Regretting declining the opportunity
I am a teacher from the middle east and have always considered myself to be adventurous. I left home when I was really young which isn’t normal in my country and have traveled and been independent and free my whole life. Recently, the country’s situation made me move back home but it’s OK because I got a job that I really liked that didn’t make me a fortune, but for the first time ever I have access to ‘adult money’. I am rooted for the first time ever and found that I somewhat like having my friends, my routine, my work, my trips once a year, my budget to do what I want, when I want. When I was accepted into the fulbright program in the US, I want very happy, until my placement worked out and they sent me the contract. To be honest, what made me hesitant the most was the stipend. Housing was covered but meals weren’t. They were giving me 1800 usd which is good but not great. I was frightened that this amount would not be sufficient and tha I would basically starve if any surprise expenses appeared while I was abroad. I don’t have the privilege to take risky decisions because I have no one to support me at all and have next to nothing in savings. Younger me would have seen this opportunity as a dream coming true and would have jumped at the chance of moving abroad for a year. However, all I was thinking was I will be going to just eat and sleep and work and have no money to do anything else. i would come back after 9 months to my home country and have no money and no job because I would have left my work to go. It was too risky that I had to decline the offer. however, now, I am kicking myself in the leg for panicking and saying no. I realize that it’s a once in a lifetime experience and a prestigious post to put in my resume. I regret it but I also now that my fear was real. what do you guys think and has anyone had a similar experience