Thermals aren't really necessary to progress your learning early on.
I started training in January, solo'd in March and started thermalling on my own when the season kicked into life. Several hours later I asked for some 2-seater coaching to fine-tune my technique. Some of the most valuable learning - for me anyway - has been post-solo.
You'll spend a lot of time in the circuit (I have a whole page of 2-5 minute flights) and practicing launch failures.
Also be prepared to get well involved with ground operations, driving tractors/pulling gliders around muddy fields/driving the winch etc... it takes one person to fly a glider, but a whole bunch of people to get in the air
