Brian,For anyone reading out there, let it be known that I also sincerely enjoyed working for him, and was grateful for the opportunities I was afforded during my short tenure at AT&T Labs. It is with regret that I leave such a wonderful environment. Alas, I am the most stubborn person you know and I just can't shake the idea of starting a new life in The Netherlands.
Of course I am very sad to see you go. In the short time that you were here you really impressed me with your knowledge and work ethic. I was so excited to finally have someone that I could truly count on, that dove right in and figured things out, and actually accomplished things! Though like a lot of things in life, it must have been too good to be true. :) I do appreciate everything you’ve done and hope to work with you again someday. Call me anytime if you need anything, or if you are back in the States and need a job. If you need a reference you can give them my number and I’d be glad to give you a good recommendation. Good luck with your next big adventure. I hope you finally find what you are searching for. :)
Monday, September 19, 2011
Regrettable Resignation
I gave my boss one months notice that I would be departing his employment, and I was touched when he returned my resgination letter with the following reply:
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
One Head, Seeks Roof...
I remember being surprised at the difficulty we had finding a residence upon arriving in Australia, and somehow I managed to overlook this as a critical stage in my planning. You see, here in the States finding a residency can be a bit of a tedious pain in the ass, but there certainly isn't a lack of options - and if things look really grim there are always those impersonal, mass produced character-lacking apartment complexes just outside the city, coming to a 'burb near you. My bank account hasn't dried up quite yet, so it only seemed natural to be more concerned about visas and employment - because after all - these items are subjective and I have to earn them - but a residence should simply be a matter of signing a lease and ponying up the cash, right?
In Amsterdam the housing market is heavily, heavily regulated by the government, and according to Wikipedia 55 - 80% of all housing is owned by HOA's - government sponsored HOA's. The city itself is subdivided into many small neighborhoods, and until I arrive on the scene it's going to be difficult to decide if the place I'm looking at is a good place - imagine the excitement of moving to L.A. only to learn later that Compton isn't quite the Long Beach neighborhood Google Maps would have you believe... Hopefully this won't be too big of an issue for me, I've already amassed a fair support network in the city who would be willing to steer me in the right direction, perhaps even go check out a particular place for me if needed. But wow I sure am getting ahead of myself. How about we go back to the list format, and peruse our options...
Option #1 - A (more than) Friendly CouchSurfer
A few weeks ago I put out a message to a handful of CS'ers who seemed like the kind of roommates I would be excited to have. I went way out on a limb asking them to help me begin my new life - and as expected I received many a wonderful, elegant and helpful response with links, resources and ideas to help me on my way - but no takers. Until now! An Amsterdammer by the name of Carola has signed up for adventure, and agreed to be my flatmate for at least a couple of weeks, while I get myself sorted.
This is really a great option for me - I mean, I'll have a local who understands what is going on and speaks the language. I'll have a friend - and of course everyone reading this knows how important friends are in my life. Who knows, maybe I'll even be invited to a barbecue or a movie with her mates, and that'll really help me recharge the batteries in between job hunting a paperwork filing. But there is some trepidation on my part - mainly, it is adding one more GIANT item to my list of things to do once I am in the country, and finding a place to live seems to be a very challenging obstacle. What if I could find a place to call my own before leaving these here lower 48? Then I could focus strictly on getting a job and visa, which are pretty big priorities - the top 3 items on my to-do list, remember?
Option #2 - Start Enquiring About Rental Properties
I feel like I should at least put my feelers out there on the myriad of places available online, some of them even marketed to expats moving from abroad. This is difficult firstly because of the time differences. Of course I could run the whole thing electronically - I'm no stranger to email - but a phone conversation with the lessor or the agent would surely make me feel a bit more confident about sending money to a foreign country that I have never set foot in.
This currently sounds like a great option to me, it offers some level of comfort that I will have an office to run my life from. I imagine there will be many late nights sorting through government paperwork, bank details, mobile phone plans, and of course CV and cover letters to arrange regularly. It's not that I couldn't do it at Carola's place, but being extra clean and respectful while sleeping on her couch just adds one more layer of complexity (I really shouldn't complain, should I?). I just think it would be easier to have the ability to spread out, and make a small disaster area until I have some semblance of a normal life to cling to.
The problem arises when the real estate agent, or lessor realizes that I'm an un-knowing out-of-towner, and rapes me for double what the place is worth. The problem arises when I find out that I've signed a long-term lease on a place with a toilet that doesn't work, or a rat infestation. The problem arises when I step off the plane and find out that the previous tenants have yet to vacate. It's just a bit scary to send money and put pen-to-paper without seeing, feeling and knowing the place.
