Monday, November 30, 2009

Colorín colorado, este cuento se ha acabado

All good things come to an end. As this is my final night here in Spain, and I have no immediate plans to return, this is probably the last post I shall make on this blog. No two ways about it, I've had a lot of fun since the adventure started way back in March 2007. But, some 650 posts later, it's time to call it a day.

Upon my return to San Francisco, I plan to apply for U.S. citizenship. The process takes an indefinite length of time, but probably at least 3 to 4 months. During that time I will not be allowed to leave the U.S. My plans beyond that are fluid, but will almost certainly not include a return to Spain in any kind of visiting academic capacity. For various reasons, my contacts with the two local universities in Madrid made that a less appealing possibility, primarily because I consider that one of the strengths I have to offer is the ability to excel in interdisciplinary work, and here in Spain, well - basically, they not only do not do "interdisciplinary" well, they just don't seem to do it at all. Teaching a basic intro statistics course to undergraduates while trapped in an isolated ghetto of statisticians who have little or no contact with their colleagues in the medical school a few buildings away is something that frankly just does not interest me in the slightest.

To all the visitors to this blog - thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it.

Adiós. Fue un gran placer.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

David,

Actually, you can still leave the country as long as you don't leave for long and don't miss any immigration appointments. Your green card is just fine for travel. You can even travel outside the country while waiting for a green card, but you have to get a thing called "advance parole". We went to China several times while waiting 6 and a half years for the green card. But I must ask - why bother? I have no desire to sit on juries, and, as a statistician, you must be aware that voting makes no difference. I will be happy to remain a Canadian citizen living in New York. Anyway, thanks for all your efforts in this blog, especially for the doggerel, for which I have an unaccountable weakness. I recall especially the Don Juan bits. Best wishes for your future in California.

Unknown said...

Have a great trip home. I know your next adventure will be just as satisfying as this one was. Your gifts as a statistician are needed in many places, and many places can offer you the culture, beauty and intellectual stimulation that you need.

Anonymous said...

How about starting up a Home Fires blog? This is too sad, you can't stop now.

Travel uneventfully,

Pb

Infeliz said...

Are you the sort of person the USA would want as a citizen? If the immigration mob happen across this blog maybe the pooping-animal-baked-goods are gonna hit the fan.
And where are you going to post your Kafka pictures now, for heaven's sake? It's all too horribly final :-(((

Anonymous said...

Seriously, David. Why not go to China and learn Mandarin? You would have a great time. Good luck.

WozEre said...

Some Thpanish holiday reading for you:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8407231.stm

Hieronymous said...

David,

I'm only just now catching up on your latest excellent language posts. I really enjoy reading them, but I can't always get to them in a timely manner.