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Mee Vang - Strong in Two Cultures
by Nicole Robinson
Mee Vang is American-born but is rooted in her Hmong culture. She is a Mars Hill College student who serves two completely different cultures simultaneously. "At home, I speak my native Hmong language to my parents. This language is still used in our culture."
Vang embraces her two cultures, although at times it seems hard. "I always thought that it was cool that I can speak two languages, but sometimes one language can dominate the other. I need to find a balance."
Born in Fresno, California, she moved with her family to North Carolina in 1994. "My parents were looking for job opportunities, and they wanted my brother and sisters to grow up in a safer environment." The move from California to North Carolina was a big change. It took the family four days to drive to North Carolina in their van. "I don't have many memories of California because I was really young when we moved. It all seemed like a dream to me."
She can remember the first time she attended elementary school in North Carolina. " I could not understand a word my teacher or classmates were saying. They all had heavy southern accents. They all thought that I couldn't speak English!" It was sometimes difficult for Vang to adjust to her new environment. "I grew up in the city where there were more cars than trees; here in North Carolina there are more trees than cars. It was a culture shock for me."
Her parents, who are originally from Laos, came over to the United States after the Vietnam War. "They always want the best for us because they never had the opportunity to be educated." Vang values her family, and valuing family is a major characteristic of the Hmong culture.
"Whenever I'm going through a hard time and want to give up, I think of my parents and what they had to go through for us. Then all my obstacles don't seem too bad."
Vang's parents came to America after the Vietnam War. "They used to tell me stories about escaping the Vietnamese soldiers into the forest. I have heard stories of trying to cross the Mekong River (from Laos into Thailand) and having loved ones drown or be shot."
The thing that Vang likes most about the Hmong culture is that it is deeply rooted in the family. Vang has four sisters and one brother. "I thought it was normal to have such a big family," Vang said. But she has since noticed that not many North Carolina families have more than two or three children.
Vang said that her name confuses people the most. "I'm not sure what my name means. It might not even have a meaning. It's just a name in the Hmong language."
Vang and her family currently live in Hickory, North Carolina, where a good number of Hmong people live. Every November, the Hmong people of Hickory celebrate the Hmong New Year, which is their biggest festival of the year.
Vang came to Mars Hill because one of her high school teachers recommended it. She liked the college because of its small size. "I feel like every time I move I experience a different culture." Mars Hill College was completely different from any culture she had experienced. She had never lived in such a small community where everyone knows each other.
In the future, Vang would like to travel out of the United States. She has already experienced the Hmong culture and the culture of Western North Carolina and other parts of the state. Next she would love to experience all the different cultures around the world.
At Mars Hill College, Vang is a sophomore and a business major with a concentration in communications. She writes for the Hilltop newspaper. She is also involved in her youth group back in her hometown.
Click to read how Tar Heel Hmong Celebrate New Year
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