'I wouldn't be the refugee, I'd be the girl who kicked ass': how taekwondo

[L0ki]

'I wouldn't be the refugee, I'd be the girl who kicked ass': how taekwondo...

I called my father in Iran for help convincing my mother. I explained that it was necessary for college and that he must foot the bills, a monthly cost equivalent to six or seven impacted wisdom teeth. (My father, the dental surgeon, calculated all costs according to root canals and caps and fillings.)

“Why are you going to sport college?” he said. “Go to medical school! You can’t make a living on sport degree!”

“This is for the best university, Baba!” I whined. “Trust me! I know this system.”

“It makes no sense, Dina joon . A real college won’t make you learn fighting to be a doctor.”

“Believe me, it’s a real thing.”