I was born in Nigeria and had traveled all around Europe but this was my first foray into Asia
“I’ve had my share of bouts of sadness that have largely revolved around what I took be academic failings: not doing as well on an exam or a project as I felt I could have etc. But the moment in which I felt the most bereft was probably just after my college graduation, sitting outside of my gate to Bangkok at the Narita airport in Japan.
In my senior year of college, I had decided that I wanted to take some time off before attending medical school. For my whole life, all I had wanted to do was become a doctor and so much of my life had been spent in pursuit of that. In college, I was honors and pre-med, which made for a very strenuous academic schedule.
I knew that once I started medical school, I would likely be left with little time to enjoy other hobbies and passions of mine. We had traveled a lot when I was a child and I still have a good deal of wanderlust gathering dust in my soul over the past few years. As such, I applied for and got a job teaching English in Bangkok and planned to spend a year there before returning for medical school. I was born in Nigeria and had traveled all around Europe, but this was my first foray into Asia.
I remember sitting in the airport that day, feeling so completely overwhelmed by medical school. I felt so alone and so heartbroken that I even considered changing my mind. I’m so thankful. My sudden decision to go to Thailand began to feel completely ridiculous and I was convinced I had made the worst decision of my life to put off l I didn’t.
My time in Bangkok ended up being some of the most life-changing and reaffirming years of my life to date.”
