Ban Vinai - About Us - Minneapolis Public Schools

INSIDE:
Ban Vinai: The Home of My Dreams
The Saga of the Box
Life Changes
Photos from this year’s
annual dance fundraiser,
A Knight for a Princess

Bao Xiong, 16
St. Paul, MN
I creep up early mo’s from my bedroom window/ Sleep tight
under this roof cause it ain’t dim low/ I wake up and my food is
cooked up soon/ Took my time to spread the smell of fresh rice
in every room/ When I’m done, I’m back to my bedroom all on
my own/ It soothes my soul and that’s the reason why it reminds
me of home/
Youa Vang, 19
Minneapolis, MN
Home is where the heart is. Often times, I fi nd myself thinking
of home. Home can be many things. This wooden stool
reminds me of the home I never once lived in; the farming
days of Laos. My parents sat on this stool, and now, it is my
turn; the lonely wooden stool.
Kia Lor, 17
St. Paul, MN
This picture reminds me of home because it is
the city of St. Paul. It has always been home to
me no matter where I go. I grew up in the city,
like the city, and know the city of St. Paul very
well, which is why it’s my home. I feel safe and
comfortable in St. Paul. It’s home to me.
Sherri Xiong, 17
Brooklyn Park, MN
This self-photograph reminds me of my Hmoob
People, and the Hmoob People is what I see as
HOME. Because this is what I am and who I am, so
I’m PROUD of it. –

This publication is made possible through Hmong American Partnership (HAP). HAP provides culturally appropriate social services to Hmong families in Minnesota,
such as: employment services and English language classes for adults, after school programs for children and youth, and counseling and support
programs for families. For more information please visit www.hmong.org.
Hmong American Partnership
Attn: HmoobTeen
1075 Arcade St.
St. Paul, MN 55106
651-495-9160
hmoobtm@hmong.org
www.hmong.org
HmoobTeen magazine
may not be reproduced.
Check Nws Out!:
Pheng Lee
15
Summer 2008
Contents
Regulars
Editor Bios Page 2, 27
Editors’ Note Page 4
Letters to the Editors Page 4
Wise Men Column Page 6
Knowing Your Hmong Page 7
Check Nws Out! Page 15
Adult Role Model: Teacher Feature Page 16
Reviews Page 25
Theme: The Concept of Home
Ban Vinai: The Home of My Dreams Page 10
The Saga of The Box Page 11
My Home is My Home Page 12
My Home Page 12
My Home is Unique Page 13
ST. PAUL IS MY HOME! Page 14
Families are What Makes a House a “Home” Page 14
Where The Heart Is Page 20
Turning an Apartment to a House, to a Home Page 20
A Unique Home Page 21
Reads
Call for Editors Page 5
Summer Reading List Page 8
Hmong Magazine List Page 9
Self-Mutilation Page 18
Please Litter...Not Page 22
Repatriation of Hmong in Thailand Page 23
Your Poems
Home sweet Home Page 24
I Tell Them...There’s No Place Like Home Page 24
Life Changes Page 24
Reviews
The Latehomecomer Page 25
Tragic Mountains Page 25
Comics
Mai-Mai Page 26
Nothing Like Home Page 26
Self Mutilation
18
Hmong Magazine
List
9
Summer 2008 HmoobTeen / 3

HmoobTeen
Editor’s Note:
Many of you may not be aware, but it is in December that we usually plan the upcoming year.
So when HmoobTeen fi rst came up with “The Concept of Home” this past December, we
wanted to dig deep and ask ourselves, as well as our readers, what the word “Home” meant
to each of us. I hope you are as amazed as we are when you fi nish reading this issue because
each issue just keeps getting better and better.
Speaking of getting better...HmoobTeen just threw our annual dance fundraiser, A Knight for
a Princess, which was a huge success. We want to thank all our supporters who came out that
night. If you missed out, be sure to make it to next year’s dance fundraiser, which promises to
be even better.
And last but not least, every year we look for new editors to join our team and help us continue
to, I must repeat, get better. We are currently dreaming of big changes for HmoobTeen and
would like teens who are committed to the future of HmoobTeen apply for an editor position.
Check out the next page to learn how to apply for a position.
Be sure to stop by and say “Hi” to us at the July ICE Open Mic and at CHAT’s Annual Hmong
Arts & Music Festival in August. We love to meet our readers!
-Mee
Fall 2008 theme is
Rejection and Acceptance
Tell us:
Your job rejection stories.
Your stories of accepting others.
Your stories of accepting yourself.
Deadline:
August 1, 2008
Send your work in!
For more information, go to www.hmong.org
and click on HmoobTeen.
Winter 2008 theme is
Melting Pot
Tell us:
The boundary of what is Hmong and
what is not.
What are Hmong stereotypes?
About Hmong diversity.
About losing our roots.
The new ways of courtship.
Deadline:
October 10, 2008
Letters to the Editors:
Dear Editors—I am a big fan of HmoobTeen magazine. I have read every
magazine that HmoobTeen has made. I really enjoy reading them and they
are very interesting. I can’t wait to read the next one that is coming this Fall. I’ve
learned a lot of new things while reading these magazines. Keep up all the good
work and enjoy making them also.—Your fan, Karen Vang, 17, St. Paul, MN
Thanks, Karen—HmoobTeen appreciates the support you have given us and
thank you for your generous thoughts and words of encouragement.—Sherri
Xiong
I read this month’s HmoobTeen and I saw my note to you guys and gals in
the “Letters to the Editor”! I was so happy! I’m glad that you all care about the
people that write to you guys and gals.—Bao Moua, 13, St. Paul, MN
Thanks, Bao—We try our best to keep in touch with our readers and it’s because
of people like you that push us to do better. Thank you much! Keep on reading
and thanks for your support.—Kia Lor
HmoobTeen Editors
Bao Xiong, Blia Vue, Blong Vang, Jonny Xiong, KaZoua Vang,
Kia Lor, Lee Yolei Yang, Meng Yang, Mysee Chang, Nhia Lee,
Panhia Lee, Pa Yong Xiong, Ricki Vang, Youa Vang
Shu Lor
Mee Xiong
Contributing Editor
Editor In Chief
Design
Blong Vang, Kia Lor, Jonny Xiong, Ricki Vang, Sherri Xiong,
Mee Xiong
Log onto www.hmong.org for more details on the following:
We pay for work we publish.
Articles/Photo Essays/Comics: up to $25
Drawings: up to $20
Poems: up to $15
You must include your name, age, city, state, telephone number and
email where we can reach you--even if you wish to remain anonymous.
All submissions are subject to revision. We may contact authors to work
with authors on revisions.
Submission Requirements:
Art-Must be on unlined paper and MUST NOT be folded.
Writing-Type in MS Word and attach document to your email.
SEND IT IN!
HmoobTeen holds all the rights of works once published. Submissions sent to Hmoob-
Teen becomes HmoobTeen property, is done at the risk of the sender and will not
be returned. Email your work if you can.
HmoobTeen (ISSN 1935-1542) is published 4 times a year: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter
by Hmong American Partnership. Currently we reach over 20,000 readers per issue.
Our next issue, coming to you Fall 2008, has the theme Acceptance and Rejection.
Subscriptions/Back Issues: 651-495-1526 or hmoobtm@hmong.org
The views expressed in this publication are of the authors and do not represent opinions
or the views of Hmong American Partnership (HAP) or HmoobTeen, their staff, volunteers,
funders or partners.
4 / HmoobTeen Summer 2008
1-866-379-6363
HmoobTeen tries its best to screen websites listed in the magazine. However, the content,
views and opinions displayed and expressed by the websites and/or their respective organizations
may, or may not refl ect those of HmoobTeen and HAP.
HmoobTeen is made possible, in part, by funds provided by the MN Department of Health
and by funds provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MN Foundation.

