September 6, 2012
On my flight out Friday morning, I saw this Hmong girl and two sets of parents. Saw them right before getting into the security check point. The girl was telling her parents to hurry up and go before their plane leaves, while the other couple was standing there. I was getting in line and right after I got in line a few people show up, then her dad decides to line behind them.
Her mom didn't want to leave her yet and held her daughter's face, which seemed like the last time they were going to see each other. Tears were streaming down her face and I tried to stop staring but I couldn't.
Then her mom spoke in Hmong, "Me naib dabtsi uas zoo nawb..." and that's how I knew they were Hmong.
The line started to move and her mom hopped in line.
Just as we were about to enter into the metal detectors, a miracle happen; somehow the other five people behind me went to another opening and her parents got put right behind me.
I asked them if they were Hmong and her mom said, "Yes."
Then I asked if that was their daughter and if she was getting married because they were crying like she was going to be gone for awhile. Her mom said, "No, she's just going to school here and they will not see her for a long time."
I asked what their names were and all she said was this, ".... Pov Mai Chang...."
I can't remember if that was her name, or her mom's name? Or the name of their dad...that's all I have to go with.
She did say that they were heading back to Seattle, WA. After that I put on my shoes, belt, and got my things ready to go. We just went on our separate ways to our terminals and that was it!
I wonder if I'll find her again one day. Or see her somewhere? Aww man.