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I feel like one of those people that quit 10 credits before they get their degree.
Yes, I am back in Seattle and not working remotely. The work that I am slated to do can't be done remotely and, frankly, I agree with them. They have a right. They thought that my position could be remote. They were wrong.
Without going into specifics, I need to manage new people, projects, conduct training(they want me to be PMI Trainer) and marketing events. The newness of these do not allow me to be remote. I tried. So I have to make a decision.
Do I stay at the job that allows me to have and remodel a house in France but not be able to be in France for, say, 9-10 months or do I quit and hope that they allow me to do something else? I can, however, try to go on my own but with half my paycheck(or less). The rational side is conflicting with years of goals made with the heart.
It's been weird, difficult and odd. I would like to get a job paid to me in Euro or Pounds, but it's difficult. Of course, I am young(ish) and France will always be there. Of course, my experience at my current position/company is great so leaving would be career suicide. And of course, my house in France can always wait.
It's times like these that I have to make a fork-in-the-road decision. One choice isn't more correct than the other. I know I can succeed at both, but which decision will afford me the most happiness? Which path will allow me to flourish my talents? Which path can help with me remodeling my house, allow me to live in France and work?
The upside of coming back was that my office was covered in tin foil - picture will follow soon.
(c) Photo copyright Function of Time: Paris France Luxembourg Gardens
21 comments:
Hello, I'm not certain but my guess is I have at least 10-15 years on you and I'm just now getting started on my dream. I've decided that if it doesn't work out, all this in the states will still be here if I must return.
Sometimes I think you have to close a door for others to open. You have marketable skills and the confidence to buy a house in France. I bet that confidence can find you a great job abroad.
Here's a link a UK friend shared with me, she says she has several friends who found 'dream jobs' here: http://www.jobserve.com
Also, linkedin.com is a terrific networking and job resource and they have loads of international contacts too!
Carpe diem~
sorry for 2 comments, but I also meant to say that if I could reverse time, I would have gone for it much, MUCH sooner. (thus my comment on our ages) And I'm not even there yet! ha!
Colleen: I am so sorry. Ugh!! Employment shenanigans seem to be abounding as of late. If you really want to be in France there is a way to make that happen--I know you know that. I admire your attitude and that you are only mildly bitter--I would be a cranberry without sugar kind of bitter if I were you. When I see how quickly you made your France dream a reality I am sure that you will not let this stop you. This is just a road bump on your road to Paris. An incredibly annoying road bump--but you will not be stopped.
it is always a tough decision to cut a new and rather scarey path! i waited until the pain of staying in the usa or living without my dream force was greater than the security of a narrowly defined and stressful career as a pediatrician! ask others, ask for a dream quest before sleeping, keep your eyes and heart open to signs, that tug at your heart strings and not your mind, or logical side! for me there came a time of urgency, more related to my children growing up in a culture like the usa! but, you do not have to feel it is an either /or situation! maybe if you give yourself space along with the this open heart approach- it will just happen at the right time! and sounds like you have excellent credentials for working any where!
dreams and passions are the stuff of living our life to our fullest and not just making a living! but, you will know when and how in your own time!
betheanne
dancingdocdesing.blogspot.com
This is a tough fork in the road and there is not one right answer. I have faith that you'll be in France, whether now or in 10 months. The dream doesn't evaporate within you and it won't expire or disappear. As, Dr. B says, you'll "know when and how in your own time."
If it will only set you back 9-10 months, I'd be inclined to say stick with the job. In the grand scheme of things, 9-10 months is nothing, especially if it will allow you to keep the house renovations going while you're gone. And at least that way you could keep working on your French (if needed).
oh damn! How dare they do that to you!
Whatever you decide, we'll be waiting to see you and help you however we can.
Hang in there!
Dear Colleen,
I know your heart must be heavy these days and I feel for you. That being said, I am confident one day you will find your place in France. Keep your eyes fixed on that goal and you will sail right up to it. Keep the faith.
o_O
samantha pretty much covered what I was going to say. Besides a string of vulgarities directed at your employer.
Use the loot to refurbish the house. You're still quite the spring chicken. I'm not saying don't be bitter - in fact, revel in the bitterness and cultivate it until you - well, nevermind. Can't move to France while in the big house.
I know how hard it can be to be split between the two sides of the Atlantic ocean as well... Eventually, I choose Canada over France and I'm happy here.
I feel your frustration but it sounds like you have to go with your current job -- and the opportunities it is offering - for the moment.
In the meantime, you should seriously check out the UK job market (a lot of people work from France in UK jobs) in your field. It may involve some going back and forth but of course that is much easier than between France and the US -- not to mention cheaper.
I would also work on mastering those French skills, ma petite. Your job experience could make you of interest on the French job market, but you would need to speak at least pretty functional French to do that.
Take care and try to look forward to another year of researching opportunities! You did it for your house, so you can do it for your job!
How frustrating! I would want to kick my employers, very, very hard in the shins.
I agree with Sam, and also with the person who mentioned perhaps working in the UK? If it is just 9 months you have to stick with your job in the US I'd say it's probably worth it..
C - employers stink! Sorry you had to come back and sorry that your dream has been put on hold. I'm with kimberlee...i'm about 10-15 years older than you are we are just realizing our dream and it's only 1/2 way there...1 year sabbatical and then hopefully start our business in france.
