For years I prioritized my career in medicine. Now, in my 40s, I’ve learned how to live

Growing up in an immigrant household – my family is from Southeast Asia – there was always a big focus on hard work and education. I followed in my father’s footsteps by becoming a physician studying medicine at Cornell and Harvard Universities. I ended up in Gastroenterology, which is a very competitive specialty. There’s this continual pressure to be top of your class in order to get into competitive residency and fellowship programmes.

Although I’ve always been interested in meeting people from different cultures, and learning languages – I speak Bengali, Hindi, French and Spanish – for a long time, the concept of adventure barely featured in life. For my parents, having scrimped and saved to come to the US, the idea of big outdoor expeditions posed an unnecessary risk. And by the time I was an adult, I was so career-driven, I didn’t think about travel for a long time.

I was so career-driven, I didn’t think about travel for a long time

All that changed after the pandemic hit, and lots of my friends became digital nomads. Looking at their photos, working remotely from all over the world, I became aware of an underlying feeling of resentment – which is so unlike me. I was getting depressed with the humdrum of the everyday work cycle and my mental health was suffering. Entering my 40s, I no longer felt satisfied with medicine being the be-all and end-all of my identity. 

The real turning point came when my Dad got sick, suffering some major medical setbacks earlier this year. Thankfully, he survived but the trauma really put things into perspective for me. It hit me that our time on this planet is short: it was a real wake-up call.

Soon after, I quit my full-time job and became a freelance Gastroenterologist. Now I travel all over the States, working intensively for several weeks at a time at different hospitals. It’s a wonderful way to give back to patients in underserved medical areas. It also offers me the flexibility and freedom to care for my family, as well as to travel the world.

I started out by visiting Japan with another freelance physician I’ve known for 20 years. We went in March, for Hanami; the celebration of “Sakura”, or cherry blossom season. As a big fan of anime and Miyazaki, as well as Japanese food culture, I’ve always wanted to travel there. We just had the best time ever, and we were able to rekindle our friendship in the process.

I was getting depressed with the humdrum of everyday work 

It got me thinking how cool it would be, to be able to travel with like-minded professionals who don’t necessarily want to stay in a hostel or get drunk all day. After a bit of online research, I found Flash Pack and booked my first trip to Costa Rica; driven by my love of conservation, nature (e.g. the cloud forest) and incredible environments like Manuel Antonio National Park.

I like to joke that Flash Pack went on to create a monster in me. From that first experience, I’ve joined three other group adventures this year alone: to Colombia, Turkey and Albania. I also have more trips booked, including to Finland – hopefully to see the Northern Lights – and Bali. I’m just a crazy person. 

I think the coolest thing about travel is the ability to discover new sides of yourself. In the past few months, I’ve had so many world experiences that I can learn from – and in a way that’s far more vibrant than medical school. Most importantly, it has made me a more compassionate, culturally aware physician. My patients hail from a vast range of cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. I can use the knowledge and experience gained on international travel to better relate to my patients and provide them the highest quality of care they deserve. 

Some of my highlights so far have included a sunrise balloon ride over Cappadocia, Turkey’s iconic moonscape filled with fairy chimneys and volcanic ridges. With the sun coming up over the mountains and other hot air balloons floating nearby, it felt like we were on another planet. You could see people’s faces change as they looked up over the mountains. It was like a spiritual awakening: everything was so glowy and ethereal.

On my trips so far, we’ve all become really good friends

The other thing I really liked was our visit to a women-run community project in Comuna 13, a hillside favela in Medellín – once one of the world’s most dangerous cities. I think Flash Pack does a really good job of integrating with local culture, and this was a case in point. The people we met there had been through so much with the cartels and a devastating, decades-long drugs war. But nevertheless, they came through it and rebuilt. I really appreciated the incredible stories they shared of strength, resilience and hope.

Best of all, I’ve been able to tap into Flash Pack’s close-knit community – including learning from lots of strong, professional and well-traveled women. On my trips so far, we’ve all become really good friends. I’ve loved the chance to stay up late talking, bonding and getting to know new, inspiring people – in a way that reaches well beyond superficial politeness. There are at least six or seven people that I’ve gotten on so well with, we’re already planning more holidays together.

When you’re together every day, sharing activities in a new place, it’s easy to connect on a deep level. It’s a bit like making friends in med school; only back then you were all in the trenches. You bonded over things being traumatic, whereas traveling together is pure fun. 

I’m pretty laid-back so I appreciate that everyone is like-minded and leaves their ego behind on these trips, too. You meet these people with huge jobs at places like the UN, Meta, or in neonatal medicine. But they’re all so down-to-earth. You’d never know about their powerhouse roles unless you actively asked them about it. 

In Flash Pack’s community, I feel worthy just as I am

At the same time, it’s made me feel better about not having kids. Lots of Flashpackers are single and don’t have children, also, but it’s a stigma in my culture. Being with this community, I’m able to feel like I’m worthy just the way I am. Everything’s good with the world.

For so long, I looked for fulfillment in medicine alone, because I didn’t know any other way. But I’ve realized that traveling actually makes me a better doctor. I’m far more culturally competent and empathetic as a result of learning about different global communities, and meeting new people.

I’m at a transitional point in my life that I didn’t see coming. I’m so happy right now, and friends have noticed the change, too: I’m doing things on my own terms and taking risks. I’ve already planned a load more adventures for next year. 

It’s never too late to change your life. Growing up, I had so much creativity, wit and love for other people. But I feel like that got suppressed in my quest to be a “good”, professional doctor. Now it’s all coming back. I feel like I’m living for the first time in my 40s and I’m so grateful. It’s a wave I’ll ride for as long as I can. 

Texas-based Flashpacker, podcast co-host and Gastroenterologist, Nina Nandy, MD FACG traveled with Flash Pack to Costa Rica, Colombia, Turkey and Albania. 

Got a story or adventure that could inspire a solo traveler like you? Tag @flashpack on social or email [email protected] to be featured.

Images: Courtesy of Nina Nandy