Seems someone likes me

So after spending wayyy too long out of work, things start to look up.  In a slightly annoying way. 

I had a telephone interview with this company's US office. They seemed to like me.  I had another telephone interview.  They arranged an actual face to face interview.  Where they seemed to like me.  I have an offer.

So here's the slight annoyances; The pay isn't too bad or too fantastic. Actually it's the same as every other contract I've had - at least on a weekly basis, so nothing to complain about.  It's in Welwyn Garden City, which is a pleasant place but a bit far from people I know oher than cath_er_ine  (although are you around there as well, ingaborg ?) More annoyingly, they want to send me for three weeks training in America. Great! except it will mean I miss a party I've been looking forward to for months.  Upsetting but not a good reason to turn down paid work.  **

My main concern involved that they want to spend a hell of a lot of money in training me.  I can't help get the feeling they don't quite get how contractors work* and that I'm taking unfair advantage of this. Okay, there's no way I'll just quit after a few weeks if they've paid for training but I feel somewhat concerned about obligating myself here.  I'd also quite like to be able to spend a week or two there to find out what the job actually *is* before absolutely committing myself which isn't possible.

The other thing is mingmerciless mentioned a friend who may have a position for me, and another agent seems to have a very promising looking android development position.  But there's that whole "bird in the hand..." thing. 

Well, I'm feeling a lot better about myself now.  It's always an ego boost when I'm liked.  I'll have to get back to the agent over a few things I need to be sure about - whether there's flexibility on Monday start times, for one thing.  Just would have liked the company to do the usual big company thing of dithering a bit before deciding. 

Don't update for ages and then suddenly there's too much to talk about.  Will go into detail about IDP camp stuff tomorrow.

*They mentioned "Temp to perm" which seems somewhat different from what the agent is offering since a contractor isn't a temp.  The UK guys seemed to be intrigued by how the contracting scheme worked and clearly had no experience with it. 

**Turns out this is no longer a requirement.  They're doing the more sensible thing of doing this in the UK.