Difficult. That’s the word that comes to mind when I had to say goodbye to my mom. She has been there every step of the way since day one. Literally. Her constant support from both near and afar have gotten me to where I am today. I am so blessed for the values and drive she has instilled in me. Education. Caring. Generosity. Selflessness. Most of the reason I have these qualities and live to promote them in my life was learned and modeled after the strongest person I know, my mom. I don’t often recognize just how big of a role that environment and upbringing plays in someone’s life. But I do know that everything she is and everything she’s taught me has made it possible for me to dream and aspire so big. I deeply feel that it is my purpose in life to be an advocate and a voice for injustices and disparities that afflict women around the world. I dedicate my passion and future successes to my mom, because without her none of this would be possible.

Every day. My mom and I talk every single day. She’s been my best friend for as long as I can imagine and the person I run to when I am happy, sad, nervous, anxious, need advice, or just simply need someone. I’ve never been this far away from her especially in a place where communication will not be consistent (no wifi, huge time difference, etc). 

My mom is literally one of the kindest and caring people ever. She took most of work off the day before to help me pack. Despite me procrastinating packing given my econ exam that morning, I didn’t start until 11pm when I needed to leave for the airport at 10:30am. She sat in my extremely messy room for hours watching me go through heaps of clothing until her little eyes grew tired around 2am and she fell asleep. When I woke her up to go to bed she started apologizing for falling asleep and not staying awake to support me. It’s the little things. She went out for weeks beforehand to get me light, flowy, and modest clothes since I never felt like I ever have time with the pressures of school. She’s helped me in ways far beyond I can ever thank her for. Difficult was an understatement.

I drove to the airport while she was on the passenger side. She has some stress regarding driving in busy, unfamiliar areas. I didn’t want to put anymore pressure on her since she’d helped me so much. The whole time I felt my mind racing, wanting to tell her how much she means to me and how much I’ll miss her. I kept getting choked up and nothing would come out. How do you tell the most influential person of your life what they’ve done for you? We got to the airport eventually and she gives me this card. “Behind every success is effort…Behind every effort is passion…Behind every passion is someone with the courage to try.”  The card goes on to read “So happy that all the things you have worked so hard for and all the good things you deserve are coming true for you”. I have no words right now to describe my feeling of being truly loved and supported.

Mom I want you to know that I appreciate you all the time and you’ve given me every possible way to thrive. Because of your strength, I know that I can make it through this journey and come out on the other side a fearless, capable woman. I know it is incredibly scary to have your daughter on the other side of the world by herself, but have faith in knowing you did everything right and have been preparing me for this throughout my life. 

Needless to say I got to the airport later than anticipated. The line for Delta was the longest I’d ever seen. I began to get a bit panicky inside. I waited my turn to get to the counter. First of all I had a backpack and not one but the two biggest suitcases my family owns. Korean air allows two free checked bags. For a shopaholic like me, there’s no more justification or convincing needed. I get to the front of the line and attempt to drop my bags off. The lady proceeded to tell me that I needed special help since I had a one way into a foreign country with no plan for return. She said I was in the wrong line. That I needed to go to a complete different line and wait for more assistance. My heart started to beat faster as I looked at the time. I quickly roll all my bags to the other line. After minutes of waiting, an employee alerts me that they are shutting down the special assistance line and I’d have to wait back in the same original line I’d gone through. In my head all I could think was I’m going to miss my flight. How am I even going to book a new one? I have ride arrangements preset since I won’t be able to contact people per usual. She saw my face distraught and asked what I needed. She walked me over directly to the front of the line and got me to where I needed to be. After scanning by business visa, I was through the mess and set for international TSA. 

As I approach the international line for TSA, I notice an employee standing in front of the entrance. I walk up to him cautiously and he proceeds to tell me I can’t enter line. They are closing down this section of the airport and I would need to make my way to a complete different checkpoint, just across the airport, down some stairs, passing through a hotel, and down the corridor. I immediately started worrying and simultaneously picked up my pace. I had no clue that there was even a TSA in the middle of a hotel in DTW. After confusion and stress, I found myself with 18 minutes at my gate before my flight. What a start.

