In Just 24 Hours....

 April 2nd, 3:32AM

24 hours... in just  24 hours I will be standing in line at the airport to check in my bags for the start of a 31 hour journey, a journey that has been a year and eight months in the making.   Where did the time go?

My writings over the next six weeks will be about my life and work in Chiang Mai, Thailand as a US Fulbright Specialist followed by my return to Vin University in Hanoi, Vietnam to continue work launched there during Summers 2023 and 2024. 

Chiang Mai is located in Northern Thailand, very close to the Myanmar border and Hanoi, is just west of the Gulf of Tonking, in Northern Vietnam.  Do not equate the word "northern" with cooler. The daily high in Chiang Mai is expected to be 104-106 F daily. I plan on curating my clothes one more time tonight to balance cultural expectations of professional modesty with the need for my skin to breathe and avoid the horrific heat rash that I experienced Summer '23 in Hanoi.  Though sleeves are preferred, I gratefully accept the exception that I'm offered as an international visiting professor to wear sleeveless clothing to work. 

It may be helpful to know how in the world (no pun intended) I wound up a Fulbright Specialist and how I came to get approved for this project. 

I admire and support all things Fulbright, based upon the vision of Senator Fulbright in 1946 to promote international peace and understanding through educational exchange. My personal mission has been to promote health diplomacy.  Rather lofty words I know but ones that I have diligently executed for 20 years, primarily working in Cambodian nursing programs across 10 trips, including a 10-month US Fulbright Scholar award in 2013. 

In 2022, I was accepted to the US Fulbright Specialist roster, typically 3 years in length but because of COVID and travel restrictions, my cohort was permitted 4 years to complete up to two projects 2-6 weeks in length. So in 2023, I traveled to Vin University in Hanoi for 6 weeks to support NCLEX preparation of their junior nursing students, the first nursing program cohort at Vin University. 

It is actually uncommon for Fulbright Specialists to get a second project implemented due to timing details that I will not bore you with but I was determined to get a second one approved.  August 2024, I created a spreadsheet and cold-called (emailed) the international office of nearly 250 nursing programs across SE Asia introducing myself and inquring if they would like to participate as a Fulbright host institution.  This Fulbright program is a bit different as the host institution must underwrite certain costs so low-resource programs, though interested, did not have the funding to support a specialist..  

So why SE Asia?  I love the cultures there and collectively, the countries are part of ASEAN, so I see my work, promoting and fostering nursing education throughout the region as meeting the mission of ASEAN as it relates to regional health and well-being. While maybe a story for another day, I am a child of the 60's & 70's.  The war in Vietnam and my mother's career as a civil service nurse at an Army hospital deeply shaped my life. 

Anyway- time was running out.  It was November 2024, and I did not have a host yet (actually had one in Indonesia but it fell through October 2024), but I knew of the Faculty of Nursing Chiang Mai University. (FON is what most SE Asian countries call their nursing programs.)  This is a highly respected nursing program that is also a WHO Centre of Nursing and Midwifery, a very prestitious international designation. In reaching out to them, I received an immediate yes and so they submitted the grant application December 2024. 

Then- crickets.  Nothing. For an entire year. Neither CMU nor I heard anything until November 2025 when I was invited to accept the grant to work at CMU for four weeks! A second Fulbright Specialist project and my third Fulbright grant. What a glorious honor. 

But this amazing opportunity does not come without sacrifice.  The timing. It is essential that I am on my way to Chiang Mai before my time on the Fulbright roster ends- April 6, 2026.  So, I am cutting it short leaving April 3rd. The sacrifice?  I'm a solo traveler this time.  I leave behind my wonderful husband who is a public school teacher and my Bashert. Bashert is a Yiddish word meaning destiny or meant to be. Lee and I simply have wonderful adventures (and a few misadventures!). Neither of us are thrilled at our being apart for six weeks, but he totally supports this opportunity. 

So, there you have it.  The stage is set. I will be working with the FON at Chiang Mai University on all things NCLEX (the US licensing exam to become a Registered Nurse) for their faculty and students. I fully expect to be overwhelmed and humbled as well as filled with admiration as I learn a new culture and create a home in a new international community. Much more to come. 

Wishing you well- Karen

Faculty of Nursing- Chiang Mai University             Vin University- Summer '23

Disclaimer: The content of my writing strictly represents my personal views and not those of the University of Florida, the U.S. government, the Department of State, or partner organizations.