April 2009 Archives

                Last week in class we had two sessions on genealogy.  We discussed where the movement to learn more about your family lineage came from, how to get started, and how to keep going and turn it into a family history or just something for relatives.  All of it was quite interesting and fascinating.  Learning about your family history started off in America with the Mormons.  In fact now they have a large family Library in Utah that is quite extensive.  Also we talked about how to get started and where to look.  With the internet it is easier than ever to be able to find your family line.  There are many websites where anyone can post information they know and it is open to anyone.  Many times this is where the beginnings are people work off from there.  Also there are websites that are purely family records of births, deaths, and other significant events that were recorded.  After you have complied a great deal of information there is the question of what to do with all of it.  There are really three options in that case.  One is that you just keep it stacked away and share little bits here and there.  The second is to compile a personal and quite simple book to share with your family members and close friends.  The third and final option is to write a family history and to have it published.  No way is better than the other.  It is simply based on what you want to know and how much time you are willing to put into the experience. 

                This topic is very relevant to what we have been talking about in class.  Immigrants have been a huge focus in Honors this semester, among other things.  Almost everyone in America can trace their family back to some immigrant experience of a distant relative coming over here from another country, unless you are Native American.  Most Americans are from immigrant families.  Tracing your family lineage gives you an understanding of where you came from and more about your family in general.  Also if you can get stories of your ancestors coming over you can more easily understand to immigrants coming over today and learn to be accepting. 

                  These past two days have changed my outlook on my family history.  Awhile ago I had a large and sudden urge to learn more about my family lineage.  I checked websites and the local library.  However I didn't know what to really search for so I didn't come up with many results.  I got discouraged and just stopped.  This informational lecture has taught me great techniques to actually be able to find out about my family.  It has put into me that same passion as I had before to learn about my relatives and how they got to this country and before that. 

                The event was not what I had been expecting.  It was a lecture about a study that had occurred at Concordia.  The study was essential done by the Sociology department in cooperation with the Hmong community.  They asked a series of questions to the participants.  These questions were in regards to their faith.  There were basically four sides: Traditional Hmong, Christian, a combination, and undecided.  Each person was asked what they considered themselves and then they were all asked the same questions.  These questions were about Traditional Hmong rituals and Christian rituals.  Then there were some follow up questions based on what they person answered.

                There is definitely the connection between our studies in the Hmong culture and what we heard at the lecture.  There was much talk about the religious views of the Hmong and how they differ and are similar to those of Christianity.  There was also much talk about the Shaman and how that affects Hmong culture and how it differs from the Christian belief.  That was something that we discussed in great detail.  They do have a very distinct and different belief than us and it is important to understand what they believe and where they are coming from. 

                The Hmong culture is very interesting to me.  What they believe and the rituals they perform and so different from what I know that it attracts me to it.  There is so much to find out from their culture and there are a lot of people who are more than ready to share that information with anyone who is willing to listen.  This lecture has rejuvenated my desire to complete the Hmong minor and learn as much about the culture as I can.