About Oz

[Joefnh]

As many of you may know I have been working on moving to Australia to start a new job at the university of Queensland in Brisbane.

As part of the moving process I have to get permission from the US given the unique nature of the clearance I have.

I had received a job offer this past year and had accepted it with the goal of starting work in Brisbane at the beginning of this August. During the initial DoD hearings last June it was decided that the matter would require a second hearing on the 25th of August. Unfortunately the result of the most hearing was not in my favor for the move.

As one might imagine this decision has me feeling a bit troubled, but I'm sure this will work out for the best in time, it's just hard to see the positive side of this right now.

I have not been posting much lately but thought I should update the group on the outcome of this process.

Besides the Oz move issue, overall I have recovered from my crohns related surgery in June and am feeling pretty good. I was able to start back up on the imuran starting in July and am now doing quite well with the MC symptoms.

I guess it's back to my PP Ambassador duties after the summer off...

Thanks again to everyone here for all of your friendship and support, this really is a special place.


-Joe

[mbeezie]

Oh Joe, I'm sorry to hear that news. Any chance of a third hearing or is this a done deal? Will you stay at your current job in Boston and keep trying?

Glad to hear your Crohn's is cooperatring. This seems to be a stressfule situation and that is a bright side.

Thanks for the update - I was wondering what was going on.

Hugs,

Mary Beth

[tex]

Joe,

What a bummer. I'm sorry to hear that the ruling was not in your favor. I didn't realize that Australia is considered to be a technological or military threat by the U. S. DoD. Apparently, you're an asset that this country can't afford to be without, so in a way, that ruling was quite an honor. (There's that silver lining, FWIW).

Thanks for the update, and it's good to hear that your treatment is working so well.

Tex

[Polly]

Hi Joe,

Ratz!

I agree with Tex, though......you must be quite an "asset" to be denied your move to Oz. Please don't be too bummed - remember, things work out the way the universe wants them to work out. I know how much you were looking forward to the move. And perhaps it will still happen someday. Another silver lining is that Nurse Nestle won't have to spend that time alone in quarantine, miles from you. You know how much I worried about that. She truly would have been devastated not to see you for that length of that time, I'm sure.

I am wondering the same as Mary Beth - will you stay at MIT's Lincoln Labs? I'll bet anything that they will want you to stay.

So happy to hear that you are doing well, health wise. And that you are planning to continue your PP ambasador duties. Where are you off to next?

Love,

Polly

[Kari]

Hi Joe,

I've been missing you here on the board, so I'm glad you're back. As usual, you seem to take hardships and disappointments in stride. It seems incredible to me that the DoD can stop you from doing what your heart desires . As Tex said, you must be a pretty important asset to this country, since they are unwilling to let you go.

With your positive attitude, I have no doubt that things will work out for the best. So much of the quality of our lives depends on our attitude - and you've certainly shown that you have the right one through your many posts here. I wish you all the best from the bottom of my heart.

Love,
Kari

P.S. I'm so pleased to hear that you are managing well with your physical issues.

[Joefnh]

Mary Beth I will be staying On at MIT as I had talked with them about this possibility and was encouraged to stay on should the decision not come out in my favor. There is no appeal from this level as this was essentially the appeal from the decision in June.

Mary Beth the Crohns is mostly under control now as the surgery removed most of active area of the crohns in the small bowel. For the most part I am primarily dealing with MC at this point although the doctor was clear that over time the crohns can become active in other areas. The hope is that the imuran which is controlling the MC will also keep the crohns from advancing

Tex the issue has nothing to do with Oz at all, but more of the setting of an international university with a large percentage of non-Oz Or US attendees, I have not seen the final paperwork yet but have been told a less international setting in Oz would be fine.

I'm certainly not any type of asset although a few may play on that wording a bit It really comes down to the level of risk, not anyone's capability or perceived value.

Polly the next PP ambassador trip will be a trip that's been in the works for a bit. I will be heading to the Phoenix area from September 16th through the 29th. I'm trying to round up PP members in the area for a local get together.

Joe

[sarkin]

Joe,

It's good to hear from you - and I'm really glad to hear your health is strong, and you're recovering from your surgery and doing well... but *bummer* that your Oz dream is being deferred in this way. I know this means some other great good is coming your way, but am truly sorry that this vision you have cherished is not imminent. I know you'll make the next great thing happen, but am sorry you hit this obstacle on your path.

Wishing all the best for your Phoenix trip,

Sara

[Gloria]

Joe,

I'm so sorry that your plans have been disrupted. I'm sure you're rethinking your circumstances right now. I think you will find an up side to all of this, but it may take a while to see it.

I'm glad your Crohn's and MC are under control and not bothering you. You have had a pretty rough year and deserve the relief.

Gloria

[harma]

Hi Joe, I was wondering how your emigration plans were going (or better said not going), I am sorry about the delay (lets hope it's only a delay) and I don't 100% why, but that is probably I am from another country. If I understand it well, it's not that the Australian government won't let you in, it's the US government that won't let you out? No idea something like that exits, in such a free country as the US. I hope they will change their mind.

I am very glad to read your Crohn is back under control and the MC is behaving too. Whatever plans we have in life, before anything else comes our health issues.

[MaggieRedwings]

Morning Joe,

I am so sorry to hear that you cannot follow your dream but maybe in the future you will be able to pursue it with a less international setting. I am happy to hear that you are recovering well and have missed you so here on the board.

Love, Maggie

[starfire]

Ah Joe, I'm really sorry it didn't work out for you this time and I pray there will be another opportunity coming your way which will be much more acceptable to "the powers that be". I'm sure you won't give up all hope but as has already been said.... you have a wonderful way of handling adversity.

Glad your health issues have improved.

Love, Shirley

[Gabby]

text

[Joefnh]

Gabby that's a good explanation of the security issue, thanks for posting that description.

Let me know what dates work for you... I'm sorry to say I don't think the lobster will be as good in Phoenix as it was for the ones you had in Boston

Can you recommend any good GF restaurants in the area ?

[Martha]

Dear Joe,

Well, that is certainly a disappointment. Like Harma, I had no idea that the government could stop you from moving where you want or taking whatever job you want. But I can understand the reasoning behind it, if you have high DoD security clearance.

I'm glad that your bridges aren't burned behind you, though.

Love,
Martha

[Gayle]

Hi Joe,

Oh – rats, your working trip to Phoenix is scheduled well before I will be returning back “DOWN to the desert”. … (i.e., here in Minnesota most folks go “UP to the lake”). Some folks here might get that little play on words, -- it’s a Minnesota thing!

Was so sorry to read about your hopes and dreams of OZ not materializing. That must have felt like the death of a dream. But as so often is the case in life, when one door closes, another usually opens, so that’s my wish for you.

And like Martha before me here, I too can, and do, think I understand the reasoning behind.

There have been several people here on PP from the greater Phoenix area. Hope there are some who contact you. The thing is, so many have “escaped” from the unrelenting summer heat, and will not have returned yet -- at least while you are scheduled to be there. But at least you won't have to drive with (and dodge) all the Snow-birds -- that's the good part of summer in the desert!

Gabby should be able to find, for your information, all manner of eateries that understand Gluten intolerance needs, through the very active “CDF: Greater Phoenix Chapter” celiac group. That is an excellent resource for such information. In general, I would have to say, that the greater Phoenix area is really much more attuned and receptive to this issue of Gluten than are folks here in Minnesota. This has always struck me as counterintuitive with the historically more predominant Northern European culture of Minnesota.

Maybe you might be making another trip back to the desert -- at a much more sensible (weather-wise) time? It’s still really HOT down there in September.

Great trip.

Gayle