Clashing commitments - WWYD?

[WellAlwaysHaveParis]

Hi everyone.

Got some clashing commitments that I've only just realised, coming up at the start of March.

I booked a place as a volunteer on an English course in Germany for a week. Although this was free as I didn't pay anything towards it, I've also booked my flights to and from Germany as getting a place on the course was conditional on booking flights. I'll check if the flights might be refundable, as I'm not sure (booked with Ryanair).

A friend recently got in touch with plans for their birthday, which also happens to be towards the end of that week. At the birthday, there would be a chance to reunite with them as well as a few other close friends who I haven't seen for a while.

I can't do both the birthday and the English course, unfortunately. Really want to do both though!! WWYD? Argh.

I'd say you should go with the volunteering - you booked that first and they will be relying on you. It is possible that the course would be unable to go ahead without the requisite number of volunteers so you could easily be essential.

Could you make another date to meet up with your friends? I know it is a birthday, but there are plenty of other days in the year when you could have a repeat event.

You can celebrate with your friends a second date, if it good enough for Her Maj to have 2 birthdays......

Only the first one is a commitment. The birthday is just something you'd like to do. Stick with what you've agreed to do.

Volunteer

The birthday timing is just shit luck that you can’t go, that’s all. It’s not anything to decide between.

The volunteering. It came first. People with integrity stick to their commitments even when something more exciting comes along later! You may have taken a space someone else could have had.

Agree with the others, first one is an actual commitment, the other is an ‘I’d like to do’
Imo, you honour your commitment and try to meet up with the others at a later date

I don’t think you can back out of the volunteering just for a party . Why not have a party or barbecue of your own later in the year and invite all these old friends

You can't get refunds on Ryanair flights, so you'll be losing those if you cancel. And surely someone has paid for stuff for the Germany thing, even if you haven't?

The stay in Germany won't really be free though, sonewill will be paying for it - and who will do your job if you are not there?

well, you have already booked Germany, so in my book there's no clashing. If another event or invitation comes along, I would just decline explaining why. Once I accepted something, I don't cancel unless there is a genuine emergency.

Now, were there many people applying to your volunteering role? Do you know if there is a waiting list? If someone else would be more than happy to take over, and it doesn't cost anyone anything, you could ask. I personally wouldn't, but you never know.

booked my flights to and from Germany as getting a place on the course was conditional on booking flights.
I wonder why, OP? Could it be because they are trying to get people not to let them down? You think?

Thanks everyone. I completely agree that the volunteering is essential. I'll absolutely go for the volunteering. Thanks again.

Really poor form to be considering sacking off the German trip because you've been invited to a birthday party

If you re reuniting they aren't close friends and certainly not justifiable to break a commitment.

Sorry everyone. It was just a moment of madness.

Fair dos OP.
Nice to see someone come to their senses.

Good call OP. Hope the German course is a great experience for you.

Thanks Fuzzy! :) (And everyone else who's posted :) )