在職進修

這一陣子陸續接到別人詢問在職進修的問題，剛想把自己的經驗寫下來，也讓有興趣的朋友參考。一般而言國內在職專任教學、研究或技術人員應該依據國科會國際合作處補助科學與技術人員國外短期研究作業要點申請程辦理，通常得經由所屬機構的同意，才能提出申請；通過的情形有些人說很難，但也有人說很容易。

兩年半前一次院裡的聚餐，與同事們閒談間，聽說網學所劉教授申請到教育部輔助博士後研究，要到美國進修一年，才知道在國內取得博士學位的人，可以透過此項補助到國外進修，比較訝異的是連在職專任教學研究人員也可依此程序取得補助。更由於國內出國的學生連年減少，為了鼓勵國內的研究與國際接軌，94年開始菁英留學計畫，更把取得博士學位未逾五年的限制放寬到45歲以下。

同年TAAI會議期間和許永真教授提及進修的想法，許老師很好心的介紹CMU的Prof. William Cohen，於是便冒昧寫信請他擔任Host，再加上許教授在AAAI會議上和Prof. Tom Mitchell(機器學習系的主任)推薦，地點就大致扺定了。95年初和家人提及這個想法，雖然一開始不太順利，但後來也取得家人的贊同。後續考托福、提計畫也如期完成。

95年菁英計畫提供三種類別申請：攻讀學位人員博士後人員研修40名以及產業界人員研修30名，與94年菁英計畫相較，算是當真擴大辦理。不過剛上網查了一下，96年菁英留學計畫辦法裡，不再提供在職專任教學研究人員申請，產業界研修也不在補助範圍，想想我算是運氣好才搭上95這班補助列車。

附註：國外短期研究作業與菁英計畫的差別除了申請對象不同之外，補助方式也不大相同，短期研究作業的補助類似國科會的專題計畫，補助項目包括機票費、生活費、書籍費、學雜費、實驗費、保險費、出國手續費、出差旅費等；而菁英留學計畫則採定額補助。

Checklist to CMU

說來好笑，在準備出發到美國進修一年這事上，我曾問朋友要checklist，看看他們都預備了些什麼？事實上在網路上可以分享到不同人的旅遊經驗，除了每個人的精彩的故事之外，非常受用的旅行的注意事項，這些看來很瑣碎的事情，有了檢核表的幫助，讓旅遊更為輕鬆．所以就把自己準備的事項忠實的記錄下來，也聽聽各方的建言．

在台灣處理的事項：
－　辦護照：DS-2019 form, 英文戶籍謄本
－　買Skype Pro+ Skype Out
　　在準備出發前有很多事情要連絡，或是請教當地的朋友，有了Skype會方便很多．
－　買美金：可以分批買，先存定存，利率比台幣高，出發時再換成旅行支票．
－　改帳單住址
－　小朋友的疫苗注射英文證明
－　申請 Costco Card: TWD$1500 or USD$50
－　轉換手機為最低費率：中華電信88專案或改成易付卡(換卡費300＋每半年儲值一次300)
－　買短期(7天)旅行平安險
－　國外手機: T-mobile易付卡在台灣就可以先買，或是找個朋友加入他們的family plan


抵達美國處理的事項：
－　學校報到: passport, DS-2019, I-94
－　銀行開戶: passport, DS-2019, I-94, university letter
－　買學校健康保險: family plan around USD$3000
－　安排水電瓦斯: social security no, lease
－　安排cable & internet
－　考當地駕照: passport, university letter, health report
－　買車子及房子保險: 一起買比較便宜, 當地駕照買車險比較便宜
－　買傢俱: craiglist
－　安排小孩上公立學校: search for public school+ head start program

租房子這件事算是比較麻煩，先前朋友的經驗是先去找房子，再接小朋友到美國，因此我也如法泡製．最大的幫助是Google map＋craiglist，讓你對一個陌生城市有較好的掌握．不夠由於要花很多時間，把craiglist上的地址標到google map，因此正想可以讓學生做為專題，沒想到已有結合兩者的網站，http://www.housingmaps.com/，真是英雄所見略同．

另外由於在美國只待一年，所以傢俱大概也會買二手的，剛想會不會也有網站把craiglist上的garage sell和google map結合，便很快地在Google上搜尋了一下，雖沒找到，但倒是有結合Google map與garage sale的網站，http://www.weekendtreasure.com/，只是刊登garage sell還要錢，不像craiglist 是免費的．

網路上其他的留學checklist
http://wendysdreamland.blogspot.com/2007/05/blog-post_31.html

My study plan to CMU

As the saying goes, "it is never to late to learn." However, it does take more efforts when you get old.

When I first proposed the idea of visiting U.S. for one year, the response from my family is not very positive. My mom and parents in law all thought the kids are too young. My husband thought I was too naive. It seems the idea won't work out because I don't have a good plan for the kids. I even thought carrying an online Ad to solicit people who would like to babysit my babies in U.S. Luckily, my sister, Ada, comes to rescue. She encouraged me to do what I really want and gave me the promise that she could help me with kids if necessary. That is, she might even quit her job for me. That is a great great favor one can give. I can't express enough thanks to her. So, I began this big plan with her support.

During this time, several reports come out in favor of my plan. The "Gap Year" concept from the Oct 2006 issue from 遠見 magaine gives me a good reason for persuading my husband to take a break from his job. This year, the Feb issue of Business Weekly, also praise the idea of "Grand Tour" which places oneself to an unknown environment for cluture experiencing. All these new concepts help me to persuade my husband to take the move, aspecially when our parents are still young and healthy enough for us to leave.

After the grant from the goverment is approved, I am glad now that my husband is with me for this plan and will take a parental leave from his job. We choose Carnegie Mellon University as our destination, which is one of the best school in computer science. I advisedly avoid schools in California since there are many Chinese there. This April we visit Pittsburgh after attending a conference in Rochester, NY. In addition to meet the host professor, we also look arround Pittsburgh for apartment hunting. One of the landlords told us that Pittsburgh is being rated as the best city to live in U.S. There should be a lot to look forward to.

To be continued...