Claud

An avid collector of your hopes and worries, a romantic at heart.

She thanks her fairies, for blessing her with people who know compassion down to an art.

For accepting her for who she is, who never fails to turn up,

in times of need as well as happiness, or just there for a loving hug.

Now that my thesis is handed in, locked behind closed doors. I must send my gratitude and applause to the people who made this happen. The order is in no way a measure of the extent of my gratitude.

1) I want to thank my supervisor Dr. Tracey Skelton, for not force-fitting me into a theory/direction. I am forever grateful for the intellectual respect, and room for me to grow as a student. Thank you for having faith in me. I would also like to thank Dr. Karen Lai and Dr. Godfrey Yeung for alleviating my nerves during writing.

2) I would like to thank Yongquan who first heard the ideas, and then asked me pertinent questions that formulated the general trajectories. Your insights never fail to enlighten and humble me.

3) I also want to extend my gratitude to Joe Daniels for helping me develop the geographical thought surrounding my thesis and being an honest sounding board. Although we didn't really use the ideas discussed, but I'm really glad for the thought-processes that led to the final development of my work.

4) Daniel Seah, how can I ever thank you enough for introducing Nuyen's article and subsequently clearing my doubts about Adorno and the continental bunch of philosophers.

5) I would like to also thank Chengying and Yuting for being such great listeners and it really helps to have good friends to sound out to….since i think aloud =X I also want to thank Yuting for helping read through my first draft for clarity and consistency of ideas.

6) Thanks Aloy for the car-rides (I LOVE THEM) and more importantly, reading my thesis for flaws in logic and flow. Thanks for also critiquing and being honest. Like I said, the (+) or (-) will be indebted to you. HAHA!

7) My proof-readers Tarrant and Shangyi. Thank you thank you thank you for helping me clarify my grammar. I understand it's not easy to plough through my forest of errors. I understand you have your own busy schedules and my thesis is probably very alien, but you tried your best and I am truly grateful for our friendship.

8) To the Bitch, thanks for reminding me that life is more than academics, for keeping me in check with suppers and bribery of good company in general. What would I be without you? A block of wood possibly.

9) To my papa, who never failed to provide me my daily dose of fresh 100% no preservative no colouring orange juice during the writing process.

10) A shoutout to Russell Miller for hearing my interests in social science research and in so doing, remind me why I am writing what I am writing. =)

11) My participants, the conductors, instructors, students and composers who gave me their precious time. This thesis can never ever happen without your valuable and candid input. I want to give special mention to Dr. Kelly Tang, Ms Luo/Ms Yeo - without your help, this would not have happened. I also want to thank Guanyu for helping me with the contacts and input as well. Band has given me so much, and I wish to show my gratitude by at least giving people a voice.

12) I feel indebted to the authors and thinkers, lecturers and tutors, who have brought me peace during a difficult time - for helping me understand myself better, for bringing some measure of peace in my life, for making me a better person. This thesis, is really dedicated to all of you, and in my small capacity, I wish to contribute back in the same manner.

=')