Hmong or Mong??

Pictures found at ThailandsWorld

The below passage is found from Sarnworld by user Mly14 so I thought I should share it with whomever that is interested and also add a little bit of my knowledge. To my belief I do not know whether this is true or not, but all I got to say is we are all Hmong, and whether you are a Hmong or Mong, we at the end are still Hmoob, our history is still the same no matter how much we try to deny it or how much we try to change it. No matter what, we all fought the Chinese emperor, we were force out of China, we had to migrate to an unknown land, start a new future, fought in the Secret War and etc. Even though some of our ritual may be slightly different we are all still Hmong.

 

What I mean in some of our rituals may be slightly different: the funeral ritual will be explained in this passage that I had taken from SW but other rituals may be the wedding rituals. For the Green Hmongs/Mongs they do not “Hu Plig” for the bride and groom until they are ready to go negotiate the bride price and what not, but for the White Hmong, it is crucial that they do the “Hu Plig” three days after the bride is brought to her husband’s home. When at the wedding of a Green Hmong bride, after the bride is dressed up she must have a last meal with all her friends that is consist of boil chicken and rice but for the White Hmong we do not have this ritual at all. In fact I had never heard of this ritual until one of my close friend who is a Green Hmong married her now husband.

 

Not just that, but we as Hmong still have different rules and rituals over our last name as well. I may not know all of them but I do know few, I as well may not be correct so I will not go any further about the last names and their different rules and rituals.

 

At the end we are all still Hmong regardless, and that’s what matter to me most.

 

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Story found from SarnWorld posted by Mly14 at the Hmong section

 

Several years ago, a guy wrote about why Hmong has two dialects.

The Truth Behind the Name Mong and Hmong
Written by: Num Ntxheb “Jesse” Faaj 20 July 2004
Translated by Tom Hang

“In the beginning, there was only one group of Mong, but when the Mong and the Chinese fought against each other, the Mong were scattered and divided into many groups. Since then, the Mong began to speak different languages and form various groups, such as Mong Dlu, Mong Yao Chua and other Mong that may be unknown to us today. Nevertheless, the articulation of the term “Mong” is still the best pronunciation for everyone. The pronunciation of the word “Hmong” is just for one group that had outshooted or transformed from those speaking the Mong language. The term “Mong” is the original or proto root word for the Mong language that the Mong Leng still use today.

The truth behind the “Mong Leng” and the “Hmong Der,” is that they are one group of people. Everyone was united with one goal in mind, which was to protect the name “Mong.” Everyone fought against the same enemy from era to era regardless of the wars they were involved in.

Due to the wars, the term Mong evolved into two names or two distinguishable groups of people. A Mong group transformed itself and changed their language. After this transformation, they called themselves “Hmong” and stated that they were “Hmong Der”, meaning the innocent one.

The cause for having the name “Hmong Der” was not due to conflicts or problems within the Mong. It was a means devised by a Mong female to save one group of Mong only. She sought ways to save the men of her group. During that time, the Mong and the Chinese fought a major battle. When the Mong lost the battle, the Chinese went after them. The Chinese marked all the Mong men for extinction. The sister of this group came up with an idea that “they needed to change their language and costumes to make them different from the proto-Mong; in that way, she could justify to the Chinese that her group was the innocent one. They looked different from the Mong that fought against the Chinese.” Therefore, they changed their costumes and language into something different. From that time on, this group of Mong began to wear white skirts and pants with sashes when they dressed. The men changed from wearing full-length pants and extended crotches to fitted pants with short crotches. This group of Mong began to speak the language called Hmong Der and use the term “Hmong” as we know today. The truth behind this story is firmly supported, evidenced by a funeral ritual still practiced by the Hmong Der today. The Hmong Der still highly regarded their “sisters,” sometimes referred to “aunts” with great respect. When a brother dies, the sister plays an important role in his funeral ceremony. It is because at one time in history a sister had saved their ancestors from Chinese persecution. When there is a misfortune in their families, Hmong Der will call on their sisters or their aunts to dwarf off or drive away the misfortune, so that the misfortune will not occur and do harm to their future generation or their descendents.

As for the Mong who have kept their original or proto language, their name has come to be known as “Mong Leng”. It was not that they had “leng” [meaning they have "veins," but the word “leng” in Mong means “admitting”] so they called themselves Mong Leng. They were the ones who had to admit that they had fought against the Chinese. They were the majority who faced the consequences and who were persecuted very harshly by the Chinese during this period because they hold on to their name, their language and culture, and their costumes. This group did not have a sister or an aunt to save them at that crucial time. Since then, they have called themselves “Mong Leng” because they admitted to the Chinese that they were the ones who had fought against the Chinese. Today, Mong Leng still hold on to the term “Mong.” They do not practice the funeral rituals like the Hmong Der who have regarded their sisters or their aunts highly during the funeral ceremonies.

Even though Hmong Der had escaped persecution that time, the Chinese never ceased to persecute the Mong as a people. Despite their different languages and different costumes, both groups remained committed to fight their enemy and helped each other until this day. The Mong had fought many wars with the Chinese. One time, the “Three Mong” [groups] combined their forces to fight against the Chinese, so the term “Three Mong” emerged, and later became the term “We Mong” [because “peb” also means “we”] that still in use today.

There are Mong living in China, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and other western countries. We have both Mong Leng and Hmong Der. One group may not have more population than the other, but when comparing all the Mong population combined in the world, the Mong who speak Mong Leng are the majority.