We’re looking for teens to
join our editor team.
These are unpaid volunteer positions. Editors are required to attend
meetings twice a month and help man booths at different community
events throughout the year.
Want to join the team? Deadline to apply is September 19,
2008. New editors will come on board in November.
Requirements: All people who apply must...
*be a teen between the ages of 13-18.
*be mature and responsible.
*be committed to your culture and be committed to being an active
member of your community.
*have a special interest or knowledge in art, fashion, graphic design,
music, organizing events, photography, sports, and/or writing.
*be curious about the world and not afraid to ask the hard questions.
If this is you... Send us:
1) A letter of interest stating why you want to be an Editor; what
your interests are; what other activities you are involved with; and
why HmoobTeen needs you!
2) A writing sample, or a photography sample, or a design sample.
Or perhaps all three.
3) Your information, including your name, complete address, age,
phone number and email. Email addresses are a MUST!
How:
Email your stuff to hmoobtm@hmong.org OR
Snail mail them to:
HmoobTeen Magazine
c/o Hmong American Partnership
1075 Arcade St.
St. Paul, MN 55106
Questions? Please contact Mee Xiong at hmoobtm@hmong.org or
call 651-495-1526.
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needs help?
Filling out forms *Medical Assistance *MSHO
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Responding to and writing letters
Other referrals
WE CAN HELP!
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(L.I.F.E.)
LIFE is a program that assists elders to access medical, housing
and other services to maintain their independence.
What’s the cost ?
Most elders meet the guidelines to receive fi nancial assistance to cover
service costs from the Department of Human Services or through their
health insurance.
Eligibility?
Contact us to find out.
Cynthia Yang
Program Coordinator
Main: 651-495-9160
Direct: 651-495-1537
cynthiay@hmong.org
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Wise Men
“Oh my gosh, it‘s like dating your family.”
What’s wrong with dating someone with the same last name?
By Meng Yang, HmoobTeen Editor, 17, Blaine, MN and Blia Vue, HmoobTeen Editor, 17, St. Paul, MN
This topic was discussed in the September 2005 “Hmong Marriage” issue Knowing Your Hmong column. Since
then, HmoobTeen has received several articles and questions about why in the Hmong culture two people of
the same last name cannot date and/or marry. It’s time to revisit this topic once more.
“Some people don’t care. Some believe that dating the person of the same last name is okay as
long as they don’t marry. Others completely disagree.”
If you were asked if you thought it were okay to date a person with the same last name, what would
be your answer? Would you answer “Oh my gosh, it‘s like dating your family” or “It’s fine”? To get
opinions we conducted an online survey about this subject. Teens were asked, “Is it wrong to date
someone with the same last name as your own?” And along with that question, “Why is it wrong?
Why is it okay? And why does it matter?” Very few individuals thought that there was nothing wrong
with dating someone with the same last name as long as the two people dating are not related.
The majority of the people said things like, “Your babies will come out ugly.” Many responses came
out with disgust and some said, “It’s just wrong and it’s Hmong Taboo.”
Let’s say you have a cousin who is of a different last name and you’re mom says that it’s okay for
you to marry that person because you two are a good match. On the other hand, let’s say you
meet someone who has the same last name as yours, but the two of you are not related and your
parents forbid the two of you to date and/or marry. Do you understand the reasoning behind both
of these scenarios? For those of you who do not know, the belief behind this Hmong Taboo is that
if two people of the same last name have children together, their children will be abnormal or
deformed at birth.
However, scientifically speaking, a person may have an abnormal or deformed baby if both parents
are blood relatives. Digging deeper, are the last names the main problem? What is the problem,
really? We’ll have to trace back our histories thousand and thousands of year ago to the story of
how the 18 clans came to be. There are many versions of this story, but this is one of the few.
“One day, there was a great fl ood in the village of the Hmong people. Everyone
died in the fl ood except two siblings, a boy and a girl. The two siblings
lived day by day, then one day as they got older the brother started to worry
that if they there wouldn’t be any beings on earth anymore. The only idea that
he could think of was to marry his sister and create a family. The sister didn’t
agree at first, but as many days passed by, she gave in. The two siblings were
married and soon the wife gave birth. The baby was born looking nothing like
them: it was round, it was different, and it obviously wasn’t a human being. The
couple decided to cut it into 18 pieces and throw each piece in a different
place. Night fell, the couple went to sleep and the next morning when they
woke up they found that outside of their house were people everywhere. The
couple was happy that there were people everywhere. But they both decided
that to prevent giving birth to abnormal or deformed children they would give
each individual being a last name so that people of the same last name would
never marry each other again.”
Today, our generation has changed dramatically from what it once was. Many of us stay away
from dating our own last name because we’re afraid that all the stories about deformed babies
and bad luck might come true. But, is dating and marrying someone of the same last name good or
bad, wrong or right? We can’t answer that question for you. Instead, we have provided the reasons
behind why the Hmong people have this belief. We encourage you to talk to your elders, friends
and family, then decide your own answer.
“It’s just wrong and it’s
Hmong Taboo.”
“Why does it matter?”
You have a cousin who is
of a different last name
and you’re mom says it’s
okay for you to marry
that person because you
two are a good match.
On the other hand, you
meet someone who has
the same last name as
yours, the two of you
are not related and your
parents forbid the two
of you to date and/or
marry.
Do you understand the
reasoning behind both of
these scenarios?
Send your Wise Men questions to us at
teeneditors@hmong.org.
6 / HmoobTeen Summer 2008

Knowing Your Hmong
The Hmong and the Miao: We Are One
By Youa Vang, HmoobTeen Editor, 19, Mpls, MN
The mountains sing its song, the rivers fl ow with tranquility and the history of
the Hmong people is as old as earth’s soil. As we grow older, we often wonder:
who are we? Where did we come from? We start to question our roots. We
start to question our parents, and often, we question ourselves. We lay in our
beds dreaming of our past. We dream of our ancestors and where they came
from. We dream of the places that they slept in, the rivers where they fi shed
in, and the forests where they hunted in.
We, the Hmong youth wished to know who we really are. We learn from our
parents that their parents, and their parents, walked on a land now called China.
We are a strong people, our history is as rich as the colors of the rainbows.
Ravaged by wars and betrayals, our ancestors migrated to the south.
Who are we? We are the Miao. Sit back and travel with me back home. Put
on some good Zen music and let’s go back many a hundred years.
We may not know much about the Miao, the same with them not knowing much
about us. We see them as an ancient tribe who lives in China, but our history is
the same. Observe our history, read our folktales, and listen to our language.
We, indeed, are one people.
The existence of the Miao is believed to be dated back in third century B.C. by
many Anthropologists who study them. Today, the Miao live scattered among
southwestern China, mainly in Guizhou province. About seven million people
in China categorize themselves as Miao. The Miao of southwestern China are
believed to have migrated to Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Laos,
and Vietnam, where Miao are now called Hmong.
Like the Hmong people, the Miao also have shamans in their villages.
When a person gets sick, a shaman is called on to summon the sick
person’s spirit back. A red string is also used to tie around his wrist
to keep the spirit from wandering. Shamans are important to the
Miao and the Hmong.
We speak in different dialects, but our language roots come from the same
mother tongue. The Miao language consists of many dialects, which may
defi ne what part of China one is from. Likewise, the Hmong also speak in
different dialects: the White Hmong (hmoob dawb) and the Green/Blue
Hmong (moob lees). Depending where you are from, you will speak a different
dialect.
Both wear silver ornaments and precious textiles. Hmong women and girls
fashion Miao costumes during the Hmong New Year. Often times, their costumes
are the “new trends” during the Hmong New Year. Now, you see our young
ones dancing to Miao music during the New Years and dancing Miao dance
styles.
Our music and dancing are the same. We love our qeej and we love our drums.
The Miao and the Hmong are festive tribes. We stitch our keeb kwm onto our
costumes and we keep it alive. Our roots may go back many hundred years
and we may be different now, but we both know we are one people who came
from the same ancestors and same land. We indeed, are one tribe.
Our music and dancing
are the same. We love
our qeej and we love
our drums.
Summer 2008 HmoobTeen / 7

