Biggest dilemma ever

They say "opportunity rarely knocks on your door".  And when it does "opportunity doesn't knock twice"!!

At 30, I face the biggest dilemma of my life.  Few months back, my department's former director (Mr K.T.K.), whom I've been keeping in touch with eversince he retired more than a couple of years back, emailed to ask if I'm open to the idea of relocating to India for a job opportunity at Delhi Airport.  I politely declined telling him that I'm not planning to migrate of out S'pore at this point of time due to family commitments.  Really, moving out of S'pore is something unthinkable for me...esp. NOT India (as though Little India in S'pore is not bad enuf! Hah!)

Many months later, on Sun, Mr KTK happen to sms me at night abt a job opportunity and if I've any names in mind as he's been given the task to recruit 1 or 2 mid-management level staff for mall or retail management post.  Today, he called me to catch up.  And he told me "I know I've asked u this b4 & u've told me no, but I'd like to ask u agn...how wld u like to take up a job posting overseas?"  After clarifying, I realised the job he was sms-ing abt was actually the Delhi Airport job he had me in mind many mths back!!!  I had someone in mind to recommend to him...but he just thinks that if there's anyone suitable for the job (based on experience), it's someone from my office & he just thinks I'm best suited for the job!!  He asked me abt my annual package here & when I told him it's near $30k per annum, he asked me "how's $100k per annum for you...accomodation provided...u get to go back home every mth".  I cld juz answer him "It's tempting Mr K...but really I can't relocate due to family commitments".

He really dwelled into the "family commitment" thing & he tried really hard to convince me abt technology linking me back to my family back home, etc etc.  He reminded me to give it a serious reconsideration, take my time & then let him know.  The remuneration package is up to me to negotiate (either 2 or 3 yrs contract, $100k with accomodation, how often I want my to & fro home trip to be).

While I argued abt upbringing & personal goals, he tried to make me see sense on opportunity that doesn't come by in one's life too often.  I agree.  It's really tempting.  But my culture & upbringing...I know my parents won't be receptive to such an idea.  At the same time, I'm not sure if I can live independently in a foreign place for 2 yrs (I may juz get homesick & hell, who's gonna help me kill the lizard if there's 1 in my room & my mom's not wif me!!??).  But $100k per year is so unimaginable!!  Imagine, in 2 yrs, I'd have $200k!!  Way beyond my financial plan, which I'm supposed to be having $20k cash savings by 2008!!!

All the frens I consulted are telling me to GO FOR IT (ya, ya, easier said that done ok!) bcoz of the moolah...but then...if I'm there, something happens to my granny (nauzubillah min zaliq)...I won't be able to come back in time to see her.  Plus, my parents will give me this "We tell u to get married u dowan, now u wanna leave S'pore for 2 yrs & wen u come back u'll be 32 & still unmarried bla bla bla bla".  Gosh ... I was thinking, if I'm unmarried @ 30, wat's the big difference wif 32?!?!

Ok ok...I know I'm thinking too much.    But the point is... this is possibly the biggest dilemma of my life...EVER!!  Something I want to grab, yet something's stopping me.  I shld do some research on Delhi Airport & life in India.... but whether or not I grab this offer, I definitely wil tell my parents abt it...coz I need them to know my worth ($100k per year!!)!! Hak!!

NOTE: Concurrently, I'm handing down the offer to my colleague (from same office) who's more receptive to the idea of relocating.