| Journal - Page 1 | ||
| Arriving Manhattanite Apartment Visit Office Accommodation Customs Getting there Travel confirmed Setting the date Getting the stamp VISA approved Getting a VISA In the beginning Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 |
Well after over a month of searching and looking at apartments I have finally managed to locate a suitable one. It is located near the corner of 79th and York Streets on the Upper East Side. It proved a very interesting experience looking for an apartment in New York City. I must have looked at over thirty different places, both on Manhattan and in Brooklyn. Most places were pretty small and some were actually nothing more than a living room ! It comes as bit of a shock to find that people will actually pay to sleep in someone else's living room, however due to the lack of space it is understandable but just a bit of a shock. I am pleased to say that my apartment is located close to most conveniences including a supermarket, bank, restaurants, theatres and more so I feel very lucky. One of the biggest differences from back home is the noise. You notice it during the day, sure, but you don't realise that it goes on all night as well. People just love to honk their horns at any traffic inconvenience, even it is twenty cars up, what good does it do who knows ? Maybe it is their stress release, but when everybody else starts doing it it does get to be a bit too much. At least I can now say that I have LIVED in Manhattan.
[top] The next challenge was locating a suitable place to live. The best idea I thought, at least initially, would be to share with someone else. That way I could not only reduce the cost but also not be as lonely. One of the better services here are apartment finder organisations that take your preferences and then allow you to contact suitable apartment owners, all this for as low as $ 20 in some cases. Thus at this point in time I am currently looking at as many different places as possible to get a better idea of what costs and apartments are like. [top]
The following day, after waking up at 5.30 am, my new roommate and I walked down to the local subway station to catch the train. At the train station you purchase what is known as a MetCard that you swipe through the turnstiles every time you use the subway. Rather a neat system, it saves you having to carry around subway tokens. After changing trains at Queensboro Plaza, finally alighted at 23rd street station and easily located the office. After spending some time signing forms and being introduced I went to the bank to open an account and then to the social security department to get my Social Security number. [top]
Well by the time I finally arrived it was about 10pm, rather dark and very wet. There was a car service waiting for me at the gate but he didn't have the full address of where I was suppose to be staying. Luckily I had the address and luckily he knew where to go. When we arrived at the location in Corona Queens it took some time to find the actual apartment. We rang the doorbell a few times until a slightly mystified Australian appeared. Yes, this was the place - but he hadn't been expecting anyone, but luckily there was room. So after getting a brief run down on the location, transport and where I had to go tomorrow I settled in to sleep off the jet lag.
[top] Typically after arriving I had the usual problems with customs and immigration. After filing out the entrance VISA I was told that I had to fill out another ( different ) form before I could proceed. After completing this a returning to back of the line, I was asked for my I-??? form which I didn't know I required to enter. Well, sorry mate it's back in Australia - do you want me to go back ? Luckily he let me through. Have to make sure I have that form for next time. [top] On the 21st of January I received confirmation that I had been booked on a flight to New York City leaving Sydney on the 4th February 1998. Wow, after all this time a date has been set. I must admit that as the day draws closer I am a little anxious about the whole thing, but when I stop and really think about the opportunity I'm also pretty excited. At this stage of the game I'm keen to get over there and actually start working. I don't really like not being busy. I have spent the last couple of weeks attempting to wind down my work here while attempting to take a break before starting up again in New York. Now as the day draws near I find myself chaffing at the bit to get started. [top] As the end of the year approached it was now time to start finding out travelling to the New York to actually start ! After conversations with Millennium it now appears that they would like me to arrive sometime in early February. We are now in the process of finalising these dates. [top] I faxed off all the details to Millennium and they informed me that the
updated document would take about two weeks to obtain. Thus after a few more weeks I was
informed that the amended documents were on their way. After about a week of waiting I
still hadn't seen the documents. I decided to phone DHL to attempted to locate my
documents and was told that they had been here for a few days and couldn't be delivered
because they didn't have a street address. Apparently he delivery man had attempted to
call me a few times but hadn't had much success. No wonder after asking what phone number
he had been using ! The number DHL had been trying to ring me on had a digit missing in
the middle of the number. They sure weren't going to have much luck locating me on that
number ! [top] Armed with the documents my next step was to head to the US Consulate in
Martin Place Sydney to get my passport stamped with the appropriate VISA. However,
everything wasn't as simple as that ! I firstly had to fill in a VISA application form,
pay $ 26 for the VISA and $ 136.50 for VISA insurance. The catch was that I couldn't pay
for these at the consulate I had to do this at a post office. Thus after filling out my
VISA application, visiting the automatic teller, the post office and returning to
Consulate I found that there was a problem with my VISA documentation. [top] Around the 19th of September 1997 I was informed that my VISA had been approved. WOW that was quick ! Not only was this much quicker than expected but Millennium also asked if I could come over before the end of October. Considering the opportunity I would love to have left before November but my commitments to customers here until January 1998 would force me to pass on the early move. I had always been working to an early January deadline and due to a number of contract that were currently in place I had to regrettably inform Millennium that I wasn't available until after January 1 1998. They said this wouldn't be a problem and shipped me the documents. [top] My next big challenge was obtaining a VISA that would allow me to work
in the United States, not an easy task by any means. The application for my VISA was to be
undertaken by my employer. As such I had to provide them with a number of documents to
assist in the process. Some of theses included academic records, affidavits of experience
and passport information. The real challenge was getting original notarised transcripts of
my work experience, since they had to be signed and witnessed in front of a notary
republic. [top] Probably back in mid April 1997 I saw an ad in one of the computer
sections of the Sydney Morning Herald that was
looking for experienced network administrators to work in the United States. I sent my
resume via e-mail and waited. [top] |
