Take Chances or Not?

Soldato
Joined
10 Dec 2003
Posts
6,348
I am in an extremely difficult situation at the moment. I've received feedback from friends, family and my lovely mother. I have thought about it, but unfortunately, time is not a luxury I have right now and I need to make a solid decision, in the next 24 hours.

Without sharing too much private information, I will speak of my situation somewhat metaphorically, although still true. I want to give a little background about myself first and then I'd appreciate some feedback.

I'm a 22 year old guy. When I was 16, I dropped out of High School. I thought I was obviously 'too cool for school'. Obviously, I regret that very silly mistake now, but things didn't turn out as bas as I thought.

I spent many years studying ICT, Music, Art and Languages at college; trying to figure out what I wished to do with myself, where I had real passion. But the problem was that I have a very inquiring mind and I was somewhat passionate about most things although, mainly artistic or creative.

Anyway, I studied hard, worked some boring retail jobs and even washed dishes at a Chinese restaurant. Cash in hand, all illegal, but I was 15, what did I care? But I won't go off-topic.

I know now that I wish to study business. This is one thing I'm passionate about outside of my artistic qualities, and I believe I could do extremely well in management role, in the future. So that's that. That isn't my confusion.

When I was 21, I was living at home with my mother and two brothers, I was fed-up of Liverpool, all the chavs that seem to be ever-rising in numbers, anti-social behaviour and just, generally, people's unmotivated and miserable behaviour towards every aspect of life and day-to-day living.

Sitting in my room, browsing the 'net and feeling totally ******-off with pretty much everything, I booked a flight to China. A country I had always been extremely interested in, probably due to the fact it still holds a lot of its cultural values, and with pride. Something that only exists in England via violence after a football match, or some psuedo-pride Diana concert.

I arrived in China, met an employer and got a job teaching English. I won't go into this as I have done before, but I was fired after 6 months (along with 3 others) for no reason. I guess they couldn't pay everyone, so picked names out of a hat.

I was gonna go home after this, but I started doing freelance work. Mainly graphic design and web development. Because of the low cost of living in China, I could sustain a nice, healthy and social lifestyle. So I stayed.

Come May this year, I went on holiday to Thailand. I had been feeling kinda let down by China. Not in a negative way, but just a lot of the smaller things like food quality, pollution, cleanliness etc.

Thailand was beautiful. I thought it would be similar to China, but it's a totally different place. I fell in love with the place, basically. I've been home 2 months since then... and, to be honest, all the struggling in China has made me want to leave. Not out of hate or depression, but I need a break from this place at the moment, but I do love it and it will be a place I will visit often in my life. Perhaps even live here again.

This is where my confusion comes into play.

I want to go home, because I do actually miss some things. The food, being able to speak to people and be fully understood in my native language, the people (I guess there are positives), my family, friends and especially my mother. As well as the peace of mind I would have.

But, saying that, I don't want to even hint to my sub-conscious mind that I have 'given up' and I'm settling for an easier life. I don't want that or to end up sitting in a room again, surrounded by the same stuff that was responsible for me wanting to leave in the first place.

... but Thailand.

Thailand offers the 'extras' that China doesn't. It also offers some stuff I don't like, but I'm not interested in those and they're easily overlooked. Without sharing too much, there is an opportunity in Thailand, or maybe at least. This is a good opportunity... but, who really knows. Being away from home, in a foreign land, you never really 'know' much of anything.

My confusion stems from the fact that I want to study Business and actually do something, while I'm young and mature enough (but not too old) to make important decisions that will build surroundings of the rest of my life.

The opportunity in Thailand may not work out, that depends on a whole lot of factors and it is not business related but, while there, I would have the opportunity to go to University and study. Although, I would have to still earn a living to keep myself afloat.

Now, the problem....

... the problem is that this opportunity in Thailand might not exist if I just go home for a break (which would be ideal). In the best circumstances, I would be able to go home, save money, plan everything out for 3 months... and head back to Thailand. But that's not possible.

In England, I would go to Uni, would have to stay with family again (that is possibly a bad thing), but I would only need to pay keep, which is a tiny fraction of what living by yourself costs, thus being able to save money.

