Adapting to an American Culture

Hmong adapting to life in Laos for Hmong families, who had a family member who were part of the world was no longer possible. Refugee camps in Thailand were beginning to shutdown. Once in a while families in the refugee camps were being transported to the United States of America. Deporting to the United States of America was like leaving a world of hopelessness and moving up a step to a whole new world. Leaving for America was like dying and being reborn again. The Hmong viewed the United States as a world of freedom. A world where there were opportunities for the Hmong children who are just growing up and will be able to make their dreams come true. What was life in America like? There were always contradictions between whether to come to the United States or stay in Thailand between Hmong family members. Many families separated and went their own way because some wanted to go to the United States and some wanted to go elsewhere. Other than going to the United States, the refugees had the opportunity to go to Australia, Europe and other places. The refugees wanted to come to the United States and other places because there they would be new opportunities where the new generations would be able to make something of their lives.

Thinking of coming to the United States was a dream come true, but actually living in the United States was a totally new experience. Hmong families thought that if they did come to the United States, they would be able to forget about the war and their past. Their hopes of forgetting the past were all wrong. No matter where they go or live their lives, their past will always be like their shadows. The Hmong life style was no longer possible because the only life that they knew was working in the crop fields. In order to successfully live in the United States one had to be educated and know the way of life in the New World. Changing the life style wasn’t that hard of a task, it only takes time to adjust to the lifestyle. It was an overstatement towards the culture of the Hmong compared tochanging lifestyles. Hmong families were not willing to give up their religious beliefs.

(Image provided by Mai Moua Thao)
Here is a picture of Mai Moua on her Journey to America.