It's been a heck of a week, I just wish I had the energy to relate it all properly. My last entry was about the Halloween party and since then things have been just happening and I've been so tired at night with daylight savings having changed that I haven't been able to write them out.
Nevertheless...
On Tuesday morning I was working away in the lab when I got a call on my mobile. I didn't answer it immediately as the number was unlisted, but they left a voice message. I checked, and to my surprise it was the Professor from Montana asking me to call him back! I was a little shocked since I hadn't expected to receive a call from him until much later if at all. I didn't want to call him back immediately in my flustered state, so I went to talk to a friend of mine in the other building. After talking to her and walking for a bit I was calm enough to call him back. We made our introductions and talked about the position he had advertised and what it involved and where it might lead. He asked me in closing to forward him another reference as he had received one from my previous boss. After getting off the phone I emailed my current boss and asked him to send one on for me.
The next morning I was again working in the laboratory when I received another call on my mobile, it was the same blocked number so I knew it must be him again. I answered and it was him and we talked for a few minutes. He said that he had received the email from my boss and was quite impressed, he asked if I was still interested in the position and then mentioned the magic words "So what would it take to get you up here to work with us?" I danced around the subject a little and we agreed to discuss it in email later on that day since we both had meetings to go to. A few hours later I received his email with an offer for $XXk/year and $X.Xk for moving expenses. This was quite a nice offer making more than I currently do, but I knew I wouldn't have another chance to negotiate my salary, so I replied along the lines of "$X.Xk for moving expenses is good, but I'd like $XXk/year because I will have to buy a car to get around" and I also requested an early February start date and I sent that off late Wednesday afternoon.
Thursday morning I had no reply in my inbox and yet right on 11 am (9 am Mountain time) he called me to say that my offer was acceptable. We talked a little more on the phone and he says to expect an offer letter in the mail in a few days. I was ecstatic! I feel somewhat sad that I didn't get the position in New York, but in terms of money I am making much more as well as seeing a radically different part of the country. Naturally the isolation and small-town (30,000 people) nature worries me a bit, but I am sure I will take these in my stride. I phoned my parents on Friday and they were really happy for me. Dad knows all the places in Montana from his beloved cowboy novels, and Mum knows Yellowstone Park and hopefully might potentially visit.