Stressing

[Carolyn]

Okay, I got a phone call Wednesday night AND an e-mail from the court reporter I worked for in New Mexico. things are hopping there and they need me back for a short time. They are willing to buy my airline ticket, pay for my living expenses AND see that I get $8,000 for 4 months on top of that.

Anders says go for it, but me, I KNOW the money would be really useful, especially since I wouldn't even have to pay rent or the airline ticket, and I KNOW this would give me a chance to investigate new methods of transcribing and getting a foot pedal for my computer and teaching them how to get stuff put on CDs and e-mailed to me as attachments so I could work here (they are all totally internet ignorant there), BUT I just got my PUT and I love my life here, even unemployed. On the other hand, unemployed for me doesn't pay anything.

God, what a situation. I just don't know what to do.

[lisa]

It surely is a tough decision for you, they are offering you loads so they are obviously very very keen to have you back and you could look at it that 4 months is a relatively short time and you would be rewarded well for it BUT on the other hand it means you would be away from your beloved Sweden during the nice summer months and it depends how important the money is to you. And.......like you say, you could introduce them to emails and attachments which could then lead to more work for you, but with the ability to work from Sweden. Would Anders go with you again? What affect would it have on your PUT? I hope you can work things through and arrive at an answer that you feel happy with.

[Carolyn]

No, Anders would stay behind, because he's drawing unemployment and applying for work here and that's keeping him pretty busy.

I have my PUT so I can stay out of the country for longer periods of time now, BUT it does count against my time I need for citizenship too.

I know it's a relatively short time and god knows, if I go, I'm going to be working like crazy during most of that time.

I keep telling myself that we do need the money and if I leave it up to them to investigate the modern ways of doing this job, they just won't do it, because they're a kind of conservative firm and even though they want ME working for them, they don't even know how to begin checking into the modern technology necessary so that I could work from Sweden.

I told Anders that if I have to miss the best time of the year in Sweden, that once I get back, we would damn well take a sista minuten holiday to somewhere, where I could get a chance to just lay back and have a good time with no worries. And we could afford it then, because we got to Crete for 2 weeks, flight and hotel, for about $200 each the last time, and no matter which way you look at it, even allowing for the current lousy exchange rates, $8,000 would be over 50,000 SEK.

*sigh* This is the lousy part about being a grown-up. You have to do what's necessary for survival and not what you want to do all the time.

[lisa]

There certainly seem to be more benefits to going than not going and not only financial. Being away from Anders for that period would be tough, Christer has been away for a relatively short period of time but I miss him like crazy. I'm sure it would bring you closer together, that's how I feel with myself and Christer which is a positive thing but you have to go through the rough period for it to become a positive (if that makes sense). The potential seems to be there for you to get more work in the future with the luxury of staying in Sweden. Only you can make the decision but I'll throw in my thought for what it's worth and that is 'go for it'. On the other hand my selfish side says 'no don't go' because I'm looking forward to meeting you when I move to Sweden!!!

[Sabeine]

Hi Carolyn,

As I mentioned on ICQ, I think you should go for it! As long as there are not conditions attached to the agreement (like making you stay longer than agreed upon) I think it is a fantastic opportunity for you. It'll also be easier to save money if you are there by yourself, at least that usually is the case. If you busy yourself enough the 4 months will go fast. The money you can save will benefit both of you. Just think the money you save can pay bills, rent, and a really great vacation for the both of you around say Xmastime, and you'd most likely still have money left over. I wish I had this opportunity, I'd take it. Even at a minimum, if you save only $1000 each month, it's still very good. You can do a lot of fun things when you get back, and have a nice chunk of change to do it with.

[Sandy]

Ok, I have an idea... they can fly me there, put me up for a few weeks and I can get them into the 21st century and the computer age! ;D Then, you can stay in Sweden and do everything via the internet!

[Carolyn]

You can just see Leo going for that, right? ;D

[Pam]

My idea is take me with you, we get it done in half the time while getting them updated then we can both work for them from here via internet. I'm only kidding if that's not an option!

[Newroo]

Well my swedish hubby said that he would tell you to go for it, as long as it is profitable....the future work possibilities are great......Me myself,, hmmpf darn female,, -I feel for Anders not having you with him...ouch ouch .... But it is a great opportunity...only you know what you would regret most.......lycka till!

[Aussie]

Carolyn,

You are certainly caught between a rock and a hard place. I guess only you and Anders can make the choice about what is important to you guys. I agree that the money is fabulous, but then, money isn't everything either.

In my case, I'd be tempted but wouldn't go as I know Lars-Göran and Lambi would miss me too much and all that money would be used for long distance phone calls ;D But you may be different.

Yes, you are missing the Swedish summer, but there's always next year. And if you could get the opportunity to drag them screaming into the 21st century, it could really pay off giving you some financial security here in Sweden later on. For that reason alone, I'd say go for it.

You have PUT and hey, 4 months difference is nothing. And at leat you'll be able to afford the 1500kr fee to apply for citizenship.

Whatever you decide.... good luck!

[Sandy]

Carolyn said:

You can just see Leo going for that, right? ;D

Actually, he thought he could come along! ;D

[Linda]

Wow, that's an interesting development, and a dilemma! Especially coming so soon after you got back to home to Sweden.

It would be a wonderful opportunity if you could get them "into the computer age" (so to speak) and then in the future they could send you all the work to do in Sweden. That to me would be the best of two worlds.

Good wishes to you Carolyn, on whatever you decide