Baby Steps or Lunges

So I've been dwelling a lot on The Next Step. Once I finish my thesis come June, I'll be at a point where I can continue here, continue elsewhere, or change direction entirely. Being abroad makes geography a factor, and when I came back to Paris in September I had decided I would leave France. I told The Boy I'd go back Stateside sometime next July-ish.

But, naturally, being here I've fallen back in love with my life in Paris, and I wonder why change a good thing? My family is the main thing tugging at my heartstrings, and I'm having a hard time with that. Being far from them right now is bearable, but what happens when people start having babies (including myself)? Could I stand being so far away? I just don't know.

Recently, I've had a rather strange set of opportunities come my way that are making the entire decision-making process even more difficult.

For one, I rocked my GREs. It was strange because I actually thought I had more or less failed them, and when I clicked on the button "See My Score," I actually looked around the room with paranoia when I saw what was on the screen. I was sure there had been some sort of computer error. I was well over the score I needed, and now I can pretty much sit easy knowing I could most likely get into even the high-end graduate programs. That's a funny feeling.

However, I've recently come up with a crazy idea that could potentially work, and one of the most difficult key elements in the plan has pretty much been offered to me with no strings attached. It would mean I would take a risk - a big one - and that I would stay in France. I'm scared of both possibilities, but once-in-a-lifetime opportunities only come by, well, once, so I'm pretty tempted. The Boy says, "Take the plunge!" but I know he's thinking that because it's his personality (for one) and because he wants me to stay.

I'm doing research on the idea, and I'll leave it at that mystery for the time being.