin (wo hui jiang huayi, yi tian-tian, keyi le, wo shi joey, wo yao ni gei wo qian, wo yao qu Daxue) which is a lot of work cause I can't speak mandarin if my life depended on it, or start learning German (Guten Morgen......Ashtung....ich bin Joey)
At this point, I can only hope. But I'm still hoping that US is the place where I will eventually go to do my PhD. I'm more sad than excited really, cause I got my heart set to go to US....but what can a commoner like myself do....we are not above the bourgeoisie or the likes of orang Bangsawan....(Dato's and Tan Sri's)

And If I am not so lucky to secure a place in Germany, China, Hong Kong or Singapore, I guess I have to find other means, maybe the lottery ticket again.....No matter what, lottery tickets sounds more sensible....:) 4D or something.....guys, give me a number to buy.....:) Or please help me in getting a place in Germany or something, if you know any Professors from Germany or other countries. Having some networking could probably help....:)