Growing up Hmong American, I have so many fond memories of relative sleepovers, playing outside with cousins til dark, and the moms always planning or making the next meal while the dads watched a movie or conversated with each other. …
Hmong Khi Tes: Blessings in Strings
Just as western society gives cards with little sayings, written words of congratulations, Hmong people tie strings. We call it “Khi Tes”. Tying strings onto the wrist is a tradition of not just Hmong people but other Asian cultures such …
Hmong Is Who I Am
As much information that there is out in the “internet” world today, I still find myself meeting people who don’t know about the Hmong. Hmong is who I am, my ethnicity. Although I’m no expert, I’m finding more and more …
An Unusual Path
What an exciting title?! An Unusual Path, just like the name of this blog. It fit so perfectly, I couldn’t resist. The weather has finally warmed up which means Kyson and I are out and about walking. Today on our …
Hu Plig is Soul Calling
Hu Plig (who plee), a soul calling ceremony performed by shamans, when the soul has been frightened away. To bring and entice the soul home, there is chanting and offerings of food. The ritual of a hu plig can be performed …
What Hmong Children Hear Growing Up
Growing up, my parents always had these weird “sayings” or folktale stories. It seems in most Hmong families there were the similarity to the sayings and stories but most of the time the meaning behind it was almost scary like …