Last year I was one of the lucky PhD-students who visited the PCDI retreat in wonderful surroundings of Heeze…trying to broaden my scope as a scientist and plan my future career, I left my hometown Groningen for a few days 'abroad'.
It seems strange, but changing my surroundings already cleared my mind and forced me to think about other things than my lab work. I was determined: these three days in Heeze were dedicated to me and my future only! Many workshops, presentations, discussions and meet-and-greets confirmed my thoughts: my future lies within the academia.
During this period I initiated the next step within my career: applying for a postdoctoral position in the USA. My blog deals with many things PhD-students and postdocs deal with; working in the academic world, career planning and issues, job interviews, working abroad, and many other subjects.
From April 2010 I will live in Philadelphia where I will work as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. In my blog I will continue to write about this new adventure and experience of working abroad as a postdoctoral fellow.
Postdoc in USA tips II: Arrival “Credit card by Banana republic”
19 April 2010
posted by Sabina Lukovac
Unbelievable but true: there is no such a thing like online banking in the USA…cheques is the keyword. And forget about getting an American credit card; you will most likely need a credit history for that ….and most European people just don’t seem to have one. You can get yourself a temporary (kind of fake) credit card which will allow you to build up some credit by using it at stores like GAP and Banana Republic. And if you buy half of the store in a very limited amount of time, you just might get yourself a real American card.
'Science can be pretty boring, most of the time nothing really happens...you work like an idiot, waiting till you get your results and hoping they will be pioneering, revolutionary and worthwhile waiting...'. I bet this thought crossed your mind once or twice. However, sometimes science is everything but boring!! I just read the Dutch novel written by Paul Brand called 'Impact Factor'. It's an exciting thriller describing the fraud and crime within the field of scientific research in medical sciences...I was amazed!!
And all the sudden it’s Monday morning: you’re a PhD….defense is over, adrenalin and endorphin levels back to normal, party is finished (you try to remember everything, luckily your friends have made pics…and unluckily they made movies as well ;-) ) and you realize there is less than two weeks left before your emigration to the United States of America. Time really flies….
Unbelievable but true: there is no such a thing like online banking in the USA…cheques is the keyword. And forget about getting an American credit card; you will most likely need a credit history for that ….and most European people just don’t seem to have one. You can get yourself a temporary (kind of fake) credit card which will allow you to build up some credit by using it at stores like GAP and Banana Republic. And if you buy half of the store in a very limited amount of time, you just might get yourself a real American card.
'Science can be pretty boring, most of the time nothing really happens...you work like an idiot, waiting till you get your results and hoping they will be pioneering, revolutionary and worthwhile waiting...'. I bet this thought crossed your mind once or twice. However, sometimes science is everything but boring!! I just read the Dutch novel written by Paul Brand called 'Impact Factor'. It's an exciting thriller describing the fraud and crime within the field of scientific research in medical sciences...I was amazed!!