Option #3 - Find A Place To Squat
This isn't as bad as it may sound - what I mean by squatting is a roommate situation where I am unable to 'register' with the government. (I'll talk about registration later.) This situation would be very similar to living with Carola, except I would have a bedroom instead of a couch, and it would provide me with a more long-term solution than what Carola has graciously offered. At the moment this is my least exciting option, because even though it provides me some personal space, and I won't really have to sign any long-term paperwork, I can't move on with being a productive member of society until I can register with the government. No registration --> no visa, no bank account, no health insurance, no mobile phone. This is still a valid option though, because it may be months before I find a job, need a bank account, and need to register with the government.
But, just as with living with the possibly the most amazing CS host ever, it adds to my list of things to do once I'm in the country, and I'd like to have as much done as possible before I get off that plane.
So clearly I am leaning towards option #2 - just get it over with and suck up the cost and responsibility in order to ease my transition to a Dutch lifestyle. I think I've got enough on my plate as is, and I am trying my best to avoid a complete mental breakdown after arrival. Now that we know my options, lets explore the bureaucratic, governmental, and administrative side of whats involved with finding that roof for my noggin'.
Remember when I mentioned the MVV (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf)? Here we go again...
MVV --> Residence Permit --> Registered. (At least this is my best guess as to how it works.)
So the MVV isn't required for US citizens, though I have read in some places that I can still get it - it's optional. I've also read that it can take at least three months to obtain the MVV, and I've certainly crossed that barrier. Some sites even call the MVV a "permission to apply" for a residence permit, and without the residence permit, I cannot legally register a property. One site goes so far as to say, "you cannot simply walk in and apply for a residence permit, you must have gained a permission to apply before arriving in A'dam".
One thing I am quite sure of though, is that I am 100% unable to gain a legal residence until I have a residence permit - and I am almost certain that the only place you can apply for the residence permit is in the city hall of the specific area you will be living (like, neighborhood specific - 'Amsterdam' is not specific enough). I also read that these kind of things must be applied for within three days of arrival in the country - how would I know exactly where I am going to live after only getting off the plane three days ago?
This also kind of puts a damper on my favourite option #2 up there - if I have to walk into City Hall to get the permit, how can I sign rental agreements while I am still in the States? Perhaps I can still make a deal with the lessor, and at least have a handle on the location, only having to worry about the process of becoming legal, and not having to spend my days searching for a place.
So there you have it - this is what I know about roofs, walls and everything in between over there in Holland. Not much. I have however posted a few questions to forums, and sent an email or two to some folks who were nice enough to let me bother them about these things. If these items fail (or don't happen quick enough for my impatient self), then I'll stay awake late into the night and call the IND over in Holland. They should have some answers, right?
Am I over-preparing?
I remember poring over blogs, government websites and lonely planet books before setting off into Asia. I spoke with friends, I queried travelers, I even prepared documents, lists and spreadsheets with information to make sure I wouldn't end up in dire straits. But once I got there, everything fell into place. Things that I had decided were completely outrageous (like buying and riding a motorcycle through the highlands of Vietnam), just kinda happened with the least of effort. I don't think I even once consulted all of that information I had meticulously compiled, and things seemed much clearer and simpler when I was standing at the gates shouting, "Let Me In!"....
Ugh, I need a Heineken.
In Amsterdam the housing market is heavily, heavily regulated by the government, and according to Wikipedia 55 - 80% of all housing is owned by HOA's - government sponsored HOA's. The city itself is subdivided into many small neighborhoods, and until I arrive on the scene it's going to be difficult to decide if the place I'm looking at is a good place - imagine the excitement of moving to L.A. only to learn later that Compton isn't quite the Long Beach neighborhood Google Maps would have you believe... Hopefully this won't be too big of an issue for me, I've already amassed a fair support network in the city who would be willing to steer me in the right direction, perhaps even go check out a particular place for me if needed. But wow I sure am getting ahead of myself. How about we go back to the list format, and peruse our options...
Option #1 - A (more than) Friendly CouchSurfer
A few weeks ago I put out a message to a handful of CS'ers who seemed like the kind of roommates I would be excited to have. I went way out on a limb asking them to help me begin my new life - and as expected I received many a wonderful, elegant and helpful response with links, resources and ideas to help me on my way - but no takers. Until now! An Amsterdammer by the name of Carola has signed up for adventure, and agreed to be my flatmate for at least a couple of weeks, while I get myself sorted.
This is really a great option for me - I mean, I'll have a local who understands what is going on and speaks the language. I'll have a friend - and of course everyone reading this knows how important friends are in my life. Who knows, maybe I'll even be invited to a barbecue or a movie with her mates, and that'll really help me recharge the batteries in between job hunting a paperwork filing. But there is some trepidation on my part - mainly, it is adding one more GIANT item to my list of things to do once I am in the country, and finding a place to live seems to be a very challenging obstacle. What if I could find a place to call my own before leaving these here lower 48? Then I could focus strictly on getting a job and visa, which are pretty big priorities - the top 3 items on my to-do list, remember?