By Mysee Chang, HmoobTeen Editor, 17, Corcoran, MN
Hey all, it’s summer! And what is there better to do than read!
I know what you’re going to say, “I hate reading” or “Reading
is boring.” But for once, check out these books! If you “hate”
reading, it’s probably just because you haven’t found the right
kind of book. Below are some of the best Hmong books I’ve
ever read! Not only did I enjoy them but I learned so much
about myself and my culture. I know you will too!
Bamboo Among the Oaks is an anthology of creative writing
by Hmong authors. It was edited and complied from Paj
Ntaub Voice, a Hmong literary arts journal, by Mai Neng
Moua. It is filled with varieties of stories from non-fiction ones;
like “A Good Hmong Woman”, to new takes on familiar folk
tales like “The Lovers: A Halloween Tale of Horror”. “Being
Hmong Is Not Enough” is one of many revealing essays written
by talented Hmong American writers about their experience
being Hmong. This book also contains many influential poems.
Poems about experience like “We Women of the Hmong
Culture”; memories, “The Green House”; and the past, “My
Dad the Mekong and Me the Mississippi.” If readers don’t
find contentment in these poems and stories they can enjoy the
plays, “Disconnect” and “Hmoob Boy Meets Hmong Girl.”
Hmong in Minnesota written by Chia Youyee Vang, of course
is a book all about the “Hmong in Minnesota.” It is a book
about the Hmong people’s journey, from leaving their homes
in Laos to slowly building new lives in America. The author
covers a variety of areas about the Hmong: their history
and settlement in the United States, Hmong cultural practices
such as the New Year and sports tournaments, achievements
gained by Hmong individuals like Dr. Dia Cha and Dr. Zha
Blong Xiong to achievements within the community, and the
challenges Hmong Americans face. Hmong in Minnesota is
a book that can enhance a reader’s knowledge about the
Hmong people, even if the reader is Hmong. It offers a new
and broader perspective and can help readers to really
understand how far the Hmong people have come.
art. It publishes twice a year. The latest issue, Headlines, will
be released in the summer of 2008. Please check www.
myspace.com/pajntaubvoice for more information on submissions
and deadlines.
Choua Vang is a teenage Hmong girl growing up in Minnesota.
Choua, like any teenager, faces many obstacles. For
some reason she just can’t stop making mistakes. She struggles
with living in between two worlds; she wants to be a good
Hmong daughter but at the same time she wants to break
away from her strict, traditional father’s rules. She wants to
be supportive but at the same time she doesn’t want to follow
the wrong path her siblings have taken. With the guidance
and wisdom of a teacher and two loyal friends, Choua learns
to rise from her mistakes and try again. In Hey, Hmong Girl,
Whassup?, she tells her story of liking boys, being bullied,
and her family struggles. Written by Leah Rempel, the book
is fi lled with morals and lessons to learn from.
Mai and her grandma are fi nally coming to America! After
years of waiting in Thailand’s refugee camps, Mai’s dream
of reuniting with her cousins (See and Pa Cua), drinking cola,
and riding in cars has fi nally come true. Once she arrives in
America, she realizes she has many threads to untangle. Not
only does she have to adjust to a new lifestyle, she must now
help her reluctant grandma to understand the new ways in
this strange world. Mai also must learn to accept the changes
in her Americanized cousins, now Heather (See) and Lisa (Pa
Cua). Tangled Threads: A Hmong Girl’s Story, a novel by
Pegi Deitz Shea, exceptionally captures a Hmong
refugee’s struggle of leaving one home behind
and getting use to a new one. It defi nitely
will help readers understand the
unfamiliarity Hmong refugees
encountered when they fi rst
arrived in America.
Paj Ntaub Voice is a literary arts journal containing contemporary
literary work, visual artwork, cultural criticism,
and essays. The mission of Paj Ntaub Voice is to
support emerging Hmong writers and artists
by providing a community forum to
foster Hmong writing and
8 / HmoobTeen Summer 2008

HMONG MAGAZINE LIST
By KaZoua Vang, HmoobTeen Editor, 16, St. Paul, MN
{ }
This summer if you get bored or just curious about other Hmong magazines, be sure to be on the lookout! You may
have seen some of these cool Hmong magazines stacked up at your Hmong grocery stores, at a library or even
online! Some of them you may be familiar with and some you might have never heard of. Wherever you may fi nd
them, take the time and fl ip through. Who knows, you might come across a miraculous article!
www.18xeem.com
www.hmongns.com
18XEEM
“18XEEM is documenting life; preserving history; revealing the treasures of the unknown and the
beauty of a culture.”
– Hlee Xiong, Editor-in-Chief
Creator: Hlee Xiong and Kay Yang, Cedarburg, WI / 2006
Target Audience: students, educators, scholars, youth and families
Special/Common Focus: Feature sections on Hmong History, art, fashion, music and profi les of unique
individuals.
How teens in particular benefi t from reading this magazine: 18XEEM hopes that everyone including
teens who read their magazine will see the positive aspects of Hmong culture and be inspired or motivated
to share their knowledge with others.
“What is your passion?”
Creator: Chi Meng Moua, Sacramento, CA/ Feb 2007
Target Audience: High school and College students, anyone interested in
our rich Hmong culture.
Special/ Common Focus: Promote higher education by bringing students
in to share their education or life stories.
How teens in particular benefi t from reading this magazine: Hmong Passion
Magazine provides a lot of rich information about our culture that
teens can take away with them. They feature students from all over the
states such as artist, education, talent and Hmong leaders today.
“Our goal is connecting our businesses and community together.”
Creators: Noah Vang and Shia Yang, St. Paul, MN/ June 2006
Target Audience: Business oriented people (30-55 age range)
Special/ Common Focus: To cater to all business styles
How teens in particular benefi t from reading this magazine:
Be informed of the types of Hmong businesses
out there in the market.
ONLINE MAGAZINES
www.myspace.com/hmongpassion
“Eye.D’s goal is to be a voice for the Asian community as their identity evolves in America.”
Creators: Kou Vang, Pa Moua, Thai Vang, Bon Xiong
Its title is a play on the notion of identity, something that many Asian Americans deal with daily.
Target Audience: Asian, focusing on the Hmong in particular ranging from 18-50, a large range because
their topics are so diverse; from the Shine articles, which feature upcoming, promising young individuals
to our features, who have dedicated almost their whole career or life in some way, shape or form to the
Asian community.
Special/Common Focus: Eye D. is an online publication dedicated to celebrating the diverse experiences
of Asian-Americans by educating and entertaining its readers through thoughtful dialogue, captivating
articles and resourceful information.
How teens in particular benefi t from reading this magazine: By having real remodels who are accessible,
intelligent and not overshadowed by what they wear, what kind of car they drive. The people we feature
and writers we publish are Asian living in today’s world.
www.eyedmagazine.com
www.unplugmag.com
“Unplug is a Hmong subculture magazine and movement in the making dedicated to creating
visibility for our Hmong music, art, fi lm and entertainment.” –Unplug Editors
Creator: Fong Vang, Joil Xiong
Target Audience: Anyone interested in Hmong music, art, fi lm and entertainment.
Special/Common Focus: To expose Hmong talents and a place to fi nd Hmong artists, band,
poet, designer, actor or entertainer.
HmoobTeen tries its best to screen websites listed in the magazine. However, the content, views and opinions
displayed and expressed by the websites and/or their respective organizations may, or may not refl ect those of
HmoobTeen and HAP.
Summer 2008 HmoobTeen / 9

One of my favorite
mountains is the “10-
dollar mountain”
because it had a view
of the camp. A lot of
teenagers who were in
love came to this
mountain with their
partners.
Ban Vinai: the Home of my Memories
By Xai Vang, St. Paul, MN
Ban Vinai is a place I call home because I was born and raised in this refugee camp. I cherish
this refugee camp as heaven and a lot of people who have lived in this camp have many
memories of this refugee camp. This also includes me because I lived there for 12 years.
Ban Vinai was the fi rst refugee camp built in Thailand for the Hmong people who escaped
from the suffering of war in Laos. The jungle became a home for the Hmong people for
many years until the camp was closed by the Thai government in 1992.
Ban Vinai always reminds me of my childhood memories and always brings sadness. Every
time I think of it, it brings tears to my eyes. At this camp there are mountains that surround
both sides. One of my favorite mountains is the “10-dollar mountain” because it had a view
of the camp. A lot of teenagers who were in love came to this mountain with their partners.
High on this mountain the light wind always blew through the green grass. The light wind
touched your skin as you relaxed in the tall grass with your loved one.
In this refugee camp it’s very peaceful and one thing that I still remember from when I still
lived there was when my friends and I were fl irting with girls that lived in the camp and
when we’d go fi shing with the girls too.
When Ban Vinai was closing and all the Hmong people had to leave the camp, the statues
in the Hmong Community cried their hearts out.
I will never forget this heavenly paradise and some people might not know this refugee
camp, but for me I will never forget the name Ban Vinai, my home.
10 / HmoobTeen Summer 2008