I don't know anything about the uk or french job market, but 9 months really isn't that long...it will go back fast if you have a goal and light at the end of the tunnel.
you have the house, which is the biggest part, so save some cash, put in the time you need to and then quit and leave your dream. Things usually work out, if you are positive and have goals. I'm sure that you would make it work.
maybe you don't need 100% of what you are making in the US to love your life in france...simplify and happiness usually follows. I know that whatever you decide you will stay positvie and flourish.
Thank you for your ideas. Everyone! They are so helpful! I think the most difficult part is changing a plan I had set. The time I've spent researching, going back and forth to France and doing short living stints (3-4 months at a time)over the years is starting to get on my nerves. So holding off on any plans that I had set is annoying at best.
Although I am firmly in my mid 30's, I do have time but not a lot of time. France and my house will be there waiting for me. I do have the choice. I can make my life in France easier or harder depending on what I chose now.
I am leaning on staying with my current job whilst gaining certifications and qualifications. With this I can hire a project manager in France to oversee some projects. By doing this, I could be in my house sooner. Of course, I won't be in France.
Nevertheless, the path that will allow me LIVE in my house sooner will be to stay in Seattle. It's reasonable.
With that said, I don't know if I would be back in France in 3, 5, 9 or 12 months. Who knows what will happen in the future. I think it is reasonable to pay for remodeling whilst here, practise language skills and look for other positions. I have time, but frustration and 80 hour work weeks might drive me bananas.
Still... it is a means (paycheck) to a nice house in France. I hope I last.
This is going to be fun (read: sarcastically).
Kimberlee,
Thank you for the job link! I'll be using it. I know I won't have to wait much longer to move. Soon. I hope.
LBR,
Road bump, yes. That is how i'll look at it! It's frustrating. I've been cursing like a sailor lately which has helped!
DDD,
It will happen; you are right.
B,
If I can hold out for a little longer, my life will be much easier in France. I mean, I'll have a place to live that is decent.
Samantha,
I hope that it is only 9-10 months. I'm not sure how long it will be. Maybe less, maybe more. I think I need to look at my job as a means to remodel my house only and not a life-long path. Thank you! Yes, I must work on my French.
Loulou,
Totally! Thank you for holding onto my stuff. You are awesome. I'm not sure how long I will be here but I know that I hope to get some things done while I am here. Give your doggies a hug, but don't tell T it is from me.
o_O,
Yes, eyes on the prize...eyes on the prize. It is bound you happen right?! There is a roof..well kinda...waiting for me.
Randal,
Yes, I shall use them to get what I want. Is that wrong?
Zhu,
The split is difficult. The back and forth, the money, the time, and the decision process. I think once a decision is made one knows where to go...it's just getting there as you know. I'm glad you are happy in CA.
Betty,
You are right. With a little bit more career planning and patience, I could have it all. The thought to live in the UK has crossed my mind. Ireland is a big hub for my industry and it is a possibility with the PMI training cert under my belt, I could become a better candidate. Who knows. Yes, the french skills... argh! I need them!
Le Tigre,
I hope the time is less than 9 months, but it could be more. We'll see. In the meantime, if I just hang in there.....
Alisa,
They certain do stink. I've thought about going on my own for a while but I don't think I'm up for that sort of challenge now. There's too many other things happening. Maybe someday things will fall into place. As far as the move, yes they will fall into place... they just have too....
I know how thoroughly frustrating it can be to have best laid plans thwarted. I thought that I would be able to leave my own place of employment by June 2008 and go to France. However, I found out from HR that I needed to stay until December 2008 and NOT MISS ONE DAY OF WORK from March 1st to December 1st. Right...
Knowing that, I changed my mind on the spot and mentally extended my own departure date because the returns on my additional time at work outweighed the benefits of my being in France a year earlier.
On the other hand, if you are working 80hrs per week in Seattle, it is not surprising that you want to move to France. That work schedule is excessive and doesn't leave time for rest and relaxation, much less studying French and managing a remodeling project a continent and an ocean from the job site.
I have an American friend who is working for Airbus in Toulouse. He was never able to land the job from the USA but he took a one year contract in Turin and managed to move on to Airbus from there. He, however, had strong French-language skills.
If your company wants to maintain you for your unique qualifications and skills, perhaps it would be well to negotiate a more humane weekly work schedule and 2 or 3 one month absences throughout the year, strategically spaced to permit you to oversee important aspects of the work on your place.
One cannot underestimate the importance of your current income, nor the belief that it is easier to get a new job when one is already employed. Not working 80 hours per week would also permit you to seek other employment that might dovetail more perfectly with your France dreaming.
Amitiés,
La Framericaine,
Thank you so much for your thoughts on this. It seems to be a constant poke for me. Yes, you are right, it's frustrating but a paycheck whilst I look for something else is invaluable. I just hope that I don't have to do the long hours to keep my sanity or several months down the road I'll have lost my marbles.
You already have tons of good ideas in the comments...
So, I'll just say 'That sucks!' and leave it at that!
I'm adding my "That sucks" two cents in too. I know that whatever decision you make, you will find a way to keep your career on track and have your France dreams come true too.
Katiez,
Here! Here! It does blow.
La page Francaise,
I hope to work it out soon! Thank you!
Usually, if I sit on a big decision for a while, my feelings about it become clear. I wish you luck to have both your home in Frnace and a profitable career.
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