Turning Ab Into My Personal Blog, #0: Checking In

[jim360]

About two weeks in to my time in Croatia, may as well post an early non-science update. This is partly because about 90% of my active time has been spent sorting out endless paperwork, to join the mountains I needed to do beforehand.

This has included, but probably isn't limited to: registering my qualifications with the Croatian Science Ministry; applying for a residence and work permit; confirming my intention to come to Croatia despite Covid; confirming my intention to leave the UK despite Covid; taking two separate Coronavirus tests (I never want to take a PCR again, it's horrible); registering my accommodation with the Croatian Government (at least twice separately); applying for a residency card (which isn't the same as a residence permit for some reason); applying for an OIB (seems kind of equivalent to an NI number but a little more general); signing about five different contracts with my employers, etc etc.

It wouldn't be so bad, but the first two between them took around five months! I'm still not convinced the bureaucracy is finished yet, either -- an email arrived implying that I might have to re-register my accommodation in around three months' time. I was also annoyed when I trekked about four miles to the place that foreigners have to go for an OIB, only to find that it was closed due to Covid regulations, which hadn't been made clear on the website :(

Leaving all that aside, though, Zagreb is quite a nice place, although it's a bit damaged from an earthquake around a year ago, and I've yet to explore it completely. There are also some special views from my apartment, a view across the hills/mountains to the north, and the city to the south (it's in a river valley, but my apartment is up the hill a bit, so I get the best of both views!). Still a long way to go to settle in, and I'm hoping to pick up at least some Croatian language skills in my time here, which would help immensely, but there we are.

As to the science side of things, I finally started that earlier this week, and might have something to say about that shortly...

[Mamyalynne]

Sounds a very thorough and in depth pile of bureaucracy Jim, but guess it has to be done.

Glad you're settling well and it's great to hear from you.

[bednobs]

pictures?

[david small]

Hang in there jim360. When you look back on your experiences there, the paper work will diminish and the science become prominent. Well done you.

[The Builder]

Hiya Jim.
Good to hear from you.

Particle Physics should be a doddle after all that lot ;o)

[DTCwordfan]

welcome to living oversees in a non-Western country, some parallels with my time in China. Keep your sense of humour - I used to have a Mickey Mouse exercise book in the back of my briefcase to capture such stories (just a few words needed to trigger the memory) along with cuttings and, of all things, office post-its.....it serves to create great Christmas letters et al.

[Tilly2]

You're getting there, Jim. Hang on in there.

[tamborine]

Sounds good out there, hope you settle in. What food do they eat; is it like polish saurkrat?

[DTCwordfan]

Have you tried a good crni rižot yet? Or a delicious Boškarin?

[Vagus]

Very interesting jim, hope you thoroughly enjoy your time there, even with all its challenges.

[Peter Pedant]

good luck
Serbo croat shouldnt be that difficult - its a slavic indo european language innit?

and uses the Latin alphabet a lorr'of the time

are they paying you?

[Togo]

Croatia, and Zagreb in particular, welcomes Jim to the "real" World. To your credit Jim you sound positively upbeat despite a reality check.
//might have something to say about that shortly...//

That reminded me of "that's all I have to say about that"...... Forest Gump.

[jim360]

I've been in the real world for a while, now.

[gness]

And we thought getting married in Ireland was a minefield!

Keep us updated, Jim...x