I stood with pride and a sense of
satisfaction as I walked up the hill to
only be called by an elder as “Childish”
and was greeted by laughing
little kids at my awesomeness.
By Jonny Xiong, HmoobTeen Editor, 19, Minneapolis, MN
While our theme this season explores “The Concept of Home” I found myself unable
to grasp that concept. “Home” could mean anything to anyone. Everybody has their
own little story, or defi nition to defi ne their concept of home.
So what is mine? I struggled to understand my own concept by reminding myself of
what it feels like to be at home, or what home felt like. The funny thing about this
whole ordeal was that I was trying too hard. I forgot what made me happy, what
caused me to feel like I was home.
A few years earlier, while sitting on the hill at Como Park, a little child ran pass with no
footwear of any kind. With him, he carried a piece of a cardboard box. He shouted
to his friend to “watch out below” as he pounced on that piece of cardboard and
slid down the hill screeching with joy. At that instant I smiled and chuckled at such a
silly little stunt. It reminded me so much of my own childhood, my own stupidity, and
creativity.
Yet instead of just sitting idly watching as I bathed in my own peace of mind, I jumped
to my feet and called over to this little kid to “LEND ME YOUR BOX!” He looked terrifi
ed when he saw an overgrown 18 year old standing up with his hand extended,
asking for the cardboard. He probably thought he was in trouble. He lent me his
cardboard and I placed my hand on his head and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll bring it
back!” I smiled while walking to the highest part of the slope hill. I sat on this piece
of cardboard like it was a sled and watched the people below. I shouted “BANZAI!”
I hollered, whooped, and even raised both hands into the air, while coming to a big
bump and tumbling half way down.
I stood with pride and a sense of satisfaction as I walked up the hill to only be called
by an elder as “Childish” and was greeted by laughing little kids at my awesomeness.
I can’t help but feel like I brought back a little of my past into the present. I couldn’t
help but feel overjoyed at my act of randomness. For the fi rst time I was able to cement
a solid defi nition of what home is for me: my creativity, it was my youth; and it
was all thanks to a child and a piece of “Cardboard Box.”
Summer 2008 HmoobTeen / 11

My Home is My Home
By Mai You Yang, 17, St. Paul, MN
What makes my home a home is when I walk through the front door and see my two brothers Alex and Abraham, sitting on the
sofa sitting four feet away from our 55 inch TV with our family pictures on the wall behind it, fi ghting over the remote control
and just fl ipping though channels. I normally just ignore them, walk to the kitchen, look out the window to see my little brother,
Rocky, playing basketball. Next to our blue garage is my mom in her garden, taking care of her plants such as herbs and
vegetables: pepper, tomato, green onion, cilantro, eggplant, cucumber and our baby peach tree. Sometimes I spy my dad
just walking around, making sure the yard is clean and complaining about holes that the squirrels make.
My Home
By Bee Khang, 16, St. Paul, MN
If I walk up the stairs, there are pictures of friends and families on the wall. My sister will be on her computer,
either on her Asiantown, Youtube or Myspace, of course. To the left is my bedroom, and the fi rst thing I see is my
collection of teddy bears next to my cool red boom box. I should also mention my very neat bed, which has a
matching pillow case and bed sheet, where there’s a green teddy bear, a yellow dog stuffed animal, and
a big blue bunny with long ears, on my bed sleeping with me every night. Looking outside my bedroom
window is where I’ll see our blue ’97 Honda Civic and our gray ’05 Toyota Sienna.
What makes my place a home is
that when I get home from school, the
minute I enter the house I always see the
TV on and without even thinking of whom
it might be, I already know it could only be
one person: my dad. My sister, May Ong, is lying
down on her belly doing her homework/ Say
is using the computer that’s located in the corner of
the house next to my bed. I would look around the
house to see if my mom is anywhere in sight. Sometimes
she might be in my dad’s bedroom doing something or I’ll
see her sleeping on the couch.
So then I walk pass the small kitchen, through the hallway,
pass my dad’s bedroom and pass the bathroom.
I get to my brothers’ room, open the door and I see
my three brothers: Tou Nhia, Chue Fue and Kue Yeng,
doing their own thing like chatting on the computer or
playing their video games.
As for me, I would be doing my homework or
reading graphic novels. When I get home,
even though I have n homework, I don’t do
it for hours. I go on my computer for a
couple of minutes and listen to Japanese,
Hmong and Christian songs, or I
work on my so-called scrapbook.
That’s what makes my place a
home. All the people in my family,
under one roof, living together
peacefully as one happy family.
That is what I call home, a home that makes me feel safe, where I know that my family will always
be here. Makes me feel comfortable for whatever I’m doing, and being myself. Makes me feel
welcome, for me, for relatives and for friends, and last but not least, it feels and have love that
grows within the heart and warms up the whole house even without any heat. My house is a
place that I know I can always get a shelter to live under when the sun is too hot, or the
rain is too heavy to stay outside. My home is my home.
12 / HmoobTeen Summer 2008

Artwork by Suzy Xiong. 15, St. Paul, MN
My Home is Unique
By Bao Moua, 13, St. Paul, MN
To me, my home is unique because of the people I live with. For other people their reasons may be different, but for me, it is because of
my family. I love my family but in our family we don’t show it much but I know that they really love me. On the weekends, my cousins would
always come over and play with us and it always seems like a party but without all those pretty decorations. Luckily, our aunt lives upstairs
from us so we always see her. My home is a place where everyone is welcome and always happy to see each other.
When a teacher asked me: “What is the difference between a house and a home? I didn’t know what to say to the teacher that day. Then
on the same day she told me the meaning. To me, a house is a place, a thing. A house can keep a roof over your head but it doesn’t have
this feeling of belonging. A house may help do many things but it’s not the same as a home. A home is a place where someone welcomes
you and loves you sometimes with warm feelings. A home can make you feel special and safe from inside and outside whether it’s far or
near. It doesn’t matter who it is that welcomes you, all that matters is that they really want you to come back home whenever you leave
the house.
People all around have many homes if they just take a look and feel welcome. For others who think they don’t have a home, I don’t know
how it feels but one day those people will fi nd a home. I know somewhere out there, there is a place where many people belong to but
they just don’t see it because they are sometimes blinded by hatred or something else. But one thing people can always remember: they
do belong to a place. For me, I have a house that I can go to and it can be like a home, but I have one special home that welcomes me
back whenever I leave the house!
Summer 2008 HmoobTeen / 13

ST. PAUL, MN IS MY HOME!
By Karen Vang, 17, St. Paul, MN
I live in St. Paul, MN and I’m happy. I’ve lived here for 17 years. I was born here and raised here. I would do anything to keep living here.
St. Paul, MN is my home and will be my home forever. I love it here. Even if it gets cold, I still love it. I would like to go some place warmer
and nicer, but I have a lot of good memories here. Most people move away from St. Paul because of the winter, but they don’t think about
their loved ones and all the their good memories. I am a person that DOESN’T forget memories that touches my heart.
In the summer I love to go to Phalen Lake and run around, and go to the zoo to look at animals. When it gets very hot I go to LAKE ELMO
and swim around for fun until it gets cool and then go home. I like to make good memories. When it gets very cold I’m just happy that I
have a home to protect me from the cold winds. St. Paul may not be a very good place for some, but for me St. Paul is the PERFECT place.
If you have experienced what I had then you would know what I mean. But if you haven’t, then you should try to get out and experience.
Everybody should have a place to call HOME. I know I do…
The people in your house
are what makes a home
unique.
Families are What Makes a
House a “Home”
By Tou Khang, 17, St. Paul, MN
The only thing you hear every day is argument after argument. The house is fi lled with chaos and drama. You never have time for peace
and quiet. Is that a place you can call home? Or just a place you stay in? I see a home as a place where you can relax and do your own
thing. Sure, there are times when you have to do a lot of work, but that isn’t as bad as argument, or the family breaking apart.
The people in your house are what makes a home unique. Unless you live by yourself, then you are what makes the house a home. The
people affect the surroundings around you, and they affect how you feel about the place. If you go back home after school or after work
and just get into family fi ghts, would you want to stay there? You would probably fi nd a place where you can relax and be away from
that stuff. The place where you once called home is no longer a home anymore; just a place to sleep, eat, shower, change clothes, and all
that.
Isn’t home a place where you do that stuff? A home is a place for that, but what really matters are the people. If you’re stressed out all
the time because of that, what are you going to do? You can’t tell them because they are the ones making it worse. You might want to tell
them but you think they might take it the wrong way and get even madder.
A home is built for comfort. People come home and are like “Finally, I’m home!” after a long day. They can relax and the people around
them help them relax and give that person comfort. You can have all the things you want, but a real home is a place where there are
people waiting for you to come back after a long day.
14 / HmoobTeen Summer 2008

