![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Unexpected productivity
Jun. 8th, 2005 05:15 pmI don't know whether I've mentioned it in this space, but if all goes well (*crosses fingers*), I am planning to spend four months in Helsinki this winter, attempting to finish the two projects I started while there in 2001-2002. Months ago I was invited by my former advisor to do this - an exciting opportunity for both of us, in the event that it leads to a publication. I spent the morning investigating residence permits and discovered, to my alarm, that five months is actually not a lot of time in the bureaucratic scheme of things; had I followed up on this two weeks ago, when I first had the information, I would have had no problem getting things completed before my intended start date; but as it is, due to the July holidays in Finland, I may be just under the wire, or I may have to postpone the trip by a month or so. Unfortunately, this latter possibility would mean that I'd still be away for Graham's birthday - something I'm trying to avoid. So I spent the first half of today chasing down promises and information and filling out forms. I made progress, though there's still a bit to do, and I may have to redo the forms depending on future circumstances.
Unfortunately, the funding situation has changed, and I found out today that in order to have housing covered I will need to apply for a grant from a Finnish exchange student organization and hope. So, I spent the second half of today drafting a research plan for the application. Three pages; it's possibly not the best writing I've ever put together, but it's not half bad. I think I make a good case that it's interesting work, anyway; whether or not it's the sort of thing that CIMO wishes to fund is another question.
It's not how I intended to spend the day, but I think it was a good use of time nonetheless. I'm amazed at how quickly I can work under pressure.
On another note, I continue to be astonished at the Finnish Embassy's apparent lack of understanding of how the Helsinki student housing market works. It is not actually possible to have proof of housing eight to twelve weeks in advance of a trip; the market is limited and controlled by a monopoly, and the agency doesn't know their own availability that far in advance. The last time I went to Finland, I think I was given confirmation of a place to live less than two weeks before I flew out there. And yet the embassy continues to insist on proof of housing in order to process the residence permit application. I can't be the only person who's gone through this, as Helsinki is the largest city in the nation and contains two major universities, and yet they are continually surprised! How can this be?
Unfortunately, the funding situation has changed, and I found out today that in order to have housing covered I will need to apply for a grant from a Finnish exchange student organization and hope. So, I spent the second half of today drafting a research plan for the application. Three pages; it's possibly not the best writing I've ever put together, but it's not half bad. I think I make a good case that it's interesting work, anyway; whether or not it's the sort of thing that CIMO wishes to fund is another question.
It's not how I intended to spend the day, but I think it was a good use of time nonetheless. I'm amazed at how quickly I can work under pressure.
On another note, I continue to be astonished at the Finnish Embassy's apparent lack of understanding of how the Helsinki student housing market works. It is not actually possible to have proof of housing eight to twelve weeks in advance of a trip; the market is limited and controlled by a monopoly, and the agency doesn't know their own availability that far in advance. The last time I went to Finland, I think I was given confirmation of a place to live less than two weeks before I flew out there. And yet the embassy continues to insist on proof of housing in order to process the residence permit application. I can't be the only person who's gone through this, as Helsinki is the largest city in the nation and contains two major universities, and yet they are continually surprised! How can this be?
