February 2009 Archives

This past Monday night we continued our trend and had 3 guest speakers come to share their stories with us. Xang Lee, PaHoua Yang and Xia Yang are all students here at Concordia. I believe Xang and PaHoua are sophomores and Xia will graduate in the fall. I enjoyed getting to hear students speak of their experience because it's very different of our guests from last week who were adults during their experiences. They each talked about their story of growing up and coming to the United States. It's just crazy to think about all they went through at such a young age, even if they don't really remember it. They each also shared about life in America and why they came to CSP. It was interesting to hear about the different aspects of their cultures that sometimes makes it hard for them to fit in. I can't imagine never being able to go out and having to have the women do all of the work. It was interesting though, that even with the work both girls said they would want to raise their kids traditionally. I think that really says something about how important their culture is to them.

I felt a little bit more of a connection getting to hear from kids my own age, but disconnected at the same time. It's hard to explain but what I mean is though they are my age and so I can relate in some ways to some of their experiences (fitting in at school etc.) I have no idea what they went through at all. I just love getting to hear each of their stories, and throughout this semester I have realized that we all have a story about how we got here. Some may be more "eventful" than others, but that story is a part of who we are and the fact that we each have a story is something that we all have in common. (My apologies if this makes no sense... I'm quite tired and feel like I'm talking gibberish.)

I really enjoyed getting to hear from kids who are my own age tell of their stories. I honestly am just blown away that we have been focusing on one topic and yet every week I feel like I learn something new and different.  Getting to hear kids tell their stories was a new angle on our quest to learn all that's possible about Hmong immigration. Hearing things from a students point of view is just different in the way that they express their feelings; it's more "real" and something that is easier for us kids to relate to because they are "speaking our language" and more in terms we understand.

This afternoon we attended the convocation, Art in the Middle of Everywhere. There were about 5 or 6 artists who displayed their work. They each had a connection to the theme of this years book of the year, The Middle of Everywhere. They had either been refugees/ immigrants themselves or had worked in close contact with others who were. I was excited to go and get a chance to look at the artwork. I have gotten involved with Art Club this year through my roommate, Panda, who is the Vice- President/ President and I have really enjoyed it. I have really learned to fully appreciate art much more than I hade before, and to look for the not so obvious meaning behind the work. It was nice to get to hear the artist's speak about their work and their story and why they created what they did. It's just incredible how much thought, work and emotion go in to all of these pieces, and how one picture or sculpture can tell a story.

I think that this was a very neat idea to bring the book of the year, The Middle of Everywhere, to life, in a sense. I am more of a visual learner so being able to have things that I can look at and relate things to really helps me understand things. Reading the book can only get me so far in having any idea whatsoever about all of the emotion of the experiences of the immigrants and refugees. I am not very artistic myself, so I am just so amazed sometimes how people think of the things that they do. To put a whole story, or emotion on to canvas for others to see and learn from and feel, is a really awesome thing. Some of them you might not agree with, some may make you see things in a whole new way, and some may be exact feelings or thoughts that you have as well; it doesn't matter which effect it has on you as long as you're open to it.

I really liked this convocation, and not just because there was free food and refreshments. I think it adds another dimension to what we have been learning about immigrants and refugees. So far we have read books and listened to speakers tell stories, but today we got a chance to view artwork that told the story. Though we got to hear from many of the artists about the meaning behind the work, I think it's really neat to look at it yourself and try and figure out what the artist is trying to convey and feeling, and how I interpret it and what it means to me.

This past evening in Honors we had the privilege of having two guest speakers, Mr. Long Yang and Ms. Choua Thao, come to share their story with us.  They told us stories that sometimes seem as if there is no way it could be true, they have lived and then some. It was nice to hear stories from people who were adults during the war, their stories had a little more "meat" to them versus stories told by those who were children during that time. Both of them have had absolutely fascinating experiences, some good and some bad but they both worked through all of the bumps in the road with determination. Mr. Yang spoke with a smile always on his face and you could tell he really enjoyed getting to share his story with us. Ms. Thao impacted me more than I was prepared for. She is a feisty little woman who isn't going to let anyone stand in her way. Listening to her story was truly inspirational. She had a passion behind her voice that got to me more than anyone ever has when talking about the typical, "follow your dreams" idea.