The 13 hour flight to South Korea was much more enjoyable than I thought. Watching 4 and a half movies while snacking on homemade Chex mix between falling in and out of sleep seemed to pass by quickly. I started with the movie Adrift. I always wanted to see it since it has Shailene Woodley, which I met at a Bernie Sanders Presidential Ralley Campaign at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor. Also who doesn’t love Amy from Secret Life of the American Teenager? I’m also a sucker for a movie based on true stories, only problem is the story didn’t end the way I wanted or was hoping for. That’s life. I then moved onto Gone Girl. Many people have told me this is my kind of movie. Let me tell you I was not disappointed. Again, it’s the little things. I’m constantly pushing myself to be involved and excel in graduate school that I haven’t been to the movies in over a year and a half. I enjoyed scrolling through the long list of available movies and choosing titles I wanted to watch for a long time but never had the time. Now I’m making the time. Dinner time. Airplane food is never super exciting, but international flights are always much better. Beef Bibimbap with Assorted Vegetables with Steamed Rice, Gochujiang Sauce, and Seasame Oil served with Kimchi and Fresh Fruit. Anyone that knows me would say absolutely not. That Angie would have chosen the Seared Rosemary Chicken Breast Filet with Truffle Mashed Pottoes, Green Beans and Carrots. Old Angie would. New Angie is full of surprises. Plus such a foodie would never pass up the opportunity to try authentic Korean dishes made by the World Famous Bi Bim Bap Restaurant under Michelin award winning Chef Kwon Woo Joong. I can honestly say I gave it a chance. I tried numerous bites to settle for just eating the steamed rice and fruit. But that’s ok. I knew I probably wouldn’t like it given the unfamiliar flavors and heavy reliance upon vegetables, but it wasn’t really about falling in love with Korean food. It was about setting the atmosphere of what I want to get out of this experience. It was choosing between something completely familiar and easy, or putting myself out there and making choices that I normally wouldn’t. Despite my lack of enthusiasm about Bibimbap, I was rewarded with Ricotta Bruschettta Flatbread Pizza and Magnum Ice Cream. There was definitely no disappointment there. Life has a funny way of working out like that, somehow at some point managing to reward you with what you need. 

Now comes my favorite part of my ENTIRE traveling to Myanmar. Ruth Bader Ginsberg (RBG). On the basis of sex has become one of my favorite movies of all time. She is an absolute incredible person and someone I admire to be more like. I appreciate her reserved characteristics, because when she does speak, it’s with such opinion and fierceness. She fights for with tenacity what she believes in far beyond her time and doesn’t apologize or back down for what’s right. “I ask no favor for my sex; all I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks”. Words that send chills down my body. The overwhelming obstacles and discrimination she faced yet never gave up hope is something remarkable. People often ask if you could live in any time period, what would that be? RBG who is alive still today, so much has happened throughout history and her lifetime. Until the 1970s women continued to face such obscene and outlandish barriers and restrictions through laws and policies. The 1970s. Not 1700s. Not 1800s. Not 1900s. But 1970. My mom was born in 1957. To think that less than one generation separates my opportunities and dreams from when women have been caged and shackled their entire lives is astonishing. I can say that I’m not sure if I could have been brave enough like these influential women to go so against the beliefs and values of their time to change history. The feelings and goals that I have sure may be progressive, but are by no means revolutionary like these women so I hold such high honor and respect for their character and who they are. My Aunt Sue, who is a wonderful role model herself for my recent birthday got me RBG earrings. When I got them I immediately loved it as I deeply enjoy any female empowerment type materials. But they took on a whole new meaning after watching this movie. I am now aware that the earrings are modeled after her dissent collar, where she voices her disagreements and most powerful opinions despite not being in the majority. I will wear these earrings with such pride as I strive to voice my opinions most importantly during times of adversity. 

I continued to watch a real life documentary about RBG afterwards and became even more enthralled. Women can be so powerful if encouraged and given the right tools. I can only imagine how improved our world would be if we empowered the voices of women everywhere. I proceeded to start Hidden Figures afterwards (I hope to finish someday) only to slowly drift off into sleep. I woke up in South Korea.