February 2009 Archives

Last night students from CSP came to visit us to talk about their growing up background and their time here in America.  The students that came were Xang, Pa Houa and Xia.  Xang talked about many stories that he had heard from his dad about living in Thailand and life in a refugee camp.  He explained that they had left the camp to be with his grandpa and father's cousins.  It was after this that his mom wanted to go to the refugee camp so that they could go to America for the kids' sake.  Pa Houa talked about her dad being a CIA and was denied going to America at first because they thought he was a communist.  Later, even in Laos his life was threatened and her whole family was given political asylum. They were in California in 2001 and struggled financially with a very large family.  She was in 7th grade when she came to America, and had to struggle with that.  Xia talked about her mom being a single mom because her father was married to two women, but could only take one wife with him when going to America.  So they stayed there till 1990.  Her mom never got educated because she had to provide for her kids.  They moved around a lot and then finally she ended up in Minnesota because her grandpa was will and it was custom for kids to be near them.

This experience was amazing, to hear from kids my own age, and to realized that when I see Hmong in the hall, they have all different stories and backgrounds and reasons for going here.  I connected it to many experiences that we as students have had in Honors, but even more then that I connected it to my daily life outside of class, here at CSP.  I work with Xang in admissions, along with Mao who is also Hmong.  They tell me all about their experiences and their family life and what it is like living in America.  Yet relating to what we have been learning in honors, It was very interesting to hear their story along with the stories of the adults that came here while they were the parents.  It was interesting to hear both sides of the story, so that when one heard Pa Houa talk about her dad and his struggles, I was able to think about Mr. Long Yang and his struggles of getting into America.  Also, as Ms. Choua Thao showed that she was a strong and ambitious Hmong woman, it reminded me of Xia and how competitive she was and eager to succeed in America.

This experience taught me that there are many of my peers amongst me at CSP that have lived and live very different lives then me, including family life.  The thing that stuck out to me most was the thought that guys still dominate over girls in the Hmong world.  That guys have more power and freedom, where girls are told to obey their parents, stay home, and do their chores, in an essence be a "good girl".  Also, reputation is a huge thing for them, and it could even come down to whether or not one can marry someone, based on the name.  I found it interesting that the two girls, the two that experience the inferiority placed on them, were the ones that said they would continue on in Hmong tradition of strickness when they have kids, in order to perserve the culture and the traditions.  Whereas Xang did not agree with the way tradition was and planned on being a lot more Americanized in that manner.  He said he felt at times guilty when his parents felt that he was losing the culture, but in the end felt that it just wasn't right.  So I felt that was a big new thing to learn and very interesting to realize the difference between men and women still today in the 21st century, and how people are willing to accept it because "that was the way they were grown up".

     The Honors students went to an art convocation today dealing with immigrants and refugees. This was an honor to go to.  Not only were we able to see the pieces of art live, right in front of us, but we were able to listen to and talk with the artists after word.  This was a great experience of art, and I had never been able to really experience the feeling of looking at the art, thinking of the meaning behind it, and then hear from the actual artist what they were thinking when they created it.  An artist that really stuck out to me was Hend Al-Mansour, who did many digital self-portraits and fabric screenings.  She was from Saudi Arabia and wanted to keep her culture identity along with the freedoms of America.  Another artist I enjoyed was Alonso Sierralta, who is the sculpture professor at CSP.  His sculpture really spoke to me and even more so when he was describing what it meant to him.  The idea of something wild and free slowly transitioning to something modern and conventional.  Another artist, where we only got to see one of his pieces, really made me excited for what was to come in 2010.  Wing Young Huie has been working on taking pictures of University Ave. for many years now, and wants to display it in 2010 all along the street.  This is to show the everyday life and diversity of University.

     Last night we had the privilege of hearing the first generation of Hmong refugees.  Mr. Long Yang, who worked as a CIA agent during the secret war and Ms. Choua Thao, who was a young nurse.   Mr. Long Yang told his story mainly from an outsiders perspection, until he got to the US.  I remember a few specific things that he said, including that some of the things that went through his mind when told to leave to America.  He thought, "If I go to the US, I can't do my old living and I will only have work as a janitor, but if I stay, I will be sent to a detention camp and tortured to death".  To have to make that decision between two things where neither is hopeful would be so hard to do.  Another thing that stuck out was when he mentioned that it was well known that the police were corrupt and he know he could just offer a bribe to get him what he wanted and/or needed.  He talked about being a refugee as being someone who is "dead", they are lonely, and he finds that he still cries about all of it.  When Ms. Choua Thao started to talk, I could tell that she was a very strong woman.  She said that she had 6 children when she came to the USA and she worked after just 2 months here.  She told many stories of her working at the hospital. One thing I remember most of her memories there was that she said "even though there was much despair and destruction, there was also a lot of fun!".  She was so encouraging and adamant about telling us to have dreams and follow them!

Last night the class got to spend an hour and a half in the Center for Hmong Studies, listening to Professor Lee Pao Xiong and taking a tour of the Center.  It was interesting to hear all that the Center does, and how important it is to the community of Hmong in the Twin Cities, but also all over the world.  It was information I hadn't even heard of before.  Also, it was interesting hearing a person who was actually there at Long Cheng during the evacuation, and his side of the story with having a dad in the military.  Seeing the actual things of the Hmong culture was also very cool.
One thing that relates to other sources is Dr. Hillmer's book.  Many times Prof. Xiong talked about Hilmer's work and relating it to his own story.  It's amazing how small this world is with there being such a connected circle of Hmong society and I'm in the midst of it all here at Concordia.  In Hillmer's book he talks a lot about Vang Pao and Long Cheng, which is what Xiong has actually experienced, and what a history book cannot cover.  It was also a good tie in with the book The Latehomecomer by Kao Kalia Yang.  She lived at the refugee camp that Xiong's dad helped build.  Again, it ties in with the small knit web of connection between the Hmong and their experiences.  It was interesting to hear that most refugees were starving and had a very different experience then Xiong, who said, "the food was quite good", which gave me a since that his experience seemed to be much different.
One thing that I have realized from this experience is all the amazing things that the Center of Hmong Studies are doing, and I have yet to really understand or realize any of it.  He said that 99% of the people that go to the lectures right here on campus are not from CSP.  That is ridiculous and I hope to change that in the future by keeping my eyes open for the lectures and things provided, and take advantage that it's right here on campus.  I also hope to go to the Hmong center more often to look at the things myself, or just to study.  I was very happy for the opportunity to learn from him there at the center, instead of just our room, for the chance to be more comfortable with just stopping by the center whenever we want!

A couple friends and I went to go see Gran Torino last week Friday.  I had never even heard of the movie before we were given the assignment to go, and I had no idea what to expect when entering the theater.  One thing I really appreciated was that I knew who the Hmong were, and a bit more about their background, and so I could understand what some of the things were going on with the family.  As it developed into the story, and relationships were formed between Walt and the Hmong neighbors, I felt myself getting very involved. I found myself able to shut out the swear words and the racist slang, which personally I could have done without, but I do believe that it adds to the setting and the atmosphere of that situation.  I was really enjoying the movie and what was happening.  Then the night when the family got shot at by the gang, and Sue Lor entered into the room beaten and raped, I just started bawling. and I did not stop till the very end of the credits.  I was so impacted by the pure honesty and detail that was shown, that I remained very somber for the rest of the night, even while hanging out with friends.  It was an intense and very real situation that was depicted through a Hollywood movie, and I think it a very good experience.