Check Nws Out!
Pheng Lee
By Nhia Lee, HmoobTeen Editor, 17, Minneapolis, MN
If you are currently in high school you should ask yourself, “Do I need to volunteer
and what do I get from it? Is volunteering a waste of time?” This article should
answer your questions and tell you the benefits of volunteering.
After interviewing Pheng Lee, a sophomore at Patrick Henry High School in Min-
neapolis, Minnesota, I have learned how important volunteering can be.
Volunteering has helped Pheng to participate in the Hmong community and has taught Pheng many things. He learned
how to be patient with younger kids and how to work along with them as well. Pheng does volunteering in Minneapo-
lis at the Hmong American Mutual Assistance Association (HAMAA) and takes on duties like tutoring, manufacturing
cafeteria, cleaning tables, and handing out snacks and drinks.
Pheng lives in a big family with four sisters, three brothers, and his parents. When he does not volunteer, he goes out
and enjoys the weather by playing sports or fishing. Pheng helps out his parents with important house chores during
part of his free time. Pheng also volunteers in many programs such as the Youth Program, T.E.P..., Asian Coalition
against Tobacco, and plays sports with the SEACC program. This is part of the reason why Pheng does not have time
to be involved programs inside of school.
Pheng says that volunteering is not just a waste of time but it helps prepare him for future because of the many
experiences. He encourages his younger brother as well because volunteering is part of the way to achieve success.
He has gotten higher self esteem after volunteering. He wouldn’t know where his experiences would be if he never
started volunteering.
“I would encourage many young teenagers to volunteer. It’s the right path
and away from the drugs and violence,” says Pheng Lee.
“I would encourage many young teenagers to volunteer. It’s
the right path and away from the drugs and violence.”
HmoobTeen Editor Nhia Lee
and Check Nws Out feature Pheng Lee
Summer 2008 HmoobTeen / 15

TEACHER FEATURE
MRS. SONG: STUDENT LEARNER ADVOCATE
By Ricki Vang & Sherri Xiong, HmoobTeen Editors, Brooklyn Park, MN
In our high school careers we’re told to build strong relationship with our teachers for the simple
fact that, they have and are resources that may help us in the future. Such resources may be: job
opportunities, recommendation for extracurricular activities, and simply improving our academic
achievements. One teacher/advisor that is one of the best person to build a great relationship
with is simply your high school Student Learner Advocate (SLA). An SLA is a combination of all
teachers in one position.
Mrs. Song Yang at Champlin Park High School (CPHS) is an great example of an SLA. In her interview
she states, “An SLA is the voice of unspoken students, staffs, and parents.” The difference
between her job and other teachers’ job is that she has an open door policy where students,
staff, and/or parents may talk to her about personal concerns or academic concerns at any
given time. An SLA is simply a counselor, teacher, and advisor all mix into one single person. Mrs. Song has been working as the SLA at CPHS
for six years, but she has been working in public schools for 18 years. Throughout her career she has defi nitely enjoyed working as an SLA
because every day is a different day. She doesn’t just sit in the offi ce making phone calls, she comes to work and offers her personal time to
students who is in need of expressing their train of thoughts and stress.
Factors that make Mrs. Song enjoy her job the most is that at the end of each week she’s able to put a smile on her face and be grateful that
she has changed someone’s life and has set them in a different direction in life. From all the personal concerns that she deals with each week
Mrs. Song is most proud of being able to take part in changing someone’s life by putting more delightful thoughts and positive inputs into their
mind set.
What more can you ask from a teacher who provides most everything you need to succeed in high school? As an SLA Mrs. Song’s words of
encouragement to all Hmoob teens out in the society are: “Education is the most important aspect of your life as of today. Open doors to new
adventures and with education you’ll get far in life.”
SEEXENG LEE: THE ARTIST OF THE GOLD LEAF
By Nhia Lee & Panhia Lee, HmoobTeen Editors, Mpls & N. St. Paul, MN
|NHIA LEE & SEEXENG LEE
At a young age, Seexeng Lee said he felt “assimilation was the only way to survive”. Lee began to
integrate and add bits of Western infl uence into his artwork. On his Web site, Lee states, “Art was
the only way I knew how to conceive images and meanings”. The use of gold leaf has become a
signature use to his artworks. Lee recalls that he likes working with gold leaf. He said a professor
once told him that gold leafi ng should be saved for the sacred and important. At fi rst he wasn’t
immediately sure what elements of the Hmong culture were fi tting to this description. It wasn’t
until after his father passed away that he fi nally realized the signs were all around him.
Lee took back a painting of his father’s that Lee had given to him years ago. On the portrait,
he added the gold-leafed to his father’s military uniform. That painting now hangs in his
home as a reminder of both his father and sacredness. His work revolves mainly around the
core element of what it is to be Hmong.
Lee’s art work often brings refl ection back into his childhood times from drawing with a stick in his dirt fl oored house in Laos. He remembers
sketching visual images of his father’s tales. Lee says “Each story visually came alive in my imagination, so did the dirt canvas.” He also said
one of his fi rst drawings was an elephant.
While Lee was in grade school, he would draw while listening to English words taught in class. As time went on, “What” was the English words
he felt confi dent to say at school. He said it to his teacher and she did not comprehend him. Eventually, Lee’s teacher found an interpreter. “The