I consider Thailand 'taking a chance'... as what could be waiting for me, would be wonderful, but it would be hard work to sustain a living. I guess I could teach again, but going to Uni at the same time might prove difficult.

Jesus, this post is so long, sorry about that... as you can probably guess, I'm having a hard time coming to ANY kind of a decision, and I only have 24 hours to do so.

Taking into account my age, aspirations and my current situation. What do you think? What is your opinion? What would YOU do, and why? I understand that only I should be answering these questions, but I have an equal number of pros and cons for each decision.

My rental contract on my apartment here runs out soon, and my residency permit also expires. China is not an issue, and I know I definitely want to leave here, although it's not for negative reasons at all really.

Thinking about it... I just realised I have about 5 hours to decide something, but either one I choose could and probably will result in huge regrets. Actually, it's pretty certain.

Boo hoo.
 
Everybody who lives away misses home - perfectly normal. But don't forget that what made you leave home in the first place is still there, if not worse. You say you have an opportunity to get something to work in Thailand - go for it. Hard work always pays off and is very enjoyable, much better than rotting away in the same old room again and having regrets. Home is a safe option that you can always take up - but Thailand, as you have said, seems to be a now or never case, which makes it obvious - go for it, you can only gain from it!
 
if you left Liverpool a year ago due to chavs etc, I wouldn't come back, it gets worse every day walking round town, can't wait to finish my degree and move the **** away
 
Ex-RoNiN said:
Everybody who lives away misses home - perfectly normal. But don't forget that what made you leave home in the first place is still there, if not worse. You say you have an opportunity to get something to work in Thailand - go for it. Hard work always pays off and is very enjoyable, much better than rotting away in the same old room again and having regrets. Home is a safe option that you can always take up - but Thailand, as you have said, seems to be a now or never case, which makes it obvious - go for it, you can only gain from it!

Thats my take on this. At the end of the day you can always return to England whenever you want, Thailand isn't the same.

Burnsy
 
If it was me, I wouldn't go back to the place and things that made you leave in the first place. It sounds to me that you really like Thailand so I would go there.
 
... but I have to consider that the opportunity in Thailand has an equal chance of success as it does failure. Also, if it does work out, it will be tough to sustain a living for a while, but not impossible.

If it works out, I could go home after 1 month, save and work hard, then head back out there 3 months later in a much much better situaton all round. Which is why I wish I could go home, then go to Thailand and take the opportunity.

But at the same time, it's only 1 month, then I can go back for a while. Hmm. Guess I have nothing to lose and everything to gain, by going to Thailand. Interesting.
 
OvertoneBliss said:
... but I have to consider that the opportunity in Thailand has an equal chance of success as it does failure. Also, if it does work out, it will be tough to sustain a living for a while, but not impossible.

If it works out, I could go home after 1 month, save and work hard, then head back out there 3 months later in a much much better situaton all round. Which is why I wish I could go home, then go to Thailand and take the opportunity.

But at the same time, it's only 1 month, then I can go back for a while. Hmm. Guess I have nothing to lose and everything to gain, by going to Thailand. Interesting.

If you are going to know after a month whether things are likely to go well or not then, in my opinion, go to Thailand. If it doesn't work out then you have another month of stories to tell the grandkids in the future and you'll regret it in the future if you don't at least try it.

And this is coming fron a person who is considered by their friends to be hugely pessimistic ... if i had the nads to have done what you have done already with you work in China I would jump at any chance to not coming back to the UK and trying something somewhere else.
 
Definately give Thailand a try, the only negatives really seem to be that it'll make things a little more awkard to arrange coming back to the UK and that things could be tough to begin with - but you'll definately get some work, I think you may aswell give it a shot.

By the way, your lifestyle sounds/has sounded so far awesome up until your current position of limbo :D I'd love to go to a completely foreign country (especially China/Thailand) and try and make it on my own. It sounds so exciting/terrifying :D
 
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.

- Theodore Roosevelt
 
Seeing as you're only 22, the opportunities in the UK will probably still be here whenever (if ever) you decide to come back. The opportunity in Thailand will not. But I would say you need to sit down and think about where you want to be, not location-wise, but within yourself.

