Thursday, February 25, 2010

O Dutchmanlandia!

Well, it's not looking like TD got the job at Think Tank. Of course, we don't know for sure because we can't get the leader of this research group to communicate with us! It's been almost 3 full months since his visit. He emailed this woman in mid-January just to ask if she had any information she could share about how the job search was progressing, he was still interested in the position, etc. Three days later she finally emailed and said that they were still interviewing and deliberating, but that she hoped to have some info for him by the end of January.

Fine.

So, last Friday, with nary a word or any communication from these people, TD emails again and asks if his application is still being considered for the position - he certainly hopes it is, because he continues to be interested in the organization, etc.

It's Thursday and he still hasn't heard anything from this woman - I doubt he will.

I'm thinking that they've already hired someone (or have made offers and are in negotiations) and that this person is either too lazy or too chicken shit to let TD know (or both). To say nothing of the gross unprofessionalism of not responding to emails for days at a time (if ever!), this delay is effecting what we need to do in order to make visa arrangements for him next year.

So, um, he can come see his baby being born and all!

Fortunately, TD will get a hefty parental leave next year that will allow him to come and be here for the entire academic year with summers at either end. And his tenure clock will stop. Hence the title of this post.

But, his coming here without a job (which looks pretty certain) means that we need to get him a spousal visa so he can spend extended time here (they're good for 2 years). The longer we delay, the more that the processing period for the visa application will cut into time that he'd like to be here with me.

It's a very good thing I got pregnant (for many reasons) but it means that at least for a year, our commute is postponed. I don't relish the thought that he'd have to go back the next year if he can't get a job here during his parental leave, but I'm trying desperately not to think of that.

So, a pox on Think Tank!

7 comments:

Doctor Cleveland said...

Pox on the Think Tank! Big, old-school medieval pox!

Phul Devi said...

Wow --that sucks! It's so irritating when people promise to get back to you and then never do... it's just so fundamentally rude. And how stressful to have to plan for the visa as part of this whole set of contingencies, too. My condolences.

On the bright side, it looks like you'll have a good chunk of time together in the near future. Does his leave start when the baby is born? Or with the summer and into next year?

Earnest English said...

First of all, I'm SO glad that the Dutchman will get parental leave and be able to be with you. I've been worrying about it, but didn't want to say anything. While many women do go through pregnancy alone and have babies and do it all a-okay, I really do think that when one is pregnant, there really should be someone there whose job it is to go get you oreos or Ben and Jerry's or whatever the heck you want in the middle of the night. And the father of the baby is the perfect person! Not to mention the little thing like having the baby. So I'm relieved. Better he's there. And you'll get some leave too, right? So if you two wanted to go to Dutchmanlandia, you could.

About Think Tank: of course, this sucks. But I'm on a search committee right now and we have great candidates too. While we would always email one of them back (so their suckage is serious -- but not unheard of), we sure would try to string #2 along while we go through all the negotiations and head checks with #1, because #1 may be fielding multiple offers, blahblahblah. In our case, we loved both 1 and 2 (and 3, though a teensy bit less) and would be delighted with either. So that may be what's going on at Think Tank, though Committee Chair would answer emails. So: who knows?

heu mihi said...

Sucky old think tank. Bah.

But that's great parental leave! Can we have some of that over in this country, too, please?

And is there any reason that you couldn't start the visa applications now, either way?

This Ro(a)mantic Life said...

Sorry to hear what's going on with Think Tank. How I understand that sense of being left in the dark. As does this guy.

Hoping the visa situation is much more straightforward, even if it's stressful. And very glad TD will get parental leave!

((MW))

Susan said...

Phooey on think tank. Especially because they were soooo enthusiastic initially. But yea for visas and awesome parental leave!

What Now? said...

Oh, bummer -- I'm sorry to hear that the job probably isn't going to happen for TD and, by extension, for you. Grrr.