Is it really better to work abroad?

[_Cathy_]

I've been having mixed emotions lately. The boss of my boss informed me that they are working on getting me a posting in HQ. However, I did not expect the posting to be a minimum of 2 yrs. When the boss of my boss asked me if I am willing to work in HQ for AT LEAST 2 yrs, I said yes immediately and I was in cloud 9! I know that employees from our company would kill to be in this position, probably less than 10% have been given this chance since the company started (PH to abroad is rare, more common is abroad to PH assignment)

I keep on complaining to my boss about my situation here in Manila (lousy colleagues) so he said he will do something to help me. I am aware that there is no vacancy in HQ, in fact our company is at a net loss for Q3, businesses are being sold and employees are being retrenched. HQ moved heaven and earth (as my friend phrased) because they had to create an additional headcount and justify why they need me there when they should in fact be reducing employee headcount. It is also government ruling in employment that citizens be given priority then EU member countries. Non-EU member countries can only be employed IF the company can justify that no citizen or EU member citizen is capable of that job.

I started having doubts about my assignment when I started researching on the salary and cost of living in HQ. Apparently, expat living is not as profitable and glamorous as I thought it was. I also joined an expat forum so I got an idea of the common complaints. Taxes can go as high as 45% and a decant 1 bedroom flat in the expat area costs about EUR1000. Based on my computation, I will only be able to save P50,000 a month which for me is not worth being away from my family and friends. In Manila, I do not pay for rent, utilities or food. If I move abroad I have to worry about rent, utilities and food. Flats are so small and I would have to buy new furniture and appliances etc. I also can't imagine being away from my family and fat lab for such a long time Also, what will happen to my car? Should I sell one because definitely nobody will use my cars when I am away. But what will happen when my assignment is finished, I will still need another car for coding. I had no idea na ang dami palang factors when leaving the country for work. However, my friend who works in our branch abroad (local hire not expat) told me that 3 yrs is just a breeze and I should not think of the salary as my main motivation but rather the experience, network and career growth that a foreign job assignment will do for me. It only gives me motivation when I think about the prestige of working in HQ, how it would be like to work with top bankers (though mostly hated ) and regulators globally. I also like the idea of decorating my flat from scratch and how travelling around Europe would be so easy. Yun lang motivation ko, parang nangyari napasubo ako, kaya be careful what you wish. Another con would be I would be so dependent on my boss when I am there. I would be the lone Filipino in HQ. I also researched online and most of the Filipinas there are from PH provinces na nakapag asawa ng citizen, and I don't think we'd have the same interests

My dilemma is, IF HQ gives me a 2-3 yr assignment, should I bargain for a 1 yr assignment? I could tiis for 1 yr but I think 2-3 is a bit long. My friend told me DO NOT request for a shorter stay as this might create a bad impression considering what HQ went through for me. If you were in my position, would you?