Bravery

How many of you gals have been to a nail salon run by women from Vietnam? I took girl #3 to have her first mani/pedi with me in celebration of her upcoming 7th birthday in July. She wanted green nail polish and flowers on her sweet fingers and toes. Precious. Her hands are painted "You're a Pisa Work" and her toes are green. Love it!
As the lady was painting my nails, I noticed that her license had her Vietnamese name on it and then "Tina" above it. It made me sad that she can't use her given name here. I started asking her long she had lived in Tampa. She said she's been here 11 years. Her parents are still in Vietnam. In 11 years, she has not gone home to Vietnam. It has been 11 years since she has laid eyes on her parents. Can you imagine? I tried to ask her if she was scared when she came here, and she became very quiet. I realized that I needed to quit asking questions. So, I sat back and began to think.
Here I was sitting across from her after just a year and a half here in Florida. I remember being nervous about moving just 3 states away. This woman left her continent and has spent 11 years without seeing her parents. THAT is bravery.