Late September into Early October gave me a wonderful opportunity to visit the U.S. for work as well as take some time to see my family after being away for two months.
To kick things off, I flew from Yangon to Las Vegas (via Seoul) for our annual continuing medical education conference. MED puts these on for us annually (at least for now) and they are a fantastic way for us to maintain our licensure, certifications, and also keep in touch with all of our colleagues in the MED world.
One of the most interesting things about this job is you make these great friendships with all your medical colleagues when you onboard, or see them virtually at regional or worldwide meetings, but you really never interact in person after that initial orientation period. Years often go by where you talk to individuals on a weekly basis virtually, but never in person. When out in the field, we are all stationed individually at Embassies and Consulates by ourselves, so any real interaction with medical people in person like at these conferences is really prized and enjoyed.
This year was no exception. Last year we were in Orlando for a week, and this time saw us in Las Vegas for a week. I am not sure about you, but a week in Las Vegas is a VERY long and exhausting time. I enjoy Vegas immensely, but usually in short burst on a long weekend. A full week wore on me quickly and I found myself already missing my work in Myanmar by the end.
Thankfully, after the conference ended, I took a short flight to El Paso where I was able to happily spend a couple of weeks with these beauties.
Being away from these two is easily the one of the most difficult things I have done in my life. I am grateful for iPads and Facetime, and am not sure how diplomats did being away from family before the digital age, but it is still no substitute for in person snuggles.
Timing was also nice because my eldest had a fall break, so I was able to sneak the kiddos up to Phoenix for a few days at the Great Wolf Lodge, which has become a family favorite destination. Both kids loved being in the water, and we had a lovely time.
Overall, it was great to be back in the Southwest, catching up with friends and family. However, throughout my nearly 3 weeks away from Yangon, I found myself periodically missing Myanmar, in a way I never really experienced back when I was in Mauritania. Although it has only been 3 months now, Myanmar has really captivated me. Yes, I miss my family more than anything, but the people, the city, the food, the golden pagodas, my work, all of it has made an incredible impression on me, and I find myself truly loving this assignment.
Mauritania was a wonderful experience because of the work and the people I worked with, but Myanmar top to bottom is probably one of the most enriching life experiences I could have asked for. It’s a shame the country is facing so many difficulties and I am unable to share this with my family, because it otherwise is one of the most wonderful places on the planet, populated with some of the most kind people in the world. I’m so grateful I feel this way. Choosing to live apart from your loved ones is never easy, but at least if I have to do it, it’s nice to be in a place I enjoy. 1/8th of the tour is already complete and I am sure the remaining time is absolutely gonna scream by. -Nick
