Well, We got our second shot for Japanese encephalitis today. Cost another $100 just for the administering of the shot. Luckily, ICMA will reimburse us for costs of these. I think this is just another way the medical community is skimming money out of the system. Oh well.

While at the ICMA conference we learned a lot more about the financial aspects of this arrangement. I be getting a salary of 5% more than I'm making at the City, and IRS rules provide that the first $80K is tax free if I spend no more than 35 days in the US during the first 365 days of employment. I still must pay FICA and Medicare on the full amount. There is a housing allowance of $1100 per month that isn't taxed. And I get "per diems" for every day I'm traveling in-country. Since I will be serving for 15 months, I am eligible for R&R, however it is not supposed to be taken the first 6 months nor the last 6 month. That leaves a small window in the middle.

Of course we'll be getting a full package of benefits (health, life, def. comp, etc.). On top of that, we won't have Oregon Income tax either. Things are certainly looking good.

There is a ton of paperwork that has to be filled out before I go. Application forms, tax forms, insurance forms, etc, etc. I have to have these completed by Tuesday AM, so no real guess about what I'll be doing this week end.

Got the first round of shots today. We needed Hep B; and Japanese encephalitis. Each are a series of three shots. We're on the "fast track" with shots - one week apart for three weeks. Our last one will be the day before we leave. We also got prescriptions for anti malarial drugs.... and the all important Cipro (just in case). We left nearly a grand with the doctor for just the shots. The prescriptions are in addition. Thank goodness for our Flexible Spending Account since insurance doesn't cover much of this. Just an outside chance on the Hep B. If anyone is going to do this kind of thing, we recommend they allow more time for getting ready. Three weeks is just not enough.

9/21/05
Final arrangements are being made for the details of the assignment. Salary negotiations are in progress. Discussions about options of being a consultant vs. an employee. Lots of Tax considerations. It seems there isn't much leeway in USAID rules to increase consultant compensation to offset leave, and benefit costs. ... let alone FICA and Medicare taxes. Looks like being an employee may be more advantageous.

We're exploring being a consultant for first 6 weeks so travel to and from can be covered since we want to return home the end of December to take care of personal business; returning in early January as an employee so the travel is covered again. We will discuss this with ICMA next week at the conference.

Had dinner with a local Portland man who was raised in Sri Lanka. We had great hopes of getting some insight into the country and learn a little about language and some simple greetings. Turns out he hasn't lived there in more than 25 years and has forgotten more than he remembers. We had a very pleasant meal, but didn't learn much about the country.