Blog #11

Many Hmong people faced large amounts of discrimination when they came to America. Like most immigrants face some kind of discrimination and adjustment coming to America, the Hmong’s had to deal with a brand new type of lifestyle and culture; this caused their own culture to be tested. (#5) Along with adjusting to a new lifestyle they were very discriminated by their religious rituals. Playing roles were a huge deal to Hmong culture. The husband, who would find a  job, allowed the wife to be at the house tending to their children’s needs. (#3) It was easy settlement back in their country because they lived on farms, grew their own food to eat and made all the necessities that were needed for living; they lost their way of living when they came to America because everything relied on money or a job. (#6) If the husband could barely speak English it was very hard for him to find a job. Because of new living conditions, the Hmong wives wouldn’t be able to grow their own food in their backyards. (#8) It was a huge transition and the roles within the family were lost because of it.    

So much was lost. (#10) The underlying root cause was mainly their previous way of living and transitioning to a whole new establishment. There disadvantages of the English language kept them from obtaining a job. In the movie “Coming to America” the husband was trying to get a job in America but was held back because he could not speak the language at all. It was a huge setback for them, the hardships continued. (#9)

It would be hard to adjust to all this from being so used to your own culture and lifestyle because of the living barriers it would indeed be hard to adjust overall to the new living conditions; role loss can cause discouragement. (#4) It is in fact a hardship for Hmong families in the beginning just dealing with every aspect of American culture.

In “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” the family deals with more hardships in America because of the stress coming from their culture. The Lee’s deal with the challenges not only coming from the doctors but through their culture as well. The clash between the Lee’s, the doctors and Hmong culture creates stress and a very destructive environment. The Lee’s deal with many controversies they don’t even understand, their daughter being taken away for example. Lia was taken from her parents because the belief in the certain medication Lia takes. Lia’s parents believe in the Hmong culture and following their beliefs not what the doctors say, this causes the idea of clash and disagreement.

Ultimately they (Hmong people) lose so much when they come here (America). (#2) America is in fact a better environment than what they were living in, however, to them it may not seem that way.(#7) They were vulnerable in so many ways that it is hard for them to pick up a new life different from the one they are used to living. Even though the Hmong people don’t cause destruction their beliefs cause the clashing between many environments.