Non MFP Related Topic...Travelling Overseas Dilemma.

kit1986

I'm in a bit of a dilemma.

Late last year a friend of mine suggested going to the USA for a few weeks - naturally I immediately said Bring It On!! We hadn't organised dates or anything it was simply a yeah we'll do it.

The next day I was at a BBQ with my sister and our friends when the idea came up to go to Queensland to celebrate my sister and friend's 30th birthday in August. We live in Melbourne so a week of sunny weather, beach, doing girly things sounded fantastic. Of course, my sister was really excited too and as she has two kids she doesn't get to have a holiday to herself. So the next day the preparations started to be made. Our goal was to have everything organised and pretty much paid for a few months in advance so any additional money we saved would be spending money.

Naturally, my friend gets back to me shortly after suggesting we head over to the US in August. Uh oh :S I tell her I've got my sister's 30th in Queensland around that time so that's a no go for me...it was left at that.

The Queensland trip talk has since become quiet these past several weeks. I've already paid for my part of the accomodation but I don't know whether its been booked, whether we should start looking at flights...nothing. And I'm starting to wonder whether we jumped the gun and its not going to happen.

Then this past weekend my friend and I caught up and we checked out our local travel agent to get pricing on a US trip (she said that she was going to go anyway). Just hearing about all the places I could be going to...LA (seeing Hollywood), San Francisco (seeing the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz), Las Vegas (Grand Canyon baby), New Orleans, Disney World, Miami Beach....an ENTIRE WEEK in NYC with a day or two in Washington and to finish it off a few days in Hawaii. sigh

What doesn't help is that this entire trip would be costing a lot less than I was expecting it would. Now the dilemma begins...the Queensland trip which seeing that its in my own country can be done anytime and its for my sister too so there is the family aspect or the USA trip which granted could also be done anytime but doesn't change the fact that I've wanted to go for ages.

Another thing that doesn't help is the fact that a lot of people in my life don't like (or I should say don't trust) this particular friend. I've been told by my relatives that they believe that this friend would have no qualms completely deserting me if something better came along. Now, I can understand that...I guess the best way to describe me is a bit of a party pooper...I don't drink when I go out and because I'm extremely shy and lack confidence I don't say very much so why wouldn't she want to have a conversation with others (especially guys). This particular friend does also have a tendency to liking to prove that she has a better life (tells me about all the guys that fall over themselves to see her, all the job promotions and such)...and hey that's fine too. That's her personality and I've managed to accept that.

Then finally there is the whole fact that this friend has told me that she has received a job offer in the US and that the visas are currently in the process of being organised. Hey, good for her if everything is successful but I'm starting to get a bit worried seeing that the trip is for August...if she is successful with the visas she would already be in the US probably not able to travel because she only just started working which leaves me with my plane ticket, accommodation, bags packed and completely on my own.

Has anyone been in a similar situation or can offer an opinion of what they may do?

Sorry for the long post

Kate
xoxo

entropy83

IF you don't think this person would be good company on the trip I wouldn't go. Does she want to go sight seeing or go drinking in clubbing? Make sure you are on the same page about the activities but I really wouldn't go on a trip with an associate as you describe.

sunnyside1213

Why don't you wait to see if she get the job in the US first. I used to live in Glen Waverley and I know how expensive that trip is. I hope you can come see us.

kit1986

From our discussion entropy83 she wants to do the sightseeing, although she has previously been to the US before so some of the things won't be new to her (i.e. NYC, LA and Las Vegas especially). I can understand and to a agree with you but there is a voice in the back of mind saying 'who cares who you're with, you won't have to go over there alone'.

Where are you currently residing sunnyside...whether I go on the trip this year or not, I will be getting over there as some point. I've considered a couple of times doing some sort of a tour like a contiki tour or something so i get to see everything....I will be the ultimate tourist lol.