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November 04 TOEFLThis morning I went to take the computer-based TOEFL® (Test of English as a Foreign Language) at the Institute of International Education located on the sixth floor of Maneeya Building on Ploenchit Road. I almost got to the test-center late due to the heavy morning traffic, fortunately I made it just in time. The test went well and took me about 3 hours to finish. One of the advantages of the computer-based version of the test is that you are able to see your unofficial score report immediately after you finished the test, except for the essay score that will be graded by the evaluators later. My score is as follow: Listening: 29 Structure/Writing: 11 to 28 Reading: 28 TOTAL: 227 to 283 All in all, the score is acceptable as my possible minimum surpasses the minimum requirement for some graduate schools in the US. Anyway, I hope that I will get good rating on my essay to ensure a good overall official score. By the way, I still wondered which one question of the total 30 questions in the listening section that I got wrong, otherwise I will score perfectly (30 points) in the listening section. Unfortunately, that answer would remain mysterious unless ETS (the test administrator) decides to change its policy of disclosure the score, which would deem impossible. September 25 Journey to Saraburi (Revisited)I have just been back from Saraburi. If you read my blog regularly, you may notice that I have just been to Saraburi with my friend at the beginning of this month. Thus, this is my second time within two-weeks period to revisit Saraburi. Anyway, this time, I visited Saraburi for a different purpose. I had to attend a mandatory three-days seminar for all Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST in short) scholarship grantees. The seminar was educational, interesting and surprisingly enjoyable. I'd got a chance to make friend with fellow MOST scholars. Moreover, I got to know some nice and kind officers from both MOST, OCSC and NSTDA (my future office) as well as some other former MOST scholars. I was impressed with one quotation from a seminar session saying that "changes are chaotic." It's indeed true and could be considered as a universal fact. Now, I have a lot of changes in my life and there would be more changes to come when it's a time to travel abroad. Even though, they would bring more chaos to me, I would definitely have to keep my head up high and be stronger. September 17 NSTDA ScholarshipIt's been decided! Yesterday, I was informed that the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) awarded me with a conditional scholarship. By the Ministry of Science and Technology's request through the Office of Civil Service Commission (OCSC), I will have to pursue my Ph.D. emphasis on Research and Development at a university in the states and come back to work at the agency. Well, with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to further my academic profile, this is a reasonably good offer so I won't turn down the opportunity. I will discuss in details, of where to go and when to leave, with ministry's officers once the orientation is finished. Don't worry, my friends, I will not leave soon. There are still a lot of paper-works, procedures and unfinished businesses here in Bangkok for me to settle. I will keep you informed when something new comes up. |
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