My Story
Nyob Zoo, My name is Crystal Xyooj Yaj! I was born in Fresno, California and raised in Menasha, Wisconsin. Like many other Hmong people out there, I come from a big family. Growing up, the only Hmong people I was ever around was my family members. My family never strictly follow Hmong traditions or forced my siblings and I to know everything there is to know about our culture. I went to a school with little to none Hmong students, so I never really cared much about the fact that I barley knew anything about the Hmong culture. It was when I transferred my senior year of high school where I attended a school with a bigger Hmong student body. I quickly realized my first couple of weeks that they all spoke Hmong fluently and knew everything about the Hmong culture that I should have also known. They would question me all the time about my knowledge on Hmong related topics. Hanging out with them made me feel embarrassed and like an outcast. I eventually transferred back to my old school and forgot about all those horrible feelings, then I got to college.
The University I attend has a good number of Hmong students. Not only did they know way more than me and spoke fluent Hmong, but those who weren't even Hmong, knew about the same as me or even more. Instead of feeling embarrassed again though, I took it upon myself to learn from these people. I started asking several of them how to say English words in Hmong including many other questions and along the way I realized I was actually starting to learn a little more. Each time I learned a new word, I felt better about myself. I would soon learn more than just a few words however. In one of my classes, we were to complete a research project of our choice. With the situation I was in, I knew exactly what I would choose for my topic. One of the biggest problem I found during my research were the complaints from elders who feared that those in today's generation were losing knowledge of the Hmong culture. With what I was learning and how fast I was learning everything, I knew it was possible for others to do so too.
Trying to learn the Hmong culture through research on my own was not easy. There are very few sources available out there and when you do find one, the information on there is very limited. I had to look through various sources to get my information. I gathered all the research I've learned and put them all in one for you. The best part about it all though was the fact that I didn't mind. This wasn't just learning about the Hmong culture, but also about myself. With everything I've learned, there's no way I wouldn't want my kids in the future not to know. It inspired me to love who I am and feel proud of it. I hope that as you explore this website, it'll do the same to you.
The University I attend has a good number of Hmong students. Not only did they know way more than me and spoke fluent Hmong, but those who weren't even Hmong, knew about the same as me or even more. Instead of feeling embarrassed again though, I took it upon myself to learn from these people. I started asking several of them how to say English words in Hmong including many other questions and along the way I realized I was actually starting to learn a little more. Each time I learned a new word, I felt better about myself. I would soon learn more than just a few words however. In one of my classes, we were to complete a research project of our choice. With the situation I was in, I knew exactly what I would choose for my topic. One of the biggest problem I found during my research were the complaints from elders who feared that those in today's generation were losing knowledge of the Hmong culture. With what I was learning and how fast I was learning everything, I knew it was possible for others to do so too.
Trying to learn the Hmong culture through research on my own was not easy. There are very few sources available out there and when you do find one, the information on there is very limited. I had to look through various sources to get my information. I gathered all the research I've learned and put them all in one for you. The best part about it all though was the fact that I didn't mind. This wasn't just learning about the Hmong culture, but also about myself. With everything I've learned, there's no way I wouldn't want my kids in the future not to know. It inspired me to love who I am and feel proud of it. I hope that as you explore this website, it'll do the same to you.
Resources:
Lor, Xai, Txongpao Lee, and Tougeu Leepalao. Hmong Wedding Procedures = Tshoob Kos. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Hmong Wedding Procedures. Web. Oct. 2014. <hmonglibrary.com>.
Learn Hmong lessons and Traditions. "Learn Hmong Lessons Traditions RSS. N.p., n.d Web. Oct. 2014.
Lor, Xai, Txongpao Lee, Kou Yang, and Tougeu Leepalao. Hmong Funeral Procedures = Txheej Txheem Kab Pam Tuag. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Web.
Yang, Neng, Lee Thao, Kaying Yang, and Soua K. Yang. Introduction to Hmong History and Culture. Minneapolis, MN: Minneapolis Public School, Collaborative Services Dept., 1994. Print.