Dresbach, Minn. has been the backdrop for a tragedy for one Hmong family. A father, mother, and their two children went missing. Presumably now dead from drowning, a search for the bodies has been underway since Saturday.
Earlier this week, Hmong elders from the community along with family members performed a ceremony asking the deities in control of the waters to release the bodies.
Reading the story, I recalled my time working at Steve's Park Amoco (now BP) in Saint Louis Park. After working for there for two years after school daily, I was delighted to meet the new mechanic "Neal." We would soon come to know "Neal" as "Nhia." He was Hmong and soon after his hire, his nephew (of the same age) Meng began work.
The years that followed were marked with a heightened awareness to Hmong culture. Arriving with consistent frequency from Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia, the Hmong population has its roots in the mountains and foothills of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam (Hmong literally translated means "hill"). During the US "conflict" in Vietnam, they were instrumental in their military aid and intelligence to the US. And in turn, we opened our doors.
In general, the Hmong population has assimilated (remove negative connotation with that word for cynics) very well. Learning English is considered paramount amongst the other pursuits for Hmong immigrants. Many go to college. Many are now working in government, and some even holding public office.
Back to my point. Major events in one's life are often accompanied by a ceremony to demarcate the occasion for posterity. We have weddings and funerals and the same is true for the Hmong population. With so many things in life, it's not the bigger picture that generates thoughtful conversation. The little things do. I noticed Nhia's bracelets. They appeared very much like the bracelets we wove in summer park programs.
He said they were for luck. They guarded against negative spirits and invited positive forces into his life. Then, in my infinite wisdom of twenty-something, I asked him "So do you really believe in all that stuff?" He was polite in his response: "It works if you believe."
Today, one of the bodies in the Mississippi River was recovered.
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2 comments:
So what, you get a new blog, and you don't tell me about it? I had to find out through the geo-tracking on my own blog! I love the title though. It's entirely you.
Good post, by the way. I don't think enough stop to realize what a difficult it is to live and work as an immigrant. The daily challenges of dealing with two languages are difficult enough, I can't even imagine taking classes (like math, history, or physics) in another language. It's mind-blogging to think of the mental strain involved in constantly translating words anc concepts.
That being said, it must be remarked that the Hmong people have been extremely prosperous in the Upper Midwest. My hometown now has a Hmong elder representing our city as a city council member and as recently as four years ago had a Hmong representative in the State Senate. It's a testament to hard-work and the joy of community involvement.
Sorry dude. Yeah, I started this up about a month ago. It's been fun writing again.
Yeah, the Hmong population can count itself among the few recent immigrant populations to have successfully assimimilated. And very well at that, while retaining their culture internally.
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