PNX in the capital

Last Thursday-Sunday, I went to Washington, D.C. for a collegiate leadership conference, hosted by the Japanese American Citizens League, the nation's oldest and largest Asian Pacific American civil rights organization. At a young professionals mixer, APAs [both current college students and college grads] working in D.C. offices came out to network with the 14 conference attendees.

During introductions, one womyn said, "Hi, my name is Monica Thammarath."
Me [thinking] - WAIT, I KNOW THAT NAME.
Monica - "I graduated from UC Berkeley."
Me [thinking] - I KNOW YOU. I REMEMBER YOUR NAME FROM THE PLEDGE BOOK. FINALLY, STAYING UP ALL NIGHT TO MEMORIZE THOSE FREAKING NAMES HAS COME TO FRUITION!!

Well, no, I really just freaked out mentally and didn't have that internal monologue.

My intro
"Hi, my name is Carmen blah blah blah... I think I have the most in common with Monica over there because I also go to Berkeley and we share similar majors. Also, I think we're sisters of the same sorority."

I got to pick her brains during dinner and found out
1) She's Jessica's grandbig.
2) She's currently working with SEARAC [Southeast Asia Resource Action Center] on education policy.
3) She's doing exactly what I want to do when I graduate.

We chatted [well, I listened] about what life in D.C. is like.
Me - Is it hard to transition from the Bay Area to D.C., especially in this weather? *fans self*
Monica - It's really hard. But I realized that it's not about me. It's not about what I want, or how much I miss good Asian food, or how terrible the weather is. It's about something bigger than me. I'm here to be part of a movement.

I almost started crying because that was something I really needed to hear with regard to [possibly] moving away from home after graduation.

Fierce Phi Nu Xi womyn everywhere I go... <3