Real Talk: It’s About the Journey, Not the Destination

Lately, I have been feeling stuck. The medical journey is incredibly long, and sometimes it feels like there is no end in sight. I am constantly counting down to a milestone: Match Day, the end of medical school, moving to Chicago, the end of intern year, and eventually, the end of residency and fellowship.

There are days when I wish we were closer to the light at the end of the tunnel. It would be nice to know where we are living for longer than a few years and to have a little financial stability. Looking ahead gives me hope that never seeing my husband now will be worth it in the future.

That said, I don’t want life to start when we are 32. Intern year has been the hardest year of my life, but I will always treasure the memories of the adventures we had in Chicago on Christopher’s days off. Do I wish he was around to explore with me every weekend? Of course. Still, we try to make the most of our time together every chance we get. Honestly, we should be spending as little money as possible this year, but I know I will regret it if we don’t see as much of the city as we can.

We will be 32 in the blink of an eye, and our time in Chicago will be a distant memory. I remember thinking medical school would take forever, and here we are, already discussing plans for moving back to Texas. When we finally reach our destination, I want to look back on our medical journey and feel like we actually lived it…because a life is a terrible thing to waste.

Have you ever felt stuck in your life?

Real Talk: A Thankful Heart

It’s no secret that Chris and I are in a hectic season of our lives. Finding a place to live in a city you don’t know is all sorts of frustrating, especially when every place you like seems to get rented the next day. I would be lying to y’all if I didn’t say we have been feeling discouraged.

It is easy to dwell on the negative, but Chris and I are also so thankful for this opportunity. Medical school was a long journey, and it is a huge relief to move on to the next step. Chris is headed to a fantastic program that will provide a great foundation for him before radiology residency. I am excited to explore a new city with my love…and to come home a short year later!

Claire from The Studio by Fashion + Feathers sent me a beautiful gold foil print with a message I am trying to remember daily: “Start each day with a thankful heart.” I can’t tell y’all how much a difference it makes in my day when I wake up with a thankful heart and remind myself of the many blessings in my life. I can’t wait to hang it in our new Chicago bedroom!

Not only does Claire’s shop feature several beautiful gold inspirational prints, she also designed a fun phone case and a great T-shirt! Claire and I started blogging around the same time, and I have really enjoyed getting to know her. When she told me she opened a shop, I was so impressed with the lovely items she created. One of my favorite things about blogging is supporting each other, and I can’t wait to watch Claire’s shop grow! Claire also kindly provided a code for my readers. Use THESIBERIANAMERICAN to receive 10 percent off your purchase, good for the next week.

I received the gold foil print courtesy of The Studio at Fashion + Feathers, but all opinions are my own.

Real Talk: Answering “Where Are You From?”

I hate answering the question “where are you from?” Do they want to know where I was born? Where I grew up? Where I am living now? As a self-proclaimed nomad who has moved 18 times in 25 years, it’s a hard question for me to answer.

With a name like Olya, just saying I am from Texas doesn’t usually cut it. Then again, I know that as soon as I tell someone I was born in Siberia, I need to have time to explain my entire life story to them.

I identify with both cultures. My parents raised me Russian. We had many Russian traditions, spoke Russian at home, celebrated Russian holidays, had many Russian parties with a large group of Russian friends, and even went to a Russian church. I am proud of my heritage and hope to pass on some Russian traditions to my future children.

I am also a proud US citizen. Most people who meet me for the first time tell me they wouldn’t have known I was Russian if I hadn’t told them my name. (Strangely, I get Swedish a lot). When I am away from my family, I definitely act more American than Russian. I have no accent, and I’ll even flash a big “American” smile at you in photos or if I pass you on the street (which happens to drive my mom crazy).

I named my blog The Siberian American because both of my identities are equally important to me. Now if only I could figure out how to condense this post into a one-sentence answer, I would be set.

What about you? Do you have a hard time answering “where are you from?”

Real Talk: My Struggle to Focus on the Present

March 20. Ever since I found out the date Chris will find out where we’re going for residency, I haven’t been able to get it out of my head. All I can think about is that little sheet of paper he will receive on March 20 could have almost any city in the United States on it.

Here’s the thing: I’m used to change and take it fairly well. I have moved 18 times in my life and have never really been attached to a house or a place. Part of me craves a new adventure. The problem is that I’m a planner. We will find out where we’re going on March 20 and will need to move sometime in June. It takes me longer than that to plan our vacations! 

My biggest struggle so far is focusing on the present. Right now, I am completely focused on the possibility of moving. I keep thinking this will be the last time we will go to the State Fair or this is the last time it will be this easy to spend Christmas with both of our families. I have been asked about summer plans and can’t give clear answers. My boss knows my situation, and the thought of leaving my job makes me want to cry.

However, these anxious thoughts aren’t actually getting me anywhere. Worrying about the future is not going to make March 20 arrive any quicker. The truth is, even though I am anxious about not having a lot of time to plan once we find out where Chris matches, this is such an exciting time.

Chris is graduating from medical school and is ready to take the next step forward in fulfilling his passion. He is traveling all over the country, interviewing with programs to find the right fit for him. I am his travel agent, booking flights and researching the cities.  He receives new interview invitations every day, and we get to pick where he goes. It’s a time filled with many possibilities, and if I keep worrying about things I can’t change, I will miss it.

My goal is to enjoy this season of life and live in the present. Life is beautiful, and I don’t want to miss a single second.