teacher was concerned that there was something wrong with my ears,”
Lee said. From then on, Lee said, “I went right back into my shell.”
Years later, after Lee graduated from Augsburg College, he returned
to fi nd that teacher. The moment his former teacher saw him, she said,
“The Artist!” She told Lee that she didn’t remember his name, but she
had one of his pictures still. She told him that she would’ve held him
back if it had not been for his drawings.
The two driving forces that keep Lee going are: the influence and assistance
of others with a similar background and upbringing. “I have
had a diffi cult time transforming and adjusting to this role. I have to
admit that the journey was quite bumpy and at times the thought of
giving up seemed simpler. It took a lot of self-sacrifi cing,” Lee said.
Since he didn’t have a Hmong teacher while attending school, he
made up his mind to become one. He felt that there was a need to
have a Hmong teacher in the school system who can guide and lead
students with similar needs.
The second driving force was the realization of his love for arts. While
Lee is an artist at heart, he is a teacher by trade. He said that the
idea of becoming an artist wasn’t accepted by his parents. He wanted
to please them and be happy at the same time so he became an art
teacher.
For the last 10 years, Lee has been working in the Minneapolis public
schools. He is currently at Patrick Henry High School, where the population
is 28% Hmong and 60% African American. As a teacher, Lee
has nurtured and encouraged many students to follow their creative
passion. Some have now completed degrees in art and are exhibiting
work as professionally trained artists.
His work has been showcased at the Dragon Festival in St. Paul, at the
Northpoint Health and Wellness Center lobby in Minneapolis, and at
CHAT’s Arts & Music Festival. He also shows his artworks at the Hmong
New Year. “If people see my work and it stops them to stop and refl
ect, I’ve done my work,” Lee said.
For more information, and if you would like to see the work of Seexeng
Lee, visit his website at www.seexeng.com
INTERVIEW WITH MR. JOHN ERET OF CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL
By Meng Yang, HmoobTeen Editor, 17, Blaine, MN
Respectful, open-minded and humble are just a few words used to describe Mr. John Eret. The kids at school call him “The Einstein of Centennial”
because he looks so similar to Albert Einstein, and he‘s incredibly smart. Mr. Eret views himself as a simple, regular teacher at Centennial
High School, but many students would disagree. This man welcomes everyone with open arms and has a promised dedication to each and
every student. If you want to go fi shing in his backyard, he’ll take you, if you want to throw a party in his classroom, he’ll allow it. (Well most
of the time.) He’ll even spend 60 dollars out of his own pocket on about 10 students, and pretend they’re his adopted children just so they
can all get into a museum that has a line about a mile long. It’s happened before within The World Cultures Club, a club made for students of
different cultures and ethnic backgrounds or for anyone who would like to learn about different cultures in the world.
Every day Mr. Eret takes time out of his busy schedule consisting of correcting hundreds and hundreds of papers and fi nds time to take the
students of the WCC to planned events. From skating, bowling, fi shing to even Valleyfair, Mr. Eret does it all. The fact of the matter is that Mr.
Eret actually makes school fun and worthwhile, but most of all he makes us feel welcome. It doesn’t matter what he does, his wise words always
seem to guide us in the right direction. Mr. Eret is an ideal citizen and a great teacher, and on behalf of The World Cultures Club and students
at Centennial High School, personally, I believe he’s changed the world for the better, just a little bit. Mr. Eret is an amazing teacher and adult
role-model, but he’s even a better human being.
Meng: How many years have you been teaching and what made you want to become a teacher?
Eret: 34 years. Wanted to help people make wise decisions. My religious beliefs infl uenced me as well. I also wanted to make the world a
better place. Growing up in 1960s had an impact on it too.
Meng: What gave you the idea of the World Cultures Club?
Eret: I thought it would be a good place to have for the foreign exchange students and other students of different cultures. I also wanted to
inform the rest of the school about the world because a lot of people that live up here don’t know what’s going on outside of the Centennial
district.
Meng: Which awards received throughout your teaching career mean the most to you?
Eret: Probably the three Full Brights Memorial Fellowship Awards and Centennial Teacher of the Year.
Meng: How many countries have you traveled to?
Eret: About 30 to 40.
Meng: From your involvement in the World Cultures Club, you seem to believe in diversity. What makes you believe in teaching and learning
about different cultures?
Eret: Expand your life and expand your mind. Education is the ticket to everything. You work hard and it will surely pay off in the long run.
Meng: Final question Mr. Eret. Do you have any words of wisdom for teens?
Eret: I always tell kids this, “There’s no free lunch.” People think there is but there isn’t. Students come to me and say “Oh Mr. Eret I passed your
class without reading.” They may have passed the class but how does that help them? It doesn’t. It will effect them in the long run and in their
future. Also kids in the Cultures Club, they come to the events and eat everything but don’t help set up or plan it. Sure they get something free
to eat but they didn’t learn or gain anything.
Summer 2008 HmoobTeen / 17

Did you know. . .
*1 out of 10 teenagers deliberately harm themselves
*People who self-mutilate/harm themselves are NOT trying to kill themselves
*Self-mutilation is most common in 15-24 year old females and 12-34 year old males
*People who self-mutilate often try to hide it
*It is NOT self-mutilation if the purpose is:
oFitting in or being cool
oA cultural or traditional ritual
What is Self-mutilation?
*Self-mutilation is purposely hurting oneself (destructing body tissue) to cope with overwhelming
emotions. Self-mutilation is also known as self-injury, self-harm, para suicide, self-destruction, aggression
against the self or intentional injury.
There are three types of self-mutilation:
1) Major self-mutilation is the least common and most extreme type. Major self-mutilation
often results in serious injury or permanent damage due to the severity of the wound. Examples of major
self-mutilation include amputating a limb, eye-gorging or self-castration. This type of self-mutilation is
often associated with individuals with psychotic states or acute drug intoxication.
2) Stereotypic self-mutilation is a form of mutilation that occurs in fi xed, rhythmic, repetitive
patterns like banging one’s head. It occurs mostly in institutionalized mentally retarded, autistic, psychotic
or schizophrenic individuals.
3) Superficial self-mutilation is the least lethal (deadly) form of self-mutilation and the most
common. Superfi cial self-mutilation occurs as a result of emotional distress. The most common method of
superfi cial self-mutilation is cutting. Other methods include burning, biting, bone breaking, carving, hairpulling,
hitting, picking scabs, or pinching.
18 / HmoobTeen Spring 2008

Why do people self-mutilate?
~It is diffi cult to specifi cally pin-point “why” people self-mutilate.
A general explanation is that self-mutilating serves as a way for
people to cope with overwhelming emotion. It offers quick and
temporary emotional relief. If a person often feels empty or numb,
injuring themselves can make them feel more “alive.”
~People who self-mutilate injure themselves because they don’t
know any other way to handle their emotions. They either grew
up lacking someone to show them how to effectively cope with
distress or were taught that their feelings were wrong and should
be suppressed. Also, people who self-mutilate tend to come from
abusive backgrounds.
~Another reason why someone may hurt themselves is because
he or she has a mental disorder. Self-mutilation is often associated
with borderline personality disorders, depression, substance
abuse disorder, post-traumatic disorder, obsessive compulsion disorder
or eating disorders.
What to do if YOU self-mutilate:
~Understand that it’s hard to overcome self-mutilation on your
own. Tell someone you trust, a friend, a parent, a teacher, doctor
or an adult. Don’t be afraid to seek help. Get treatment from a
mental health professional.
~Seek sites and resources that support your effort to stop selfmutilation.
Take a look at the hotlines and websites we’ve listed
here under “Resources.”
~Avoid alcohol and illicit drugs. They increase your risk of infl icting
more severe injuries, maybe even death.
~If you feel that an injury is life-threatening, call 911 immediately.
Resources
SAFE Alternatives
(Self Abuse Finally Ends)
www.selfi njury.com
1-800-DONT-CUT
Crisis Intervention Center
Hennepin Country Medical Center
701 Park Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55415
612-647-3161
Teen Central: a help-line website for
teens, by teens. Teens can anonymously
tell their stories online and read and respond
to other anonymous teen’s stories.
www.teencentral.net
Crisis Connection
When life hurts and talking would help.
Confi dential, non-judgmental, free counseling
support. 24 hours a day.
You won’t get a lecture. You’ll get help.
612-379-6363
Information gathered from:
Focus Adolescent Services
www.focusas.com/Selfi njury.html
MayoClinic.com
www.mayoclinic.com/print/self-injury
Self-Mutilation Behavior in Youth and Adults: Causes, Treatment
and Prevention, Joseph Shannon
Cutting the Pain Away: Understanding Self-Mutilation, Carol C.
Nadelson, M.D.
What to do if someone you know self-mutilates:
~Finding out that someone hurts themselves is often shocking and frightening. Show your support in a
gentle and caring way. Make it clear that you’re open to talking about it. If the person you know wants
to talk about it, do not avoid the subject. If he or she refuses, do not push it.
~Have the person you know tell someone who can help. Offer to go along with him or her. If they refuse,
talk to a knowledgeable adult and fi nd out what you can do to help.
~Take care of yourself too. Be honest about your feelings. Do not blame yourself or anyone. He or she is
not trying to make you feel guilty. Talk to someone you trust about your feelings.
~Call 911 immediately if you think someone’s injuries are life-threatening.
Summer 2008 HmoobTeen / 19

