Extended Happiness
The autumnal leaves are showing off their early glory in Melbourne and saying bye-bye to summer lovers. Maple trees have already started to turn yellowish and fiery, reflecting my ever burning passion in my maddening studies. As many leaves are scattering through the streets and making life more miserable for winter’s anti-fans, my scary thoughts seem to be fluttering all over the sky. I see my dream is coming closer, but will I still make it?
Right now, Mr Time is looking at me with his mischievous eyes, as he always is. I have seen him for almost three years since I set my foot on this soil, and I can hear him say it again now: “Hey, Mr Perfect, still wanna play Catch Me If You Can?” Just so you know, Mr Time runs faster than DiCaprio in that funny movie and even faster than the comic superhero The Flash. Just when you think today is Monday, it’s already Friday. April 2012 already? How the hell did he do that?
But hey, not to worry. I can thank God for creating a great document called The Application for An Extension of Study Leave and Scholarship. You see, my kind sponsor in Malaysia has even anticipated the potential chaos created by Mr Time and so they are willing to conspire with me and cheat this naughty monster. Can we do that? They way I see it now, Mr Time is getting stronger and muscular these days, thanks to our tight schedules and busy lifestyles and hectic planning in making more money or following those silly dreams.
Again, what has happened to me? Not that I’m too lazy or haven’t made any progress in my research program, but things are just complicated and beyond my control. Some of my friends even claimed that it would be too weird or abnormal if I graduate in time. Are they kidding? They even told me not to freak out, that some people didn’t even complete their studies and could still smile and bring back some nice cars to their home country. Thank you, dear friends, but which model of the car did you mean?
Anyway, to quote what Janet said in her support letter: “Mr Hamzah is completing a highly complex and technical research thesis and requires a lot of technical support from the School. It is vital that he obtain an extension to his candidature which is the normal procedure in Australian PhD studies. His PhD will be groundbreaking and will establish him as a world expert on the Phonetics and Phonology of Kelantan Malay.”
Thanks, dear Janet. That’s very persuasive and flattering.
With that, I’m ready for the six-month interlude of Extended Happiness (read: Extended Madness).
.jpg "Big Lesson")
Although Janet wrote so casually “It is vital that he obtain an extension to his candidature which is the normal procedure in Australian PhD studies”, any seasoned chap would able to read between the lines which are: “It is vital that he obtain an extension to his candidature which are the very normal incidents in University of Melbourne PhD studies, which by the way is THE currently TOP AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY, and No. 37 in the world (not my say, kindly ask Mr Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2011-2012).”
I have strong feeeling that your sponsor will able to read between the lines.
Haha. Thank you for stating the obvious, Azrai!
As a graduate of tertiary studies from University of Melbourne, I know the last six months are the greatest hurdles, but I do not see why not, the technical support is there at the uni, strictly manage everything meticulously, Hilmi and you ceremony in Wilson Hall will be the proudest day of you and God’s life. History is measured in ten centuries. A philosopher learns to think that life is not too hard. No more negative feelings – it is the devil saying you cannot do it in 6 months. But brethron says, YOU CAN.
Mark Oglethorpe B.SOC.SCI(Information Management) 1998 Uni Melb Batchelor.
Dear Mark – Thanks for your inspiring words. May God bless us.