Your passion is artistic and creative, but you want to study business. :confused:

If you came back to the UK, you'd be back living at home, doing the student thing. Great, if you have something to strive for (a business degree, a management job at the end of it all), but would you be able to stick with it? I don't mean the college thing, I mean the "at home" thing. After a year would you get itchy feet again, maybe go on holiday during the summer, maybe to India and "[fall] in love with the place"? (just being Devil's Advocate here, I'm sure all these thoughts have gone through your head)

The opportunity in Thailand though, just reading your post, I think you may have already made your mind up. Just be aware that you were on holiday when you went there (rose-tinted specs?) after being disillusioned by China. But then again, you did go to China on holiday after being disillusioned by the UK.

All that aside, Thailand does seem ideal for you, it has all what you want, the work, the study, the environment. If you came back it wouldn't be there for you, if you stayed and took the chance, the UK will still be here.

My opinion? Go for it! Enjoy Thailand. And good luck.
 
Thailand is awesome, I spent 2 months there.

You could try teaching English over there for a bit of extra income... do you not have any friends/family that will club together to send you a bit of dosh if you struggle a bit? The exchange rate is very favourable to the Thai Baht at the moment (£1 ~ 62baht) so they wouldn't exactly have to dig deep?
 
100% for Thailand it seems.

It is crazy and exciting living abroad, especially in Mainland China where not a lot of people speak English. At all. Which forces me to learn more, quicker and adapt. Everyday really is quite new. Dunno what is gonna happen here, and I have a lot of stories.

I've made up my mind. It seems the majority of all people I've asked say Thailand, and only a few say I should go back to England. Namely my step-dad, but he's good for nothing, so he doesn't count.

Well then.... I best get packing and calling my landlady; gotta leave on Saturday.

First mistake: I booked my hotel in Bangkok. I went to book a flight and there are none for that day. 'til Sunday actually, and that's too late. Looks I'll have to take a ferry to Macau and get a flight from there...
 
Thailand 100% - Opportunities like that only come if you look for them and take them. Take it whilst you're young enough to enjoy it.

I'm off to S. Korea in September for a year or two and plan on doing Thailand and Japan after it :)
 
OvertoneBliss said:
100% for Thailand it seems.

It is crazy and exciting living abroad, especially in Mainland China where not a lot of people speak English. At all. Which forces me to learn more, quicker and adapt. Everyday really is quite new. Dunno what is gonna happen here, and I have a lot of stories.

I've made up my mind. It seems the majority of all people I've asked say Thailand, and only a few say I should go back to England. Namely my step-dad, but he's good for nothing, so he doesn't count.

Well then.... I best get packing and calling my landlady; gotta leave on Saturday.

First mistake: I booked my hotel in Bangkok. I went to book a flight and there are none for that day. 'til Sunday actually, and that's too late. Looks I'll have to take a ferry to Macau and get a flight from there...


Thailand :D Good luck dude. Just remember your living the dream!

and theres no such thing as mistakes just lessons we havent learned yet :)
 
OvertoneBliss said:
... but I have to consider that the opportunity in Thailand has an equal chance of success as it does failure. Also, if it does work out, it will be tough to sustain a living for a while, but not impossible.

If it works out, I could go home after 1 month, save and work hard, then head back out there 3 months later in a much much better situation all round. Which is why I wish I could go home, then go to Thailand and take the opportunity.

But at the same time, it's only 1 month, then I can go back for a while. Hmm. Guess I have nothing to lose and everything to gain, by going to Thailand. Interesting.
If it were me I would go to Thailand as others have said England will always be the there and be the same place, I'm sure your family will not move to far away and they will always welcome you "home" no matter what you happens in the future.

Three months ago I moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, to teach English and just to change my life by escaping the old things I hated so much, I am in the process of extending my Visa for another three months to decide fully if I can/Want to stay for longer, I have always said that if it does not work out here then I would keep going to Australia and spend time there. For me this is an opurtunaty to see the world and enjoy it while I´m still "young" the last place I want to end up is England.
 
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