Option #2 - Start Enquiring About Rental Properties
I feel like I should at least put my feelers out there on the myriad of places available online, some of them even marketed to expats moving from abroad. This is difficult firstly because of the time differences. Of course I could run the whole thing electronically - I'm no stranger to email - but a phone conversation with the lessor or the agent would surely make me feel a bit more confident about sending money to a foreign country that I have never set foot in.
This currently sounds like a great option to me, it offers some level of comfort that I will have an office to run my life from. I imagine there will be many late nights sorting through government paperwork, bank details, mobile phone plans, and of course CV and cover letters to arrange regularly. It's not that I couldn't do it at Carola's place, but being extra clean and respectful while sleeping on her couch just adds one more layer of complexity (I really shouldn't complain, should I?). I just think it would be easier to have the ability to spread out, and make a small disaster area until I have some semblance of a normal life to cling to.
The problem arises when the real estate agent, or lessor realizes that I'm an un-knowing out-of-towner, and rapes me for double what the place is worth. The problem arises when I find out that I've signed a long-term lease on a place with a toilet that doesn't work, or a rat infestation. The problem arises when I step off the plane and find out that the previous tenants have yet to vacate. It's just a bit scary to send money and put pen-to-paper without seeing, feeling and knowing the place.
Option #3 - Find A Place To Squat
This isn't as bad as it may sound - what I mean by squatting is a roommate situation where I am unable to 'register' with the government. (I'll talk about registration later.) This situation would be very similar to living with Carola, except I would have a bedroom instead of a couch, and it would provide me with a more long-term solution than what Carola has graciously offered. At the moment this is my least exciting option, because even though it provides me some personal space, and I won't really have to sign any long-term paperwork, I can't move on with being a productive member of society until I can register with the government. No registration --> no visa, no bank account, no health insurance, no mobile phone. This is still a valid option though, because it may be months before I find a job, need a bank account, and need to register with the government.
But, just as with living with the possibly the most amazing CS host ever, it adds to my list of things to do once I'm in the country, and I'd like to have as much done as possible before I get off that plane.
So clearly I am leaning towards option #2 - just get it over with and suck up the cost and responsibility in order to ease my transition to a Dutch lifestyle. I think I've got enough on my plate as is, and I am trying my best to avoid a complete mental breakdown after arrival. Now that we know my options, lets explore the bureaucratic, governmental, and administrative side of whats involved with finding that roof for my noggin'.
Remember when I mentioned the MVV (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf)? Here we go again...
MVV --> Residence Permit --> Registered. (At least this is my best guess as to how it works.)
So the MVV isn't required for US citizens, though I have read in some places that I can still get it - it's optional. I've also read that it can take at least three months to obtain the MVV, and I've certainly crossed that barrier. Some sites even call the MVV a "permission to apply" for a residence permit, and without the residence permit, I cannot legally register a property. One site goes so far as to say, "you cannot simply walk in and apply for a residence permit, you must have gained a permission to apply before arriving in A'dam".
One thing I am quite sure of though, is that I am 100% unable to gain a legal residence until I have a residence permit - and I am almost certain that the only place you can apply for the residence permit is in the city hall of the specific area you will be living (like, neighborhood specific - 'Amsterdam' is not specific enough). I also read that these kind of things must be applied for within three days of arrival in the country - how would I know exactly where I am going to live after only getting off the plane three days ago?
This also kind of puts a damper on my favourite option #2 up there - if I have to walk into City Hall to get the permit, how can I sign rental agreements while I am still in the States? Perhaps I can still make a deal with the lessor, and at least have a handle on the location, only having to worry about the process of becoming legal, and not having to spend my days searching for a place.So there you have it - this is what I know about roofs, walls and everything in between over there in Holland. Not much. I have however posted a few questions to forums, and sent an email or two to some folks who were nice enough to let me bother them about these things. If these items fail (or don't happen quick enough for my impatient self), then I'll stay awake late into the night and call the IND over in Holland. They should have some answers, right?
Am I over-preparing?
I remember poring over blogs, government websites and lonely planet books before setting off into Asia. I spoke with friends, I queried travelers, I even prepared documents, lists and spreadsheets with information to make sure I wouldn't end up in dire straits. But once I got there, everything fell into place. Things that I had decided were completely outrageous (like buying and riding a motorcycle through the highlands of Vietnam), just kinda happened with the least of effort. I don't think I even once consulted all of that information I had meticulously compiled, and things seemed much clearer and simpler when I was standing at the gates shouting, "Let Me In!"....
Ugh, I need a Heineken.
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