What to do, What to do....

As soon as Ron was granted the Olmsted Scholarship, we began reading "Scholar Reports,"- yearly reports/essays that other Thai scholars wrote about their experiences in Thailand.  They covered where to live, where to study, how to buy a car, etc.  There were 2 Olmsted scholars that have been to Thailand before us and their reports were extremely helpful.  However, there was little mention of spouse language training or work in Thailand.

Although Ron and I always planned that I would learn Thai, I was never planning on attending DLI.  My plan was to be tutored in Thai once we were in Thailand (the Olmsted Foundation would grant me a $2,000 stipend for this).  We never really thought of many other options.  We thought I would work in some capacity- as a clinician, teacher or volunteer, as my primary role.  Learning Thai would be second.  I'm not sure if I thought I didn't need Thai or if I was still stuck in the idea that I would still work, be a vet and get paid while in Thailand.  Ron was encouraging me to try to find a job as well as he felt "guilty" about moving overseas for 3 years and sacrificing my career (although we had many talks about this and I kept saying it was more than fine and I couldn't be more excited)!

This was our thinking until the Olmsted Scholar Orientation weekend.  This was a 3-day weekend dedicated to the Olmsted Scholar Class of 2013.  During the weekend, we were able to meet the other scholars and their spouses, form great friendships, and learn more about the journey we would all be undertaking for the next 3 years.  Although I learned many things during this weekend, I wasn't prepared for my biggest lesson.

The group of scholars this year is awesome, but I have to say, I was more impressed with the spouses (men and women)!  All of the spouses I met were incredibly outgoing, friendly and enthusiastic about moving to a far off country for 2-3 years.  All were proud of their spouses and were supportive of the Olmsted program.  Above all, all of the spouses had an eager spirit and go with the flow attitudes!  In talking to the spouses, I was incredibly surprised to learn that almost all had made arrangements for language training for the next year.  Many had already quit their jobs to move to DC or Monterrey.  Although several were given their own tutors or official "slots" in the DLI classes, many were choosing to attend class on their own, without a formal slot.  Talk about dedication!  They were choosing this because they embraced the Olmsted Scholarship and its mission to Educate Broadly.

After having many conversations with the spouses over the first two days, I had a heart to heart with Ron the second night.  I told Ron that I felt my thinking over the past few months was skewed.  All along, I had been thinking about ways to still work and maintain my professional status.  In thinking this, I had missed the fact that in doing so, I would loose a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn Thai fluently, embrace the Thai culture, and just live/experience life.  The spouses during this weekend taught me that I have the rest of my life to be a veterinarian and chase my career.  However, I only have 3 years in Thailand.

That night, my realization was re-enforced when I met an Olmsted Scholar Class of 2012 spouse who is also a veterinarian.  Her and her husband are moving to Poland this August for 2 years.  Over the past year, she learned Polish 5-days a week in DC on her own with her own tutor.  She then spent weekends studying and doing relief work at a local emergency clinic.  This was the reassurance I needed- I wasn't the only vet putting my career on hold in order to fully embrace the Olmsted Scholarship!

When the orientation weekend ended, Ron and I began looking into Thai language classes in Thailand for me.  Last week, I applied for AUA- a state of the art language school in Chiang Mai.  I signed up for 3 hours of Thai language a day in group classes of 3-5 other students.  My classes will be from 1-4 everyday, Monday-Friday, for the next 5-6 months (or more).  In the evenings, I will focus on my Master's degree classes.  In the mornings, I will spend my time volunteering at the vet school, an elephant sanctuary or an orphanage.  I may even volunteer to teach English to preschool children- who knows!  And if our luck plays out, I may even be playing Mom to a gorgeous little boy from Ethiopia this next year as well, too!  Regardless of how I spend my mornings, my job will be learning the Thai language and culture, and embracing/living live. 

It took awhile, but I'm now 1,000% ok with not receiving a paycheck and trying to maintain my career 5,000 miles across the world.  I know that as long as I am productive, I will continue to gain life experiences that will aid my career when we do return home.  In the meantime, I'll just be taking a deep breath and diving right in!