Simply put, I chose NUS because I knew Professor Brenda Yeoh and Associate Professor Shirlena Huang were based there. I had read a number of their publications while writing my Masters’ thesis, which made me think NUS may be the perfect place to find guidance for my intended research. Furthermore, Singapore’s location was another asset, as my fieldwork would bring me to both Japan and the Philippines. Last but not least, the availability of scholarships was an important factor, as I would not have been able to pursue a PhD without such financial support.