Slog (not blog)
After a brief period of optimism that things were starting to move along, I've returned to the daily slog that is the preparation for research in Sede Boqer. This week, I discovered that there is a new issue with centrifuges - the ones here can either spin at the 14,000 x g (for 1 hour) that I need or they can fit eppendorf tubes, but not both. Actually there is one here, but its owner is out of the country for 3 weeks. bah.
On the lizard front, I'm still working out how to deal with catching them. It looks like we're going to try to convince the reserves people to let us collect in a place where we already know that there are lizards, and that is closer. Wish me luck. fortunately, at least one of the biologists involved is a student of the guy who has been helping me 'catch' lizards so far.
I also had the pleasure of dealing with various visa issues this week. I have to switch my Israeli visa to a student visa, but I was sternly told to wait for that because my current visa is good until November. Apparently the folks here have more confidence in the speed of such things than I have. On the other front, I also spent a fair bit of time dealing with the Australian Department if Immigration, Migration and Indigenous Affairs website. In Australia, it is possible to talk to a person in this department. Before I left Darwin I had a very helpful conversation with a woman there. She gave me all the information I needed at the time, told me which forms I would need, and recommended that I file my application in Israel. When I called here, they said that they can't give any information, except the URL of the consulate's web site, which has no information whatsoever, except that the embassy will be closed on the day of the Australian election (October 9). I protested that I'd already looked at every link on the website (both of them), but the guy there said to send a letter, which might take 6 weeks to respond to. I did try to send an e-mail, and got a terse, but helpful response. Turns out I won't have to get an FBI background check or a complete, certified medical exam (with chest x-ray), at least for this visa.
The other slog I've been dealing with this week is my paycheck. I still haven't received my September paycheck (which I was supposed to get at the beginning of the month). Apparently, I didn't give them my bank details soon enough to have them directly deposit my paycheck, so they have written a check and promptly lost it. Before the holiday (most of last week), I was told that it would be ready, then I was told that it wouldn't be ready until after the holiday, now I'm told that it exists, but they are having a hard time getting it from Beer Sheva to Sede Boqer. I also recently found out that so far, I've only been getting half of a paycheck. I knew my pay would be low coming here, so it didn't register when I got a very small paycheck, but half of a small amount is not really enough. So, since I've been here, I have received half of one paycheck for my nearly two months stay (see my earlier post for the explanation of how I went about turning that into actual money). Fortunately, there isn't much to spend money on in Sede Boqer, so I'm still holding up. Might be going on a quick diet if they don't find my paycheck soon. On the other hand, I should be getting an October paycheck pretty soon, and it is supposed to be directly deposited. It will be interesting to see which I get first, and whether I actually get a full paycheck someday.
On the brighter side of things, I'm starting the lengthy job application process. I have been getting good feedback from my references about the letters of recommendation that they are writing, and good thoughts about my chances. Unfortunately, I know some of the competition, and am less optimistic than my references. Actually, for one job, I'll be in the same pool as my Master's advisor! He's one of my references, too. He didn't think that would make a difference, and we both suspect that the university is more likely to go for a solid junior candidate than an expensive, senior one. We'll see.
In the meantime, I'll keep plugging away at trying to get a datapoint. I'm thinking about shifting to work on antlions or some other insect that (1) is easy to keep, (2) is easy to collect, and (3) requires no permits whatsoever.
On the lizard front, I'm still working out how to deal with catching them. It looks like we're going to try to convince the reserves people to let us collect in a place where we already know that there are lizards, and that is closer. Wish me luck. fortunately, at least one of the biologists involved is a student of the guy who has been helping me 'catch' lizards so far.
I also had the pleasure of dealing with various visa issues this week. I have to switch my Israeli visa to a student visa, but I was sternly told to wait for that because my current visa is good until November. Apparently the folks here have more confidence in the speed of such things than I have. On the other front, I also spent a fair bit of time dealing with the Australian Department if Immigration, Migration and Indigenous Affairs website. In Australia, it is possible to talk to a person in this department. Before I left Darwin I had a very helpful conversation with a woman there. She gave me all the information I needed at the time, told me which forms I would need, and recommended that I file my application in Israel. When I called here, they said that they can't give any information, except the URL of the consulate's web site, which has no information whatsoever, except that the embassy will be closed on the day of the Australian election (October 9). I protested that I'd already looked at every link on the website (both of them), but the guy there said to send a letter, which might take 6 weeks to respond to. I did try to send an e-mail, and got a terse, but helpful response. Turns out I won't have to get an FBI background check or a complete, certified medical exam (with chest x-ray), at least for this visa.
The other slog I've been dealing with this week is my paycheck. I still haven't received my September paycheck (which I was supposed to get at the beginning of the month). Apparently, I didn't give them my bank details soon enough to have them directly deposit my paycheck, so they have written a check and promptly lost it. Before the holiday (most of last week), I was told that it would be ready, then I was told that it wouldn't be ready until after the holiday, now I'm told that it exists, but they are having a hard time getting it from Beer Sheva to Sede Boqer. I also recently found out that so far, I've only been getting half of a paycheck. I knew my pay would be low coming here, so it didn't register when I got a very small paycheck, but half of a small amount is not really enough. So, since I've been here, I have received half of one paycheck for my nearly two months stay (see my earlier post for the explanation of how I went about turning that into actual money). Fortunately, there isn't much to spend money on in Sede Boqer, so I'm still holding up. Might be going on a quick diet if they don't find my paycheck soon. On the other hand, I should be getting an October paycheck pretty soon, and it is supposed to be directly deposited. It will be interesting to see which I get first, and whether I actually get a full paycheck someday.
On the brighter side of things, I'm starting the lengthy job application process. I have been getting good feedback from my references about the letters of recommendation that they are writing, and good thoughts about my chances. Unfortunately, I know some of the competition, and am less optimistic than my references. Actually, for one job, I'll be in the same pool as my Master's advisor! He's one of my references, too. He didn't think that would make a difference, and we both suspect that the university is more likely to go for a solid junior candidate than an expensive, senior one. We'll see.
In the meantime, I'll keep plugging away at trying to get a datapoint. I'm thinking about shifting to work on antlions or some other insect that (1) is easy to keep, (2) is easy to collect, and (3) requires no permits whatsoever.
2 Comments:
Oh, almost forgot the bike story. I have been fixing up an abandoned bike so I can have something to ride around. We cut the lock on a bike with 2 flat tires and a thick layer of sand plastered to the chain, gears and derailleurs. Unfortunately, after fixing the tires, cleaning the chain and gears, and adjusting the brakes, seat, handlebars, pedals, etc. the owner showed up. He was a bit upset that his good bike had been proclaimed abandoned, and wanted it back. So much for wheeled transport...
yeah, the whole paycheck thing is a mess. I did finally get paid, with two different checks. and I spent an hour in the bank trying to deposit them and set up internet access to my account. My understanding is that my future paychecks will be directly deposited. I'll still get two checks (assuming they actually arrive), but I will now make enough to pay rent once in a while.
As for the bike... well, good advice. There were four of us who decide that the bike was abandoned - the other three were convince that it hadn't been moved in several months. when the owner figured it out, he admitted that it hadn't been ridden in over 6 months, and it has not moved an inch since we re-locked it. There should be cruelty to bike laws that forfeit ownership if they aren't properly ridden. This one certainly wasn't rideable before I worked on it. Oh well, back to walking.
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