Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes

A family and I have begun talking seriously about me being their next aupair. We have e-mailed (long e-mails) back and forth a couple times and I have contacted their current aupair (also from the US). I don't want to give all the details yet, because it isn't final yet. I'll just say that the family, location, and situation is even better than I could have imagined. Their current aupair is gladly answering all my questions about vacations, religion, good and bad, visas, visitors, making friends, the parenting style, eating habits, nearby places, the job in general, weather, etc. My last e-mail to the family was a couple days ago so I am anxiously waiting for their response. The only thing that is keeping me from giving a definite yes right away is that they've asked that I commit to a year with them. I understand their reasoning behind this. It is certainly not an outrageous expectation. It is, however, a long time. The year long commitment comes with some pros and cons:


         Pros                                                              Cons

- Better for the children                      - I would severely miss everyone/my cat

- Flight to Australia and                      - Loan payments start in December
  US paid for                                      - I would miss Christmas 

- Parents set for a year                        - Phone bill stars in December

- Experience all 4 seasons                   - If I'm miserable, I'm committed
  (and each one's perks)                                                           

- I would have done what I originally set out to do  

I keep telling myself that I'll be back in just a year and I'll be back for good. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. If I pass this up because I didn't want to stay for a year, I feel like I'll regret it (which is usually how I know I should do something). My original plan was to stay in Australia for a year anyways. 

I am working on figuring this out financially and logically, but also with my heart. I will talk to the bank about my loan payments and the cell phone company about that bill. I have also asked the family what they would think about me taking 2 weeks off around Christmas and coming home. Half of my heart tells me I am being selfish and can't think about anything except for how much I am going to miss everyone and honestly, how I know they are going to miss me (my mom most of all). The other half of my heart is pulling at this opportunity, knowing I've always wanted this, and it is right in front of me.