A hospital in Maryland has offered me a full-time position, and I’ll be able to work there thanks to the miracle of the TN visa (go, NAFTA!), which allows professionals in medical and allied health fields to get into the States and start work much quicker than applying for the old-style visas. There’s still some paperwork left to straighten out, but it looks like I’ll be crossing the border in December (!!!), and hopefully staying there for a good long time.
I’m excited, because not only is this job a great opportunity career-wise, it also brings me closer to my boyfriend. The long-distance relationship can now be just a relationship! I’m also terrified, because I’ve never lived on my own before, and leaving home to move to a new country is really a hell of a way to start! But, well, I’ve accepted the job and given the chief tech here two weeks notice, so the wheels are already in motion. And I want this. I really, really want this and I’m totally overjoyed. Giddy, even!
So, think there’s room for me in your state? I’m a quiet neighbour… and I’ll bring syrup!
Congratulations Antigen! As a fellow lab rat I’ve always enjoyed following your posts. What type of lab job is it? Big hospital? Are you still on an overnight shift?
Good luck with the move, no small feat with the distance you’re going.
I can not tell you how thrilled I am to hear the news! Congratulations! We will have a Welcome-Antigen-To-MD party. In December. Well, we’ll combine it with our annual December party.
(Bring Tetley’s and Tim’s.)
Montreal to MD isn’t too scary a cultural jump. IOW it’s not like moving from swinging London to Salt Lake City. (it is a fairly Blue state (democratic), and diverse.
Almost no one will speak French, Spanish is the second language, there will be more people from all over the World than there are in Montreal (MD is the most diverse State in the U.S. that does not have a so-called minority-majority population (or, IOW it is the 5th most divserse state) – it doesn’t depend on where you are (Balto or DC Suburbs) you should fit right in and be among people who have come from elsewhere too and I hope you love it.
Besides oppressive levels of taxation and ridiculously strict gun control, Maryland ain’t that bad. Of course, coming from Canada, it shouldn’t be too much of a change.
This reply was heavily edited to remove the screaming laughter. Sure, it’s not like moving from Canada to Lebanon or something, but believe me, it’s a huge change.
Oh, good, nobody’s saying “Boo, Canucks go home” yet.
I’ll be moving to Anne Arundel County. The job is a full time evening position at a fairly small hospital. The lab is changing things up, bringing in automation, so it’s going to be a fun time to jump in. It’s the core lab (biochemistry and hematology), but because they don’t want me to lose the blood bank skills I’ve acquired through my current job, they’re going to rotate me through blood bank as well. Ain’t that great? Everyone there has been really great about helping me get things straightened out for the move. The human resources woman even sent me links to local classifieds and told me about good areas to live. Makes me feel good about going to work there.
Fact is, here at home, getting a full-time position only happens after you’ve been working for 4 or 5 years, and even then, chances are you’ll only get nights. All my friends are writhing with jealousy right now. I love it!
I’m not too worried about the culture shock, although I’m sure I will be saying “merci” to waitresses for a very long time. A friend introduced me to these “meetup group” things, and it seems that there’s a Canadian Expat group and a French-speakers group in the area, so I might try to get in on some of their events. And I’ll have the Dopers, of course. French lessons, anyone?
I assume that you’re going to be at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis then. The only other possibility is North Arundel Hospital in Glen Burnie, since those are the only two hospitals in Anne Arundel County. Well, there’s also Clifton T. Perkins Hospital in Jessup, but that’s a mental hospital. Anyway, welcome to Maryland.
Hey, I grew up in Anne Arundel County. I live in Nevada now, but you’re welcome to my spot in Maryland. Welcome to America in Miniature. Or the Land of Pleasant Living. Whichever slogan you like more.
Don’t make this harder! What I will mourn most, after the loss of French, is the hockey. I mean, am I supposed to start watching Capitals games? I don’t know if I can manage to get some Canadiens games on cable (when they play American teams, anyway), but I sure hope so. And if not there’s always NHL radio online, where I can listen to the games, in French if I want to.
Stay tuned for my “I miss hockey” thread in about a month and a half.