Where The Heart Is
By Manee B. Thao, 15, St. Paul, MN
When I was one-year-old, my family moved into the house we currently live in now. Of course I have always known it as home because
I’ve known it all my life. Although, to many others it isn’t the same story. I believe that “home is where the heart is”. Whatever a person
cherishes most in their heart is like their home. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a house; it could be your family or friends whomever you
consider your home.
Maybe your family or friends are your home because with them you get such feelings of welcome. The kind when you walk into your house
on a great day from school or work and your bed seems perfect to be on. Sometimes it’s just the love that makes you feel like home. It all
goes to the heart of a person.
Turning an Apartment
to a House, to a Home
By Sonah Yang, 15, St. Paul, MN
Since our move to Minnesota, the only house that I find unique is the
apartment that we lived in by the state capital in Frogtown. I thought
there was something unique about that apartment. It’s not the people that
live there, not the interesting families we met over the years. It’s nothing
that we can see, but instead it’s what we remember from the memories
we created.
My family lived in the apartment for so long. It brings back a lot of
memories from my childhood. I remember when my siblings and I were
little, my mommy would always take us to the parking lot at the other end
of the block, by White Castle, and ride bikes over there. When summer
would come, we always cooked good food and ate it upstairs on the
porch outside, watching people passing by. The best part was Independence
Day. The Taste of Minnesota is usually held by the state capital,
which was just a block away and we didn’t even have to fi ght for parking
space. We just sat on the porch watching the cars moving slowly, and tons
of people walking by. And when the fi reworks started, we would rush to
the side of the porch and watch.
I grew up in this apartment. Living there since I was fi ve years old, and of
all the other families in the building, being the longest family who lived
there, it’s hard to imagine living somewhere else. My family turned this
small four room apartments with two bedrooms into a house, welcoming
every family that moved there also. Then we turned it into a home with
so many memories to be told. The hardest thins about moving out of the
apartment was knowing that whenever I drive pass, I’m no longer found
in there. It was exciting to move out, experience a different place, but at
the same time, it was sad leaving everything behind.
Then something terrible happened. A year after we moved out, they tore
down the apartment. It was one of those moments when I feel like breaking
down. So many things happened in this apartment, and now it seemed
like it all vanished. Now it’s all a pile of dirt. Everything’s gone. The rocking
chair up on the porch where I wrote my name, the stains my brothers
put on the bedroom wall, the plants my mommy plant in the backyard,
the eagle sticker we stuck on our living room; it’s all gone. Even though
all the visual stuff is gone, the memories that lie within me from that home
will never be lost. I still remember and cherish every event that had happened.
20 / HmoobTeen Summer 2008
Artwork by Blia Vue, 17, St. Paul, MN

A Unique Home
By Yeng Yang, 15, St. Paul, MN
Something that makes my home unique is how it looks on the inside.
Even though its dirty at times and has graffi ti and art on the bedroom
doors and walls because of me.
Also, there are some cool places to hang out. My bedroom is the
biggest room in the house, so my cousins and I always go upstairs
to hang out. I do art on the walls to make my house look cool and
unique. I write on doors and walls like how a baby scribbles on paper.
My house is basically fi lled with art and imagination, I write all
over the walls like its my piece of paper.
Artwork by Mary Xiong, 14, St. Paul, MN
HmoobTeen tries its best to screen websites listed in the magazine. However, the content, views and opinions
displayed and expressed by the websites and/or their respective organizations may, or may not reflect those
of HmoobTeen and HAP.

Please Litter... Not
By Shu Lor, HmoobTeen Contributing Editor, 18, Morganton, North Carolina
I was strolling along with my head held high. The air was fresh, the day was bright, and my nerves had me thinking “Who will I run into
today?” Thirty minutes and 15 seconds, in line I stood. “Nyob Zoo Tub Hluas,” Mrs. Ticket-master greeted. “Oh, nyob zoo nyob zoo.” I then
purchased a ticket from the ticket booth and entered with showing excitement. Into the Great some-annual Hmoob Southeast Puavpheej
Soccer Tournament (In Newton, North Carolina) I went.
Two steps forward after the entrance and I step on a plate of half-eaten eggrolls. I kicked it off making sure the thin vermicelli noodles
did not mush under my left heel. With an additional two steps to the left I fi nd my right foot buried in a plate of Hmoob-sausage. “Well at
least the sausage had a nice crunch to it. Which means good food,” I try not to ruin this bright-sunny-supposed-to-be-fun day. Shaking off
the excess hot-pepper that stained a good portion of my right foot, I reach back with my left for balance. You just can’t have Hmoob-sausage
without sticky-rice. My toes bathed in a warm batch of purple sticky-rice and I loved it… not. I finished the day with a red-garnished
foot and a pair of sticky sandals that would detect all kinds of plastic/paper plates. Must have been miserable, you think? It was indeed
wretched; up until the night party where I had the chance to pull off the sweet dance move I learned from stepping on all that trash. Better
known as the “cha-cha” or “4-legged something...?” And while dusting off dirt on my pants, trying to block the sun, and attempting to
dodge mosquitoes all at the same time, I learned how to “get low,” ... real low. So there you have it, free dance lessons.
And so while trying to soak in a good time at the tournament, one of the biggest issues that prevented me from doing so was the amount
of litter. In all seriousness, littering should not be taken lightly. It’s not only bad for the environment but it can also create a bad image that
would refl ect Hmoob events such as New Year Celebrations and Tournaments. In addition, it is hazardous to the people attending the event.
Visitors in town would not think as highly or respectively of Traditional Annual Events if there is so much litter. Litter was never written down
or booked as a main attraction and it should not be. Wet plastic/paper plates and tipped-over-canned drinks could result in a terrible
fall. We can prevent issues like this by not only making sure plastic/paper plates are dry or that canned drinks are upright, but by simply
walking to the nearest trash can and placing our garbage neatly inside, inside, inside, the trash-container.
All in all, while visiting annual events such as New Year Celebrations or Tournaments, you should treat your surroundings as if you were a
respected guest since the Organization hosting the event respects you enough to let you attend. Be sure to pick up after yourself. I guarantee
that the closest trash can is not but 52 seconds away. On a lighter note, you do not want other attractive girls or boys to see you litter
because it is a “turn-off”; you might just ruin the chance to meet that love of your life.
“Litter was never written down or
booked as a main attraction and it
should not be.”
22 / HmoobTeen Summer 2008

Repatriation of the Hmong in Thailand
By MaiNhia Xiong, 19, St. Paul, MN
I am on my weekly stroll on YouTube, trying to focus on things other
than school, I type in the key word “HMONG”. At fi rst, I was browsing
through Hmong music videos, “dubbed” videos, and clicking on other
random links. I scrolled down to see a link with these very words:
“Hmong Facing Repatriation”. I sat staring at my screen, watching
innocent Hmong treated like prisoners: fenced in areas with barb
wires like the concentration camps during the Holocaust. I continued
my research on the web, trying to fi nd other reports based on the
deportation of the Hmong in Thailand to Laos. What bothered me
the most was how the Thai offi cials labeled the Hmong refugees as
illegal immigrants.
“Illegal Immigrant” seems to have similar defi nitions in every dictionary:
someone who illegally enters a country and takes up residence in
the country using their resources; selling drugs or even killing citizens.
How can Hmong refugees of 31 years be considered as entering the
country illegally when the Thai government designed these refugee
camps specifi cally for the Hmong. Lillian Faderman’s book, I Begin
My Life All Over emphasized that the Thai government adopted a
policy called, “The Humane Deterrence” in 1981, which was design
to reduce the food rations and support services to helping the Hmong
refugees. The United States approved the policy believing that “the
ones who were leaving Laos, after the policy was approved, was not
war-related”. This indicates that the Thai government in the early 80’s
was well aware of the Hmong coming to resettle in the camps that the
U.S. established for the Hmong.
Step up to the
plate and make a
change!
The media also agrees. The director of the International Human Rights
Watch, Bill Frelick, commented, “By forcing these Hmong refugees
into a unknown future, Thailand is now violating international laws.”
These international laws, stating that all immigrants are human beings
and they have the same human rights that we all do. According to the
Hmong International Human Rights Watch website, Thailand’s General
Surayud Chulanont stated, “If these Hmong refugees volunteer
to return home (meaning Laos), they can. If they want to go to a third
country and that country wants to take them, we will allow them to
go”. A recently recorded interview by the International Human Rights
Watch representative, Hannah Belcher, General Surayud Chulanont
then commented after the agreement with Laos, “There is no time for
these Hmong refugees to fl ee to a third country. We have to abide
the agreement between the Thai and Lao government”. This agreement
“vowed” to resolve the problem with the Hmong in Thailand, but
Laos is not allowing outside resources to screen all Hmong refugees
who is getting forced out of Thailand.Therefore no outside resources
will have access as to how the Hmong are doing once they are repatriated.
Moreover, a Lao Government spokesman went public with this statement,
“There is a lot of speculation and lies told by the Hmong and
other organizations about how the Laos’s government and military is
treating the Hmong. And one should be very cautious”. So, by reading
this passage I’m getting the message that the Hmong in 1975 decided
that they wanted to run into the jungles of Laos to watch their loved
ones suffer, die from starvation, get shot at, and planted their own
bombs which they’ve “FORGOTTEN WHERE THEY’VE HID IT”; just to
catch the nation’s attention? How can the Hmong in the jungle “lie”
when there are recorded documents distributed all over the world? It
makes absolutely NO SENSE to me!
But my opinions can be bias, therefore I selected students and carefully
explained to them about the situation in Thailand. Here are their
responses:
“It’s wrong!” said Madgan Lee, 15, “Something needs to be done!
Why is the United States sitting around doing absolutely nothing?”
Richard Vang, 20, says, “If the Hmong community, all over the United
States, protested day in and out when General Vang Pao was put into
jail, how come we are not venting in anger, holding signs, and protesting
our way across our nation’s capital about this wrong doing?”
James Yang, 19, said, “It shouldn’t be so highly emphasized because
these Hmong refugees had their opportunity to come over to the
United States, so if they get deported they were asking for it. If they
were law abiding citizens they won’t be bothered by the Laotian
government.”
Director Bill Frelick quoted, in an interview with the International Human
Rights Watch representative Hannah Belcher, “Lao authority
sees these Hmong population as a thorn in the side. They want to
keep these Hmong refugees inside Laos so they can “deal” with them
without any prizing eye from the international community. Lao is using
the vulnerability of Thailand that is in a GREAT FALL of resources and
offering the national resources in Laos, using that as a bargainingship,
forcing and pressuring Thailand to return these Hmong back to
Laos.”
In conclusion, I am someone who is passionately driven for change
in the Hmong community. We, as Young Hmong, as the next generation,
need to step up to the plate and make a change. On April 4th,
1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke at a church in New York City,
giving one of his remarkable speeches against the Vietnam War: A
Time to Break Silence. And I will end my article reciting a part of his
speech: “Some of us who have already begun to break the silence
of the night have found that the calling to speak is often a vocation
of agony, but we must speak. We must speak with all the humility
that is appropriate to our limited visions, but we must speak. Perhaps
a new spirit is rising among us. If it is, let us trace its movement well
and pray that our own inner being may be sensitive to its guidance,
for we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the darkness that
seems so close around us.”
Summer 2008 HmoobTeen / 23

