Flashing back to the present, last week our little Bosnian class of three students made it through a short but eventful fifth week of our 44-week course—eventful at least for me.
Tag: FSI
Bosnian (LSC100) Weeks 3-4: Training Wheels
The autumn equinox passed during week 3 of Bosnian and almost immediately, there was a marked change in the weather. The sunny days where I could get away with wearing the tank tops and summer dresses that comprised the majority of my year-round Rangoon wardrobe suddenly left me shivering in the classroom.
We had entered the transitional period before fall where the thermostats in office buildings were still set for Virginia’s humid, hot summer despite evidence the leaves are already starting to change. One day I’d be grabbing an umbrella and a jacket and the next day wearing a short-sleeved top.
We made a similar jump in Bosnian; almost out of nowhere we went from talking about our phone numbers and family compositions to learning how to discuss signing agreements, promoting economic development, and hosting diplomatic receptions.
Bosnian (LSC100) Weeks 1-2: Wild Enthusiasm
Two weeks ago, the day after the Labor Day holiday, more than 600 language students arrived at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) for orientation ahead of language training for their upcoming assignments.
I arrived early with a big grin on my face. I was nothing short of elated to be there. After 12 years in the Foreign Service, five tours, and three periods of long-term language study at NFATC—28 weeks of Russian in 2014–2015, 24 weeks of Spanish in 2019–2020, and 44 weeks of Burmese in 2024–2025—I was finally embarking on another 44 weeks of study in what would likely become my favorite language of all.
A Fresh Start
I arrived in Virginia on September 2 and joined V at the Airbnb where he’d been staying since we parted ways in Seoul—he’d continued on to the D.C. area to get back to work, while I’d headed to the west coast to see family on Congressionally mandated home leave.
As much as I wanted to rest once reaching Virginia after driving across the United States alone, I jumped actively into my to-do list. I stayed up late that first night to help V address an unexpected health issue, then arrived early in DC the next morning for my own 8:00 a.m. doctor’s visit. That launched a full Thursday and Friday of medical appointments, phone calls, and errands. My time during the business day was limited; after the Labor Day weekend, I would begin studying Bosnian, my fourth language course at FSI in 12 years.
The Verdict: Learning Burmese, Week 45
After our 44th and final week of Burmese language class, last week consisted of three days of review. I attended class on Tuesday and Wednesday, but I missed Monday due to a minor dental emergency.
Throughout the week, I was full of nerves and felt my usual dread about taking an End of Training (EOT) test. On Thursday morning, I arrived at FSI early for one last solo review and my final preparations. After 10 months of study, it was finally EOT day.
A Proud Accomplishment: Learning Burmese, Weeks 43-44
Since last September when I began studying Burmese at FSI, I knew the finish line was at week 44. It seemed nearly impossible early on to imagine studying Burmese full-time for 44 weeks. Yet, I have. Imperfectly, but I have. I didn’t study as much as I should have. I missed too many days for health reasons. Maybe I didn’t spend my free time listening to Burmese language podcasts and daydreaming about different ways to say something. I definitely did not master the language in any impressive way.
However, I arrived at the end of the program. I didn’t give up, flame out, or quit, even though I thought about it during several rough patches. I felt dread, discouragement, even disinterest at times – but also elation, hope, and gratitude for the chance to receive training many others went to post lacking, and for the small wins I earned. Despite the curriculum or experience not being exactly what I expected, we are approaching the inevitable time to shift professional gears once more.
Quickly Clockwise: Learning Burmese, Weeks 41-42
For the last two weeks, it has felt like time is moving more quickly by the day towards our upcoming PCS. An international move requires an annoying blend of small detail management and big picture perspective, all of which eats up extra time and energy you don’t have while working full-time.
During the final stages of our 2013 wedding planning, I would often awake from nightmares of walls covered with clocks, their hands spinning clockwise out of sync and with absurd rapidity. I don’t think I could ever care as much about a PCS as I did our wedding, nor do I think the stresses are equivalent.
