I would like to sincerely thank TASA for awarding me the generous postgraduate bursary, which enabled me to travel “across the ditch” to present at the conference. As this was my first international conference presentation, the opportunity was both professionally significant and personally rewarding.
I am currently in the final year of my PhD, which explores the quality of life of late-life Indian immigrants in Auckland, New Zealand. My study adopts a semi-ethnographic design and is grounded in a decolonial methodological framework, seeking to foreground the lived experiences and cultural knowledge of older migrants. Presenting this work at TASA provided an invaluable platform to share my research with a broader sociological audience. The questions, discussions, and feedback I received—particularly in relation to my decolonial approach—were constructive and thought-provoking, helping me to further refine my analytical lens as I move toward completion.
Attending the conference also allowed me to connect with scholars working in the Ageing and Sociology thematic group. Engaging in these conversations strengthened my sense of belonging within the discipline and opened possibilities for future collaboration. Meeting fellow researchers whose work intersects with migration, ageing, and community studies was especially enriching.
As a final-year doctoral candidate, conference travel can pose significant financial challenges. The bursary substantially assisted with essential expenses such as airfare and accommodation, allowing me to focus fully on participating in the conference rather than being preoccupied with costs. Without this support, attending would have been considerably more difficult.
I am also deeply grateful for the welcoming and collegial atmosphere created by the conference organisers. Their professionalism and thoughtful coordination made the experience seamless. It was particularly meaningful to attend alongside my university peers and my supervisor, Professor Camille Nakhid, whose guidance and encouragement have been instrumental throughout my doctoral journey. The mutual support we shared at the conference added to the richness of the experience.
I left TASA with new academic connections, renewed confidence in my research direction, and a strengthened commitment to contributing to sociological scholarship. Thank you to TASA's Executive for making my first international conference presentation such a positive and impactful experience.
Kind regards,
Gurpreet Kaur
Auckland University of Technology, Aotearoa, New Zealand