The decision | MEMOIR MONDAY (WEEK 51)
There are moments in life when we find ourselves at a crossroads, we are presented with the need to make a choice and we don't quite know which path to take, but in the end we always decide, maybe not in the best way, but once the dice are thrown there is no turning back.
I finished my studies to become a teacher in 1975, I was twenty-one years old. At that time the country was enjoying great prosperity due to the increase in oil prices.
The government of the time had proposed to make a great educational investment to modernize the country, and for this purpose it created the Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho scholarship plan.
This plan consisted in giving scholarships to young graduates to go abroad for postgraduate studies for a period of up to three years, which could be extended if the country had a language other than Spanish.
The scholarship was complete, covering everything: university fees, residence, food, health expenses and other complements so that the person could focus on his or her studies.
Among the priority areas of the program was education. Graduates of the Pedagógico de Caracas had priority. Before graduating, we were given a survey to find out if we were interested in the program.
I filled out that survey without any expectations, in fact I had never imagined leaving the country for another faraway place, studying abroad was not in any of my plans.
To my surprise, I was notified that I had been awarded a scholarship to do graduate studies in Geography, my field of study, in the city of Strasbourg, east of Paris, France. The initial time of the scholarship was foreseen for three years.
At that time I was about to start my first teaching job. The Ministry of Education had assigned me to a high school in Mariara, a small rural town in the state of Carabobo. Since I would be financially independent, I had talked to my girlfriend about getting married.
I told my girlfriend about the scholarship and she encouraged me to take it, she thought it was a great opportunity for me. I did the paperwork and even got my first passport. However, I kept thinking about what would happen to us. Three or more years without seeing each other again seemed like an eternity.
One day I was notified by mail, the letter carrier's mail, not the electronic mail, that I had to confirm to send me the tickets. I kept looking at that piece of paper. I kept it in my pocket waiting for my mind to clear, I knew that doubt could not last long.
After a week I showed the notification to my girlfriend, the time for confirmation had expired. I had not had the courage to undertake that new life. I would not travel abroad or do graduate studies in France.
Soon after we decided to settle in Maracay, we had a nice life together for fifteen years, and from that union we had two children. In the end we separated.
If I had gone to graduate school, my life might have been very different, I would have returned to work in planning programs in some government office, that was the commitment that was acquired as a scholarship holder of that program. Maybe I would never have worked as a high school teacher. But all that is just speculation. With the decision I made, I was able to have a life that has turned out quite well for me.
Fortunately, my children did not turn out to be fearful, but much braver than I was. In 2007, the third one, at the age of twenty-two, made the decision to go to Spain. He did not like the direction our country was taking and wanted to look for better alternatives. Six years later, the second one made the same decision, things had gotten much worse. In 2018 my youngest daughter left, she was also twenty-two years old....
To the three of them I have a deep admiration, I deeply respect the step they took. The decision they made is perhaps the most difficult that any person can make.
I am publishing this post motivated by the initiative proposed by my friend @ericvancewalton, Memoir Monday, in the fifty one week. For more information click on the link.
Thank you for your time.
Logo creado por @themanualbot
Something similar happened to me, two scholarships, one for France and one for Russia, but my attachment to my parents -that fear- made me give up. Reflecting today, perhaps it could have been because the times were very good in Venezuela, we didn't need anything, perhaps, if it had been in these times of crisis, I wouldn't have let it go.
That was to be considered, in reality it was possible to live well in the country with modest salaries. Thanks for stopping by and commenting, dear @amigoponc .
I like to believe that things like this happen for a reason--even if, sometimes, that reason is unknown to us. How often do you see your children since they moved away?
Yes, there is always some compelling reason. By the third I haven't seen him for twelve years. To the second ten and to the smallest seven. It hasn't been easy.
Thank you for stopping by and for your support dear @ericvancewalton . A big hug from Maracay.
I'm sure that's been difficult! I hope you can see them very soon! I wish you a wonderful week my friend. Thanks for participating.
Thank you so much my dear friend. Happy weekend.
There is no reason to judge you, you thought you made the best decision. God had other plans for you. Fortunately, your children decided, young and with what was already happening in the country, that helped them a lot in their decision. Thank God your children came out and are helping you, we must give thanks for that since the Lord wanted it that way.
Yes, I have learned to take those decisions in stride. Everyone lives their own circumstances and that is to be respected. Thank you for stopping by and commenting, dear @isabelpena . A big hug from Maracay.
Son experiencias muy duras cuando toca vivir las en carne propia.
Las hijas mayores de mi esposo se marcharon a otro país y el ha sufrido mucho.
Pero bueno ellos ya tienen sus propias alas
Emigration has affected us all. Let's hope that something good will come out of that difficult experience. Thank you for stopping by and commenting dear @maylink . A big hug from Maracay.
One lesson I have learn from this now is never to trade any opportunity that has to do with my feature for a woman.
Sometimes it is a difficult decision, especially when you are very young, at that age you don't see things clearly. Thanks for stopping by and commenting dear @valblesza . A big hug from Maracay.
I am not a fan of saying what if. Things happen for a reason. It is a shame though that so many people leave Venezuela.
You are absolutely right, everything happens for a reason. At this stage of life I am learning to accept that great truth.
Yes, it is unfortunate that people have to leave the country of their birth, especially when fleeing repression or poor living conditions. It is different when you leave because you want to live adventures.
Thanks for stopping by and for the support dear @tengolotodo . A big hug from Maracay.
Maybe you were young back then and there's an offer for you that's you decided to stay and be with your woman. There's nothing to regret coz all are good in all those years🙂.