Doha!
Well, it's official now, so I can post. Dubai is off. At this rather late date, I have received an offer from the University of Calgary (Qatar Campus). Assistant prof., 2 or possibly 3 year contract. The fact that it is an actual Canadian university is what makes this offer truly fantastic (making eventual transfer back to Canada much more likely), but it is also a really interesting job in and of itself, plus it comes along with some pretty amazing perks. The campus just opened a few years ago, and there are just 15 or so faculty members. Small. Cozy. Friendly. Family-oriented. And fully staffed by Canadians (a legal requirement, apparently) -- a little slice of home abroad. There are already a bunch of ESL teachers there, so I'll be teaching ... literature!!!! Yippee!!!! And I'll be the only lit prof there, which is kinda cool. There's lots of support for, and expectation of, research. The salary offer is bigger than I would ever have imagined, and we get a transportation allowance while in Qatar, business-class flights home every year for all three of us, full benefits, and free rent (including all utilities) of a four-bedroom, four-bathroom villa (!!!!), if accommodation assignments go according to plan. Oh, and tuition fees for Fritz if we're still there when he starts school.
As I'm sure you all know, I have little interest in remaining abroad, but man... this job actually makes it worthwhile. I'm feeling okay about it now. Aside from the fact that it's a great career move, we'll be able to pay off ALL our debts in the first, like, four months!! And we'll be able to save a huge amount towards an eventual house downpayment in Canada.
It will be hard to be abroad, and it will be hard to go back to work, but knowing that it will make such a huge difference to our family circumstances sure makes me happier about it all.
Anyway, that's the news. Now I'm enmeshed in the endless paperwork of Qatari residence permits and work visas.
Fritz has been teething and sick the last few days. One tooth has "erupted," as they say, and he's been miserable -- so unlike his usual sunny self. Poor little man. He was supposed to start swimming lessons today, but I'm keeping him home until he feels better. No sense chucking a miserable kid in cold water.
As I'm sure you all know, I have little interest in remaining abroad, but man... this job actually makes it worthwhile. I'm feeling okay about it now. Aside from the fact that it's a great career move, we'll be able to pay off ALL our debts in the first, like, four months!! And we'll be able to save a huge amount towards an eventual house downpayment in Canada.
It will be hard to be abroad, and it will be hard to go back to work, but knowing that it will make such a huge difference to our family circumstances sure makes me happier about it all.
Anyway, that's the news. Now I'm enmeshed in the endless paperwork of Qatari residence permits and work visas.
Fritz has been teething and sick the last few days. One tooth has "erupted," as they say, and he's been miserable -- so unlike his usual sunny self. Poor little man. He was supposed to start swimming lessons today, but I'm keeping him home until he feels better. No sense chucking a miserable kid in cold water.