Poems
I Tell Them…There’s No Place Like Home
By Pa Tong Thao, 16, Minneapolis, MN
I told my mom no matter how far I travel,
I will always come back home.
Even if I climbed the highest mountains,
Even if I cross the ocean,
There is no place like home.
I told my dad no matter how long I go away,
I will always come back home.
Even if I become famous,
Even if I got married,
There is no place like where I grew up.
I told my sister no matter what I miss,
I will always come back home.
Even if it’s her graduation,
Even if it’s the memories,
There is no place like shelter.
I told my brother even if I’m not there now,
I will come back one day.
Even if I’m not there for them,
Even if I can’t help them,
There is no place for my guardian to be, but home.
It’s just for now, but not forever.
Same goes to my friends and my love ones,
Same goes for each day that will past them by.
I may fi nd love, happiness, and laughter someplace else,
But there is no place like home, because it was the start of everything.
Home Sweet Home
By Paula Lor, St. Paul, MN
A home with a happy family inside,
they are generous and kind.
They’ve overcome thin and thick
and when someone is sick,
they always help out
but what is all this about?
That is why I’m here to express
to get it through fast.
Every home is unique somehow
and here’s what I have to say out loud.
A home is a family’s warmth and happiness
if you want to know what I mean, guess.
My family’s warmth and happiness
is what makes a home sweet home.
Life Changes
By Mai Vue, 12, Crescent City, CA
We had our distances beyond the sky.
Life was hard,
Didn’t see each other often.
It made me miss our smiles and laughter.
Days, weeks, years passed,
Life changed.
We went our own ways.
Artwork by Blia Vue, 17, St. Paul, MN
24 / HmoobTeen Summer 2008

The Latehomecomer
By Lee “Yolei” Yang, HmoobTeen Editor, 18, St. Paul, MN
The Latehomecomer is a family memoir written by Kao Kalia
Yang. Yang writes about her family’s escape from the Vietnam
War and the adjustment to a new life in America. Looking
at Yang’s perspective of the Vietnam War, where were the
Hmong in history books?
Yang sweeps her family history in to a transverse storybook,
like existing Hmong cloth stories, but with written words. She
begins with the meeting of her parents and their marriage during
the escape from genocide and persecution in Laos. Yang’s
grandmother is a medicine woman who is fi lled with strength
to secure her family. She managed to keep Yang’s father and
all of her uncles together until the escape. The crossing from
Laos to Thailand and Thailand to the United States’ lifts the anticipation
of a place to call home. The changes Yang and her
family are facing do not separate from each other – it bonds
the heart of family in a deep decision of life or death.
Do the Hmong people have a place to call home? Yang’s memoir helps acknowledge that home is wherever
family is, no matter how life is lived. This book does not only carry Yang’s journey, but the journey
of every Hmong.
Tragic Mountains
By Jonny Xiong, HmoobTeen Editor 19, Minneapolis, MN
“Tragic Mountains” is a published account of the author’s interaction, testimonial
interviews, and historical accounting of the Hmong plight stretching from the end
of Japanese occupation of Indochina to the fall of the infamous Hmong military
base of “Long Tieng”: from the struggle of the Ly and Dang factions, to the rise
of great leaders such as Touby Lyfong and General Vang Pao, to the tragic and
sorrow of the Hmong Exodus from Communist Laos to America. The book opens
readers to the stories of soldiers and war victims, both who came face to face
with the hardship of leaving their homes and facing total decimation from the
communist regime. “Tragic Mountains” is a read for those who are interested in
the historical value of Hmong history, the point of views from individuals who
have endured the struggles, and our brothers and sisters who have been forgotten
by our modern community. Although not everything can be considered as
solid fact, the contents of this book should be considered as something not to be
forgotten from our oral history and timeline.
Summer 2008 HmoobTeen / 25

Comics
26 / HmoobTeen Summer 2008

Blia Vue, 17
St. Paul, MN
Living a life without my siblings is a
life without meaning, even if everything
in this world belonged to me.
The feeling of joy, warmth, the voice,
and the laughter on everyone’s little
face that I defi ne as “home”.
Blong Vang, 18
Andover, MN
This object is fi lled with clouds as I’m
asleep. This object is my “Homie” pillow
at Home that comforts my head
like clouds as I’m asleep.
Lee Yolei Yang, 18
St. Paul, MN
This photograph of mine reminds me
of alternating mornings–sun, cloud,
or rain. This is the window I pass by
everyday when I leave my house. On
some days, I’d sit on a chair at this
spot and fi nd new perspectives on
life. Beyond the window, I live my old
and new dreams, and continue to connect
them to home.
Mysee Chang, 17
Corcoran, MN
A home without a mother is not a home
at all. As long as I have my mom with
me, I am at home because I have her
love to warm me and her lectures to
guide me. Ua tsaug kuv Niam. Thanks
Mom, for everything. ^_^
HMOOBTEEN
EDITORS
Ricki Vang, 16
Brooklyn Park, MN
The good old childhood days where
nothing matter and the only thing
you cared about is yourself and
only yourself. Childhood is what reminds
me of home.
Nhia Lee, 18
Minneapolis, MN
To me, the concept of home is
where you feel like you’re a part
of life. I feel like home when I’m
around my family and friends. A
person can’t feel like home without
any joy.
Shu Lor, 18
Morganton, NC
Whenever I am home I do not notice
the amount of shoes scattered
before my front door. But when I go
out to a friend’s house and see a
pile of shoes it takes my right back
to my front door.
Panhia Lee, 16
North St. Paul, MN
My concept of home is in this illustration.
The hands and heart
represents my family and my
love for them. The tree growing
out from the heart represents nature,
which I love. The music symbols
surrounding the tree and the
heart give me the comfort just like
being at home.
Summer 2008 HmoobTeen / 27

HmoobTeen presents...
A Knight for a Princess
~ Saturday, June 14th ~
Hmong American Partnership
~ Over 200 people in attendance ~
Many thanks to our awesome sponsors who donated their time and talents to make this event successful!
Funny Guy Sai Vang
www.myspace.com/spoofi ggy
DJ SoFresh
A Day Forward
www.myspace.com/adayforward
Where Endless Ideas Become
“Edible” Realities...
www.cakesbyfhoua.com