Wednesday, Nov. 4 I had the opportunity to attend a women's group at the Hmong Center of Green Bay. It ended up being a surprise baby shower for Bao Vang. Coincidentally, she is one of the people I will be interviewing next week if everything works out. As I walked in the door I was the only non-Hmong there;however, I was welcomed in like I had been part of their group. The meeting started off with shouts of surprise and congratulations for Bao and Noah. Bao had come to the meeting expecting that she was presenting, she preferred the alternative. Games had been played like make a diaper using toilet paper, find the pins in the rice, pin the pacifier on the baby and guess the wrapped baby item.
Then we ate a curry soup called khaubpoob. The contents were bamboo, chicken, noodles, coconut milk, red curry, mushrooms, cilantro and cabbage was optional.
Throughout the night they spoke some in Hmong some in English. A 7-year-old girl sat next to me and was interested in learning more about me and what I was doing there. She ended up translating for me, which I appreciated. Without her I would have been lost.
As it was all wrapping up Bao thanked everyone in both English and in Hmong. She said she was not originally from Green Bay, therefor, she is away from her family. She thanked them for supporting her and welcoming her in to the community in Green Bay, and how much she looks forward to her Wednesdays with them. This is just one example of how important community and family are to the Hmong culture. There was an old Hmong saying on the wall that said, "To be with family is to be happy. To be without it is to be lost."


















