Five Months In: Job Search,Lessons Learned

We survived another few days without WanderPapa, who was in Bangkok networking.  I’m not going to rant too much about this damned job search.

I will however post a couple of my lessons learned:

1.  Jobs.  It’s hard to get a job abroad that is not either teaching English or some sweet-deal package where your Western based company sends you.  To shoot it down the middle between no money and bank is tricky.

2.  Real Life. It was easy to sit in suburban Boston and plan and dream.  Now we are debunking the myth of “it would be so perfect if only…”   We are living abroad (our particular dream) and, in addition to learning so much and mostly loving it, realizing that this is not a permanent vacation. We need income for a nicer-than-local apartment and a bi-lingual school, tickets home and the occasional weekend away.  Who knew?  Not us sitting on our butts in Quincy.  I am realizing that happiness isn’t geographic and that nothing is perfect.  Though some days, when recruiters return phone calls and there is a soft evening breeze as we ride home from the playground, this place seems pretty close.  Nutshell:  Don’t just dream, do.

3.  Me & My Kids.  I have now stayed alone with the kids in Mae Sot on three separate occasions while WPapa was out seeking gainful employment.  And I have done just fine.  I was scared to do it but in the end it was empowering.  And exhausting.  My nanny/cleaning lady helped so much.  Kudos to all the single moms out there. You are heroes!