But my strategy of trying to keep on top of a myriad of details — lest they pile up and overwhelm me later — generally serves me well.
Moving Ahead: Learning Burmese, Week 40
Week 40 was the week where we could finally say, “We’re moving to Burma next month.”
And also, “Less than five weeks left of language class.”
Psychologically, each time we’ve advanced to a new stage in the program—moving from single-digit to double-digit weeks, hitting week 20, week 30, and so on—has felt like a milestone. And none more so yet than week 40.
Break on Through (to the Other Side): Learning Burmese, Weeks 38-39
During Week 38, I finally completed my fourth and final informal progress evaluation, which had been rescheduled twice from Week 36. It went fine overall, and I was placed in the lowest band of the ‘on-track’ category.
I dislike the evaluation process — the discomfort of being on the spot, the way FSI tries to measure learning for curriculum it doesn’t uniformly teach across language departments, and the eternal conflict between students needing to prepare topics for the test vs. acquire the tradecraft language skills we actually need to do our jobs. But for the time being, the system is what it is and it’s still better than no language training at all. With only five weeks remaining now until my formal End of Training test, I’ve accepted that I’m going to need to focus on studying more than I want to (or really have time to) in the coming period.
As we enter the final stretch — the weeks that start with a “4!” — and complex sentences are churning a little more easily out of my mouth, at least it feels like I’ve broken on through to the other side.
If I Must: Learning Burmese, Weeks 36-37
During the past couple of weeks, I hit some exciting milestones in our PCS move preparations, while simultaneously seeming to backslide in my acquisition of Burmese.
Talking Points: Learning Burmese, Weeks 34-35
Last week and the week before, I was struggling with burnout in Burmese class while also trying to focus on preparing for our upcoming move overseas. Now that we’ve entered the final stretch—with only single-digit weeks remaining in the program—two acronyms have begun to loom larger: the EOT (End of Training) test and our PCS (Permanent Change of Station) move.
Changing Times: Learning Burmese, Weeks 32-33
We’ve now completed 75 percent of our Burmese training, and times they are a‑changin’. Half of our classmates have tested out with their scores and moved on, leaving only the two of us—as it was in the beginning. The seasons have shifted from summer to fall, then winter, and now spring. With about three months left before we depart for Post, the sense that we’re coming full circle grows ever stronger.
Earthquake and ချယ်ရီပန်ပွဲ (Cherry Blossom Festival): Learning Burmese, Weeks 30-31
Calendar year 2025 has continued to present a strange mix of hardship and beauty. Over the past two weeks of Burmese class, the cherry blossoms around Washington, DC’s Tidal Basin reached peak bloom—just as a devastating earthquake struck Burma, killing thousands.
Into the Great Beyond: Learning Burmese, Weeks 28-29
Burmese is the third language I’ve studied at FSI, and it’s also the longest formal language program I’ve undertaken. Last week, I completed week 29 of Burmese, surpassing the time I’d previously spent in Spanish (24 weeks)* and Russian (28 weeks).
As I ventured into the great beyond, spring arrived on campus—fittingly—and offered clear proof that we’ve endured the long winter and a new season is just ahead.
*(Note: Since I completed Spanish in 2020, FSI has extended its Spanish program from 24 to 30 weeks. This is partly due to the high no-pass rate on the Spanish End of Training test and a desire to help students avoid language training extensions that delay arrival to Post.)
Showing Up and Third Progress Evaluation: Learning Burmese, Week 27
Two weeks ago in my Burmese class, I hit a couple of exciting milestones. First, I had a breakthrough in how I generate speech, especially when tackling longer discussions—finally, a strategy that clicks!
Second, I not only survived my third progress evaluation but even enjoyed parts of it. The results were a confidence boost, reinforcing my daily experience in the program, and keeping my hopes high for passing the End of Training test (EOT) in four months. Momentum is on my side!
