Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to wonder
If the bats and balls of outrageous fortune,
will take arms against a sea of Aussie troubles,
and by opposing end them?
I might have mentioned this before, I might have not. For I lose track of my own thoughts sometimes, but this Australian question has played on my mind for a few weeks now. Should I? Shouldn't I? Weighing up the pros and cons of what could be a dream kick-starter or a step in the wrong direction. To go or not go, that is the question?
If I haven't mentioned it before, here is the e-mail I received at 3:29am on Sunday 28th July:
...
But our offer would be along these lines:
-1x return Airfare London - Melbourne
-Accommodation covered (subject to agreement of club and player)
- Free club and association membership worth $500
- Club playing shirt & playing hat.
-Club will also endeavour to source work (cash) for player during season.
I'm sure I've missed something. Should you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
Our team is young and the lads love playing cricket and having a beer afterwards. All 6 senior sides played finals last year.
You will also have the opportunity to attend the Boxing Day Ashes test and other sporting events in Melbourne.
...
It's all there. On paper, its the dream trip. Ever since I've started playing the game, I've almost dreamt of batting under the Australian sun on a "road", and I've always been intrigued by Australia as a country. Events in your dreams though are always in stark contrast to the reality of the situation. Me, unable to survive a university venture for more than a couple of weeks, contemplating travelling to the other side of the world on my own? When you look at it like that, the answer should be easy. But us humans have a hint of adventure in us, always wanting to push boundaries and explore, even if some of us don't have the ability to cope with that. My sister is the explorer of the family. America, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Australia itself. She's done all that, and she's braver, more stronger than me.
It wouldn't cost me a penny. For anyone else, it's a no brainer. The opportunity of a lifetime. Go and don't look back. For me, it's back to Anxious Central. Contemplation, the weighing of pros and cons, the effervescent question of, "What if" and "What if it all goes wrong?" Even if I am going to contemplate going, I need to get certain ideologies engrained into my head though...
1) One thing I have learnt from my university experience is that the first couple of weeks are going to be tough. Even if I am going to go, and am 100% committed and positive for the experience, the first 2 or 3 weeks will be very difficult indeed. I need to accept this fact and stick with it when that time comes and the homesickness kicks in.
2) I need to be less reliant on my parents. Living at home is easy. Moving out with friends is challenging. Moving out on your own is difficult. Moving to another country on your own, bearing in mind I have never been further than Paris is a whole different ball game. A different kettle of fish altogether, and if I am even going to consider this, I HAVE to be more independent.
1) One thing I have learnt from my university experience is that the first couple of weeks are going to be tough. Even if I am going to go, and am 100% committed and positive for the experience, the first 2 or 3 weeks will be very difficult indeed. I need to accept this fact and stick with it when that time comes and the homesickness kicks in.
2) I need to be less reliant on my parents. Living at home is easy. Moving out with friends is challenging. Moving out on your own is difficult. Moving to another country on your own, bearing in mind I have never been further than Paris is a whole different ball game. A different kettle of fish altogether, and if I am even going to consider this, I HAVE to be more independent.
3) I need to make sure I have a job to come back to. This may well be my biggest hurdle. Tomorrow may come and my area manager may just tell me that coming back after 6 months isn't an option. I'm not sure leaving for Australia and coming back unemployed is entirely sensible. And it certainly won't help me when I'm out there, having to worry about my job situation back home. If I am guaranteed a job for when I get back, that will make things easier.
4) If I do go, I've GOT to do it PROPERLY. I want memories, and stories. I want to do a video diary, (probably not as entertaining as Swanny's!) and take as many pictures as I can. I will be very proud of myself if I can do it.
I put a wee little status on Facebook earlier, about this opportunity, and I have received reams of advice telling me to just go for it. "You'll regret it" they say, and "Why are you even considering saying no?" he says.
I continue to think. Just as I type this, I have received an e-mail from the Club President saying its ok to take my time to think about it. I have given myself a deadline of a week. By this time next week, I will know if I am going to Australia in October or not. Whether its sensible to give myself a deadline, I am not sure, but, work situation pending, I'm 50/50. Again.
Part of me does wonder if I'd be better off if I never got offered the opportunity. But the other half of me just cries with joy and the fact I've been asked at all. Any advice at this time would be great.
4) If I do go, I've GOT to do it PROPERLY. I want memories, and stories. I want to do a video diary, (probably not as entertaining as Swanny's!) and take as many pictures as I can. I will be very proud of myself if I can do it.
I put a wee little status on Facebook earlier, about this opportunity, and I have received reams of advice telling me to just go for it. "You'll regret it" they say, and "Why are you even considering saying no?" he says.
I continue to think. Just as I type this, I have received an e-mail from the Club President saying its ok to take my time to think about it. I have given myself a deadline of a week. By this time next week, I will know if I am going to Australia in October or not. Whether its sensible to give myself a deadline, I am not sure, but, work situation pending, I'm 50/50. Again.
Part of me does wonder if I'd be better off if I never got offered the opportunity. But the other half of me just cries with joy and the fact I've been asked at all. Any advice at this time would be great.
3 comments:
You'll regret not going more than you might regret if you do go. It'll be a big adjustment but I'm sure they'd make it as easy as possible and straight away you have friends from the team.
GO GO GO! ONCE IN A LIFETIME YOU DINGO
Cautionary tale no 1:
Long before Joe was born, my sister-in-law worked in Sydney for two years. Sarah and I had nothing to stop us going out to visit her. Nothing, that is, except for ourselves. Australia was top of my wish list of places to visit, yet somehow we kept finding reasons to say no, rather than reasons to say yes. That was 25 years ago, and we have still never been to Australia.
Cautionary tale no 2:
A few years later, some very close friends went to work in NZ. Sarah and I had nothing to stop us going to visit them. You can guess the rest.
Cautionary tale no 3:
In 2007, the company I worked for was taken over and I immediately realised that the ethos of the new company was totally at odds with mine. With no other job lined up, I resigned within two weeks of the takeover. Best thing I ever did. I didn't know how things were going to turn out, but by forcing the issue, other doors opened and I ended up in a better job, nearer to home and being paid more.
Saying no is the easy option, because it doesn't involve doing anything. Saying yes may be more challenging, but boy, the rewards are there.
And saying no leaves you thinking, if only...
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