‘’Are you sure you have everything, sweetie?‘’ Gina’s mom asked while going through her closet. They were checking everything before she would leave for Korea. She only had three days to pack everything for her three month trip to Seoul. Luckily for her she could chose her own destination. She hoped that she would bump into Jaebum there, but Seoul was big so the chances were very small that it would happen. She thought of letting Jaebum know that she was coming to Seoul, but she decided that it wasn’t a good idea. They barely talked now and chances were small that a meetup would eventually happen. So why even bother.

‘’I have checked my list three times, so I think I am ready‘’ she picked up her bag and looked at her mom. She still couldn’t believe that she was going to leave for three months. Three months without her parents, without the familiar surroundings around her. Luckily she get used to things really easily, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

‘’Well, let’s get going then. I want to get early there so we can have some coffee before you leave ‘’ her mom grabbed her other bag and went downstairs. Her suitcase was already at the door.

‘’Come on girls, it’s a long way to the airport‘’ her dad told them. She put her jacket on and her shoes and looked around her house one more time. She wouldn’t see this place for three months so a quick glance to remember everything.

‘’I am so proud of you, Gina‘’ her mom said after she took a nip of her coffee. Gina had hot chocolate milk, she didn’t pick coffee for the fact that she wanted to sleep during the flight.

‘’Me too, sweetheart. To see how much work you have put into your website and portfolio. As long as you work hard and chase your dreams, it will be rewarded. Just like how it did now‘’ her dad grabbed her hand and gave her a squeeze. Moments like these made her realize how blessed she is with having supportive parents. They drank their beverages and when it was time to her gate they exchanged their goodbyes. Her parents had to hold in their tears, which made Gina feel a bit awkward. This wasn’t a final goodbye, she would come back. No need to get sad, but she did understand her parents. She was their only child, and she had never been so far away from home for so long.

‘’I promise I will skype whenever I can, and text you every day, okay?‘’ she said to make her mom feel at ease.

‘’It’s okay darling, as long as you focus on your studies and health, I’ll be fine. Make sure to call me when you get there‘’ she said and hugged her daughter once more. Gina promised to call her as soon as she lands in Korea, and made her way to the gate. She gave her parents a final wave before she disappeared. Three months without them, that’s an adventure on its own.

The flight was, surprisingly, pleasant. There were no screaming kids or crying babies on board. Her neighbor was a quiet old Korean man, and they talked about their lives during the whole flight. He told her that he came back visiting his daughter, who just had a daughter herself. He showed her pictures, and she could see how proud he was. He asked Gina about her life, what she was going to do in Korea. She told him about the contest and her boring life.

‘’College is an amazing time to reinvent yourself, keep that in mind‘’ is what he told her. She kept thinking about it on the flight, and at the end of it, she knew he was right. She was going to reinvent herself, sooner or later.

When they arrived, he helped her with her luggage and customs. Before her cab arrived, he gave her a list