Big changes...

[VJ]

Well, its been done...

On November 4th, I'm starting a new job... After one year as a software developer and one year as project researcher/developer, I'm going back to the thing I like doing best: fundamental research!

Now for the big change: it is not in Belgium, but ....in Warsaw (where I stayed in the summer). It is at the Polish Academy of Sciences. My diploma has been validated by the institute, and I've heard that my application is now only a formality (various arrangements have been made before).

Now I'm dealing with a number of practicalities: clearing out my apartment, necessary administration (taxes, insurances, healthcare, ...) to make the international move go as smoothly as possible. Initially, I'll just be going by plane, taking only clothes and portable gear (laptop, ...). During the Christmas holidays, I'll visit my family, and by then I'll also know what else I could move (on trip back I could again take clothes and other stuff with me).
I'm planning on having items that can easily be boxed shipped to me via UPS (quite reasonable prices!), but am still wondering about the bigger items (furniture). For now, they'll be put in storage at my brother's place.

Exciting times....


Jörg

[Fat Tone]

Congrats Jorg

That makes two of us. I'm not changing countries or moving house but I do start my new job on Nov 2nd. I can't wait to go.

All the best,

T.

[Mehen]

I won't necessarily be starting a new job, but in a few months I will go from being a student to being unemployed

[gt40]

Good to hear, VJ. Look like things are finally going your way

[DukeP]

Congrats!

I am soo happy for you.

See You next spring for the 14'th Science Picnic.

~~DukeP~~

[VJ]

That makes two of us. I'm not changing countries or moving house but I do start my new job on Nov 2nd. I can't wait to go.

Are you staying in the academic world?

I won't necessarily be starting a new job, but in a few months I will go from being a student to being unemployed

Best of luck job-hunting...

So, are you a academic, or an employee?

Not sure about this one, I would say academic (but I'm employed by the institute).

See You next spring for the 14'th Science Picnic.

Who knows?

Good to hear, VJ. Look like things are finally going your way

Well, part of me wants to settle down (earlier this year I was actually looking to buy a house), but the situation has changed somewhat. But I always wanted to move abroad as well, so now this has gotten the upper hand.

What makes me a bit sad is that I had to put a lot of nice stuff (design furniture, high end hifi gear, ...) in storage. As I don't know how it plays out (where will I be in a few years time), it seems like an expensive ordeal to move it all (I also don't know if I have room to place it)... I have planned to have most of my computer gear shipped to my via UPS, estimated this would cost around 150 euro.
Just to be sure: if I put it in original boxes, and use those as shipping boxes, I should be safe, right?

Jörg

[Fat Tone]

hi vj
i shall be IT Director for the guys i did Realuse2 for, out in the Real World.

a thought about you moving: it is quite common here for a new employee to be paid relocation expenses of up to one months salary.

[VJ]

So as people sometimes say: now you will start to work...?


I'm not sure that is the case here...

I'm still wondering about the two options:
1. Move my official place of residence to Warsaw
2. Keep my official place of residence in Belgium

In 1. I'd pay taxes in Poland, but just now I learned that, I'd loose the health insurance I have here AND my hospital insurance. The former is not that big an issue, as you must enroll there, but the latter is a problem: when you return to Belgium you start with a new dossier (i.e. 6 months waiting list, medical checks, higher monthly payments rated due to higher age, ...); there is no way around that.

In 2. the entire administration a becomes whole lot easier, I'd keep healthcare and hospitalization but I'd pay taxes in Belgium (not sure if this is bad or good). I also get to have to vote... (but I'm not that politically attached that I care about that )

Jörg

[Fat Tone]

I'm looking forward to only working one job. I have had almost NO spare time except when out of the country for the last two years.

It might be worth asking about relocation, especially if you are going to a big organisation.

Can't help on the residency question I'm afraid.

[VJ]

I'm looking forward to only working one job. I have had almost NO spare time except when out of the country for the last two years.

It might be worth asking about relocation, especially if you are going to a big organisation.

Can't help on the residency question I'm afraid.

I'll start to work at the Academy, so far I haven't heard of relocation fees...

Do you own your house in Belgium? Do you have to pay tax on the profit you make when you sell the house, if you move your residency to elsewhere?

In Australia, I would keep my residency as the house I purchased, and my postal address to "Warsaw". That way, its tax free, wheee

Not sure how things are in Belgium thou.

No, I have no real estate property in Belgium, so that facilitates things. I was told that if you have a property, it is best to keep the place of residence there. As I have a choice, it is important to compare the advantages/disadvantages of both, but as I have learned I'm pretty sure I'll keep it in Belgium.

Another thing I may need to do is move stuff. I have looked at UPS rates to ship boxes (i.e. computer stuff etc.), and that looks fairly cheap. There is a size limitation on the each box, but you can make a shipment consisting of multiple boxes. As for furniture, I fear I'd have to leave it as it is now...


Jörg

[VJ]

No, my apartment in Belgium is canceled, but I'll put my place of residence at my parents' place.

As far as the recolation is considered: problem is that I don't have that much stuff. Mainly computers and electronics and just a few furniture items (my studio in Belgium was small ). Due to the small amount and to the fact that it would have to go by road, and shipping becomes relatively more expensive: the first rates I heard was around 250 euro/m². So to ship furniture there (and perhaps in two years time back, it is not certain I'd stay there!) may not be that interesting.

However, shipping with UPS is quite cheap, so once I'm there I'll have some gear shipped to me; using the calculator on their website, I estimate it would cost me around 180 euro to have my important boxed stuff shipped to me (computer etc, but not my high end hifi).

I'll probabely go by car there around easter, so maybe I can take something big with me as well.

[VJ]

Ok, my first post from back in Poland!

The apartment is nice (the finishing is a bit crude, but I have all the comfort I need). Just may need to think furniture: it has 2 rooms, one is currently empty whereas the other has some open cabinets, table + 4 chairs and a folding couch (I currently use this as my bed). I may look to get a bed and put it in the other room. I also need to look for curtains still...
Just one bit of bad luck: I'm on the wrong side of the building to put up a satellite dish. On Monday, the person who arranged the place is coming over and I could ask him about solutions: my neighbour has one, so if he/she (don't know yet) would allow me to put mine next to it, it would be problem solved!

But of course, as my luck would have it: 3 weeks before moving to Poland, I met this wonderful girl in... Belgium.... and it really works between us... Murphy? O'Toole's comment on Murphy's law? Karma?

Now still looking for a mobile phone number, internet connection and then some additional administration (residence permit, taxes, healthcare, medical check, ...).

Jörg

[VJ]

Yes...
Well, the research group in Poland is quite important and had done a lot of work to receive me (diplomas, apartment, contracts, ...), so I really couldn't cancel.

But how's this for bad luck: during the Christmas holidays, I intend to go back to Belgium. So you'd think there is a chance for her and I to see each other, right? Well, she is also going to her family, in Poland (oh sweet irony!), but some 400 km from Warsaw. She has made her reservations already, but I haven't, so we looking at the options to meet either in Belgium and/or Poland...


Jörg