Question for the Hmong Men (in the U.S): 1

[child_molester]

overcoming sterotype- i dotn know if this falls under sterotype of culture shock but, over coming it, answering quetions asked by other race and nationality who has no idea who or what we are. answering religious quetions, background, heritage. rituals and marriage.

answering all those quetions while struggling through school, work, relationships, family.

dealing with women...and i dont know how to say this but how we feel towards our women wih other man of different nationality.

cooping with intergration; living with other cultures, society and communities

keeping up with two cultures at the same time.

[yuknowthat]

1.  What do you find challenging in your life right now at your age?  I want to understand how you deal with work, family, society, culture, etc.  A few sentences would work fine or if you have a lot on your mind/a lot to explain, feel free.

[Please don't attack anyone verbally, make up stuff, or be rude.  Always respect everyone's response. Thanks]

1) FINANCIALLY Stable

why because we're refugees, starting from scratch, everyone living a 300 a month duplex or apartment when they first came  to the us with a 500 welfare cash and food stamps...tryin g to make it through month by month
we're not like white kids and get a free ride off the bat..

[moonangel]

All very interesting.  I'm getting that the majority of Hmong men are stressed over money/finances?  Is that right?  I think alot of people in America stress over money.  The interesting thing is that, it's not about the culture or trying to keep it the way it should be.  I think there is an underlying understanding that being in America, the culture is bound to be changed.  What do you think?  If you disagree, how are you keeping your/our traditions going?  What are things you are doing to preserve the culture?

[moonangel]

I think the culture died once Hmong people came to the States or moved out of Asia.

Nothing seems original anymore and everything that is learned is all heresay and passed down by word of mouth only. The only culture that I know of is american, and Hmong culture is non-existent in my life. Don't practice any of it.

Isn't part of learning, heresay and by word of mouth? 

[No regret]

Im having a hard time dealing with trying to understand and practice the hmong culture, rituals, etc.  Because I don't really care to understand it or practice it, but yet the elders still practiced it so then it's still a problem.

[yuknowthat]

everyone can learn the ritual, tradition, culture..yet depends on you! ..and the person who teaches you has to know it really good from start to finish...young er generations says they don't give a shiet and misunderstood many things in the ritual, culture, and tradition because they got use to the western philosophy...(work, sex, eat,sleep).....that's it. they don't care because it's too much work

[No regret]

everyone can learn the ritual, tradition, culture..yet depends on you! ..and the person who teaches you has to know it really good from start to finish...young er generations says they don't give a shiet and misunderstood many things in the ritual, culture, and tradition because they got use to the western philosophy...(work, sex, eat,sleep).....that's it. they don't care because it's too much work

Not so easy when you don't care to learn it or want to learn it.

And you also tend to forget about it after a while.

[yuknowthat]

Not so easy when you don't care to learn it or want to learn it.

And you also tend to forget about it after a while.

practice! practice! practice! practice!

[Ron Burgundy]

Our generation and our kid's generations learn by reading and watching.  If things are put into books, manuals, or even dvd's, then it will slowly fade away.

[mronline]

Hearsay is not uncommon from a lot of Hmong folks. All you hear are rumors and stories/gossiping!

Hmong culture is disappearing fast here in the states. Everyone seems to be conforming to American ideologies and tradition rather than keeping their own. I know that the next two generations from us won't know how to speak Hmong at all. Just look at us here. We're on a website that is Hmong but over half of us do not even understand how to read or write Hmong. Natural preference is "English".

Who's going to teach it to our kids and their kids and so forth.... ? I don't want to come across as a cynical person but we're totally losing our cultural identity living here in the States.

right on bro!

[TusHluasSiabZoo]

Everyone can learn the hmong ritual, tradition, culture..yet depends on you! It really is true, it depends on you.
If you don't want to learn the original cultures you can go to church that is so simple.

But for myself, money is one of the biggest key play in my life now. I just want to save enough and retire when I am still young.
If you don't have a higher education you need to have a lot of money so people will respect you too as long as you are not stingy.
Secondly, my kids future. What should I do to help my kids have a good life since my life is already very complicated.

[unauthorized]

All very interesting.  I'm getting that the majority of Hmong men are stressed over money/finances?  Is that right?  I think alot of people in America stress over money.  The interesting thing is that, it's not about the culture or trying to keep it the way it should be.  I think there is an underlying understanding that being in America, the culture is bound to be changed.  What do you think?  If you disagree, how are you keeping your/our traditions going?  What are things you are doing to preserve the culture?

Moonangel, I see that you have some very good questions to ask and give wise answers to the answers. I would like to hear your answers for which you asked the questions? What is your thoughts, inputs or ideas?