Sometimes you just get tired....

... by ppl. who seem to have no idea what the f... they're doing.

Being deaf and all, I need to bring a signlanguage interpreter with me in the field.

I found her. One single one for the entire stay, which is pretty rare to find as interpreters tend to have a life beside work, like most other ppl have it. :)

Everything is ready for take off. I even got my apt. here at home rented out to a sweet couple from Aalborg, who pays all 4 months rent at once.

But then... well....

KU (University of Copenhagen) and Udannelsesstyrelsen (those who're supposed to pay for it) seems to prefer their holidays and stuff over communicating with another. Yesterday  I got a mail from the company who delivers the interpretingservice, that KU have yet to send the applications needed for uddannelsesstyrelsen to make their descision.

It's about 2 months ago I asked them to get it done and they told me they would hurry up and get it all fixed.

Seems I'll have to start in the field without interpreter.

I thank god for my CI (Cochlear Implantation) which makes me hear a bit more than usual on the left ear. I hope this will make it for the first weeks time, at least when it comes to participant observations. Then the interviews must wait a bit...

You want to get a visa??

Well okay, then we need to ask you 117 stupid questions first....

I sincerely wonder who would eventually say yes to the following ones:

• Do you intent to engage into prostitution while in the USA?
• Have you ever been engaged into terrorist activities?
• Have you ever paid support to a terrorist organisation?

Those  three ones were the worst to me - but there were plenty other questions I found lightly stupid to say the least.

They also asked me about my parents names and birthdates.

We'll I'm 42 - I think I can handle the trip on my own....:)

Now I'm looking forward to the consultation with them on sept. 1st.

I guess it will be very interesting....

Yeah!!!

Apartment issue solved!

We're offered an apt. in midtown Manhattan at a good price. The owner and his wife just moved out due to her being pregnant - they needed more space.

His mother has been a signlanguage interpreter for about 30 yrs and he got my listing through some other interpreter overthere.

Our own apartment - all ours, centrally situated and with a bathtube in the kitchen - who could wish for more ;)

Apartment almost solved

Yesterday I got all 2 connections with ppl overthere who wish to rent out their places for me and Annette during our stay. The one being a man who has a small apartment centrally situated in midtown Manhattan. It seems to be unfurnished, but that can be solved.

The other one is from a deaf woman living in Queens, who wish to rent out her livingroom with two sofa beds in her apartment. She says she's rarely at home, which makes it almost an apartment just for us. The price is reasonable, and Queens - well, it's not midtown Manhattan, actually some 20 min by tub from midtown, but it has everything we need to make it a living there, and I may even learn some ASL (American SignLanguage) while there :)

Today at noon, I'll be having a videochat with her and later today the man with the first apartment will send me some photos of his place.

Then I'll make a descision.... exiting :)

Soon - as in pretty soon....

In some 28 days from now I'll be off to NYC for my 4 months of fieldwork among homeless ppl. overthere.

Right now I'm a bit confused tho - 117 things to consider, not yet into place - but time (and some hard work) will solve that, I'm sure.

This blog is made for this trip  and will serve as both a diary to me and at the same time enable you to follow my days while away.

Posting professional as well as more personal thoughts is the goal, and hopefully I'll be able to upload some pictures too now and then...