The experience of listening to them was similar to that of last weeks session with Lee Pao Xiong. It's amazing to me how we can listen to so many people and they have each been through completely different experiences. Each class period I realize more and more how sheltered my life has been. Until this year I honestly had never heard of Hmong people, aside from knowing there was a building called Hmong Center. I loved growing up in a smaller town, but it has been an eye opening experience living up in the cities where there are so many different types of cultures. Each of their stories captures me and helps me forget about being tired, in class on a Monday night.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to both Mr. Yan and Ms. Thao. Not only were their stories different, but their personalities were completely opposite. I appreciated Mr. Yang's sweet storytelling of his days in the CIA and Ms. Thao's captivating spirit of her days in the hospitals. Both of them are such strong individuals and I have an immense amount of respect for them. I honestly have been thinking of what my dream is ever since last night. Her voice is in the back of my mind yelling, "Have a dream!, even if you don't get there, if you don't have a dream, you fail." I hope to take some of her feistiness with me to help me better stand up for myself, and what I want.

I have always wondered, well always since I have been at Concordia, what this brick building that I see every time I look out my window is.  I knew that it was the Center for Hmong Studies, and that's only because there is a sign right in front of the building.  I was very curious to go inside and see what it was like; I had no idea what to expect.  Well I got to have my questions answered this past Monday night as the Honors class got to spend half of our class period in their listening to Professor Lee Pao Xiong.  I really enjoyed listening to him explain about Hmong studies at Concordia as well as his own personal story; he has had so many interesting experiences!  I was surprised to learn that the Center is open to all students all the time; it had always seemed exclusive.  I learned a ton of new information from Professor Xiong and it was all very interesting.  I was very unaware of Concordia's great involvement with the Hmong culture. It was really neat to get to look at all the artifacts, models, clothing and jewelry that is in the center.

Professor Xiong stated that the town which he is from, Long Cheng, is talked about it Dr. Hillmer's work.  It was helpful to my understanding of Hmong culture to be able to listen to someone's own story.  It is unparalleled in its power to capture your attention and make you really understand what things were like.  Hearing personal stories makes it seem more real to me, than just reading about it. Professor Xiong was a good storyteller, which helped, and he always had a smile on his face no matter what he was talking about. 

Listening to Professor Xiong didn't alter my thoughts, he only made them more clear for me to understand.   I was surprised to learn about all of the Hmong activities that happen, but have all had very poor showing of Concordia students.  He said that people travel from all over to listen to these lectures right here on our campus, but we can't seem to make the walk to go to them.  It was also nice to learn that the Center is open for everyone to come and study or look around.

This past Friday afternoon a friend and I went to go see the movie, Gran Torino. Until being assigned to go see it for this class, I had never even heard about it. I was unsure of what to expect, and I wasn't too excited about going until I talked to my dad who told me that everyone at work had been buzzing about how good it was. I went into the movie with high expectations due to all the praise I had heard about it, which isn't always a good thing since it makes it easier to be disappointed. The movie ended up fulfilling my expectations, and then some. From the first scene I was drawn into the movie. I laughed, gasped, held my breath, was frustrated, angry and I cried. Clint Eastwood's character, Walt Kowalski, was a cranky old man who lived next door to a Hmong family. He wants nothing to do with his family, his pastor and most of all, his neighbors. Being able to watch Walt grow as a person from seeing that he has more in common with his Hmong neighbors than he would have ever imagined, to developing a bond with the family, especially Thao, all leading up to heartbreaking ending. It was such a powerful movie, not just for me but for everyone in the theatre because absolutely nobody moved until the screen was blank, and then everyone exited in silence. It was by far one of the best movies I have ever seen.

I saw a connection between Gran Torino and the book we just read, The Middle of Everywhere. As Mary Pipher talked about in her book, Americans are often too quick to judge others because they are different. When Walt attends the families barbeque one afternoon he states that he has more in common with "these people" than he does with his own family. That stood out to me because I think that people sometimes think that because immigrants are different, there is no way that we could have anything in common with them. Another connection to The Middle of Everywhere and Gran Torino was how the book talked about the ability to succeed in America and the line Sue says, "Girls go to college, boys go to jail."

This movie had more of an impact on me that I ever dreamed it would. It really opened up my eyes, and changed my typical American perspective on Hmong people as well as other refugees in general. I come from a town where there is not much exposure at all to other cultures, but through learning in class as well as this movie I feel like I have a better grasp on what it is like for other cultures. I am a visual learner so seeing it on screen really put it all together for me. I am very anxious and excited to learn more about the Hmong people and their culture throughout the rest of this semester. I am so happy we were assigned to see this movie because it isn't one I probably would have went to see on my own, which would have been a shame because it taught me so much.  Anyone reading this who hasn't seen it... GO!! (and bring some kleenex)