You're Gonna Be Gone a Whole Month?

When we tell friends that we are going to visit The Philipines for a month, many people are simply incredulous.  It's as if they can't conceive of being away from their families and jobs for a month.  Some of this is normal.  We had to think long and hard about our own circumstances. We all have obligations and loved ones and routines that are important to us. No question our taking this trip will cause disruptions and require sacrifice. 

Our jobs are important to us. In this economy, it's frankly a risk to be gone from any job for a month. After all, if we can be spared for a month, maybe our jobs aren't all that indispensible. We know many people who wanted to apply for this opportunity who just couldn't take the risk or give up the income.  Those of us who are going are either self-employed or work for very supportive institutions and supervisors who still believe in career development. 

We are going on this Group Study Exchange because we choose to focus not on what we will give up but what we will gain.  We have the sense that we are embarking on a great adventure that few Americans are offered.  The world is a big, beautiful, and mysterious place.  We are eager to be part of something new, to give up the familiar for the unknown, to to be able to put ourselves in the hands of strangers because we have each other. The GSE team accepts that we don't need to have guarantees.  We trust that we will come back to our loved ones and jobs and coworkers with a depth of perspective that makes all the sacrifice worth it.