The Story of a First-Born Hmong American Woman This is my story….. My story is a little different from the ones you heard because I was born in America. My family was also one who eventually ended up being really westernized. The Story of a First-Born Hmong American Woman

Video Clip: A brief History of the Hmong People https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dti6qB0r7Ok

Before the war…. I know this was earlier before the war because when my family left to the USA, these three siblings of mine were older and two more babies were added to the picture.

Family History French came to Laos in 1950s- Christianity. Family moved to Thailand probably around 1977-1978 Uncle worked with General Vang Pao In 1975, my uncle left to the USA 1979 family flew to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania In 1980, sister Jassy was born In 1981- Eau Claire, Wisconsin, my sister Jane was born 1982-moved to Merced, California In 1983, I was born In 1987, my brother, Tony was born Moved to Oroville in 1988 1989, we came to Chico, California Family History: When the French came to Laos in 1950s, they brought Christianity with them. My grandfather (mom’s dad) was known for his voodoo skills. He was converted as a Christian and able to convert his whole family to Christianity, so my whole life, I never knew the Hmong religion of Spirit calling, etc. My dad was an orphan and so he worked for my grandfather (mom’s dad). My grandfather loved what a hard worker my dad was so he gave my mom to my dad when she was around 12-13 and he was 17-18. My grandfather was an intelligent man and knew that if war was coming, we needed to get out so he moved his family to Thailand around 1977-1978, where he used his son to help sponsor the whole family to come to the USA in 1979. In 1975, my uncle flew to Philadelphia, PA, where he was able to recruit the rest of us to come to the USA. In 1980, sister Jassy was born In 1981- Eau Claire, Wisconsin, my sister Jane was born 1982-moved to Merced, California In 1983, I was born In 1987, my brother, Tony was born (notice that we all have American names?) Moved to Oroville in 1988 1989, we came to Chico, California (where to this day, I still haven’t left)

My name…. Ellen Hamilton “Twinkie” Ellen Bell Moua (maiden name) Just like many of the people who were put in concentration camps without a name but a number, my name meant a lot to me because it was significant. My name is Ellen Hamilton and when you see that, you’re probably thinking this is some white girl. I know my students thought so. Throughout my life, I was called a “Twinkie” and my husband can tell you that he thought he married a Hmong girl but in reality he married a white girl. He calls me false advertisement. My maiden name is Ellen Bell Moua. Those of us born in the USA each got an American name because of different reasons. I was name Ellen Bell because my dad was learning English and he had a kid’s book about two friends name Ellen and Bell. That’s how I became known as Ellen Bell Moua. Throughout my life, I was teased by the Hmong kids thinking my name was “Allen” instead of “Ellen.” Everyone thought I had a boy’s name. However, the American kids couldn’t say my last name. You think you could: M-O-U-A?? It’s not Mo-ah, our Maow, it’s Muah! My whole life I was called Ellen Mo-ah.

Growing up….torn between 2 cultures Male-dominant culture Education Being an EL Denied schooling Denied being Hmong Poverty Breaking outside cultural norms Growing up was really hard. I was torn between two cultures. I am from a male-dominant culture where girls are expected to cater to the men. I remember being 6 and having to wake up at 6:30am to help my mom make rice, or cook & clean. It wasn’t fun while my older brothers got to sleep in. My family was very poor where my family made a living through the Farmer’s Market and welfare. As a child, I remember going to the farm and having to wash the vegetables early in the morning with my parents and sisters (remember the boys slept) as we got ready for the market. It was a lot of work and for someone reasons those were probably my happiest memories. I enjoyed playing catcher the fly in our apartments with no shoes on and just being happy, not knowing that we were poor. It was school that taught me how to be ashamed of whom I was. I was an English learner, and if you could remember, it was the pull-out method then. My friends always asked me where I went, and I would lie that I got to go to a special place and so it made them want to go too. Then one day, they told the teacher that I always got to go to this special place and why couldn’t they go as well. The teacher told them that I needed help with English. As an English learner, we don’t like to be known as someone who needs help because it makes us weak and stupid. Also, the teacher encouraged me to practice speaking English only at home, which would eventually make me feel like Hmong was useless. I also learned very quickly from overhearing teachers talk one day after school that the Hmong students were scoring extremely low compare to all the other students not understanding the factors that lie between those data. Overhearing teachers talk only made me feel like being Hmong was useless. I was ashamed. I didn’t want to be Hmong.

Dating….college….marriage Dating was always a “secret” Dating outside of race was not acceptable Never had to worry about being kidnapped Everything was about Face- bringing NO shame to the family!! ALWAYS encourage to attend College After college—Marriage…..after marriage— babies!

Outside the Hmong Norms I am independent! I got married after college. I married outside of race & to someone younger than me & EXTREMELY tall. I do not have any children.

My Family (Parents & Siblings)

My advice for you… Know your Hmong students. Try to pronounce their names correctly. Be aware of the Hmong cultural norms & taboos. Visit the Hmong New Years. Encourage them to speak Hmong & English. Encourage them to know their culture.