This story is not written to compliment or offend anyone, but it is written to dispel the truth behind the two names “Mong” and “Hmong.” This story is not coming out of the blue, but it is written to record the story that has been retold time after time by our ancestors who have passed on this story to us from grandparents to grandchildren and from generation to generation until today.

Such a story as this one, if not preserved and written down, it may disappear. Given this reason, I decided to write this story down and share it with you. If there is anyone who knows any story about the Mong people, I encourage you to write and share it with us so that we can all learn from our past history.”

Early Saturday Morning at Work

It’s 5 in the morning, and I got my coffee on my left my ice water on my right my earphones blast with music, getting ready to start the Saturday work day. I know crazy right; I give up my Saturdays just so I can work for 10 hours every Saturday so I can get Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays off, which means all the other days I’ll be working a 10 hours shift. I wish I didn’t have to do such a thing, but hey, what can I do when I need Mondays and Wednesdays off for school. I am lucky enough my employer accommodated my schedules. I really didn’t have to be here this early, but  the earlier I get here the earlier I get to leave for the day.

 

For another two hours on my end of the room I’ll be the only one in the office a co-worker will also be on the other end doing her work, maybe by 7 or 8 we’ll get a few more co-workers who works the weekend shifts, but for now it will be only two of us. There are not many people who work the weekend shift so it’ll be a dead office today which its good; it means the system would work much faster, no lagging in our system thus more work is done. I guess the good thing about working Saturdays is I WON’T BE MAKING ANY PD CALLS!!!

 

School starts this Monday; I am very excited to start my photography schooling. This is going to be a great experience that I’ll be looking forward to learning. My schedule is pack this quarter. I have one class in the morning on Monday at 10am which last until noon and then a class at 4 which last until 8pm and then one online class. On Wednesday I’ll have one class at 8am and which ends at noon and then another class at 4pm that last until 8pm. Busy, busy, busy me!  

 

Oka let’s see how long I’ll last with this 10 hours, 4 days work week and 2 school days.

Botun Gleep Sood Tai episode 1 and 2

I love “Botun Gleep Sood Tai” with Aum and Aff!!! This lakorn is great and I have a very strong feeling it’s going to be tear jerkers which I love tear jerker lakorns!

Botun Gleep Sood Tai opening theme, credit to Ateam’s channel

I feel so bad for Aum’s character so badly! So Aum was born as the jinx son who ever since he was conceived his father had always thought he was a jinx. How sad, the boy wasn’t even born yet and his father is already cursing him! I feel so bad for him. I hate Aum’s dad in this lakorn so much. He’s always calling Aum a unlucky jinx but never gives him the chance to prove himself for instance he is always saying that Aum is stupid unlike his brothers he is not as smart as them and can’t be number one like them, but if the dad just give Aum a chance and let him focus on his school work (like his brothers) and not always look after the restaurant he would be smarter than the brothers! GRRR I hate Aum’s dad! But it’s only a lakorn, I am sure later on in the lakorn Aum’s father is going to figure out that his two favorite sons are nothing compare to our handsome Aum!

I love Aff’s character! She’s so cute and lovely and of course very tomboyish! She plays this beautiful tomboy so very well. She pulls the character Ah-yong so well! I love the way she friendly hit Ah-peng just like a real guy would do, and all her reactions are so right on the money. Aff is hilarious in this series, all her facial expression, all her movements everything.

Every character are doing great, they all are doing a great job playing their character. I am starting to feel bad for Oh’s character. She plays Aff’s oldest sister who is now married to Ah-peng, who later will turn out gay, I know isn’t it sad for Oh? After Oh have her child he just totally neglected her. She’ll have to endure so much pain in this lakorn, how sad for Oh. TAh plays Ah-peng, Oh’s husband who is gay, but pretty much only marry Oh so that he can fulfill his parents wish. Sucks for him! I am very sure that as the lakorn progress Tah’s character is going to fall for Oh, well he better or I’ll never like him ever as Tah, not as his character Ah-Peng, but him… ahhahaha

Ploy plays as the beautiful middle sister who attracts all the men, well except Ah-peng because he picked the older sister instead. Ploy plays the sister who always wants things her way and is very girly girl who is all about being beautiful and glamorous. She plays that character great, oh and she is always the n’ek in their Chinese opera house. Tui plays as their adopted brother who was abandon by his parents when he was a kid. How sad for him. The girl’s father adopted him and he helps in the opera house and now plays the p’ek in their shows. He is madly in love with Ploy, but she doesn’t see him that away. Well you can tell that she does like him too, but she has too much pride to admit it and show her feelings.

I don’t know Ah-nai’s real name and or stage name, but he plays as Aum’s adopted brother who besides their mother cares for Aum. Yeah really everyone hates him except for their mother and Ah-nai. This dude is handsome!! I hope that Ah-nai ends up with somebody because he deserves it since he is so nice to Aum and also is like a brother and a best friend to Aum.

I can’t wait for this lakorn to progress and when Aum starts working in Aff’s opera house so we can start seeing cute Aum and Aff scenes. As for now, they both hate each other’s guts. Their first encounter was too funny, how Aff had no money and wanted to go get her brother to pay for her food, but they didn’t believe her. She is one feisty n’ek, which we love so much.

This lakorn airs every Monday and Tuesday so I can’t wait for episode 3 to air on Monday and then episode 4 to air on Tuesday and so forth. I can’t wait for this series to progress. I am already hooked on this lakorn.

(Pictures below are credit o Yiln from SW)

(Screencaps below are credit to Tina from SW)

 

 

Crisis at the pump?

Goodness, are you kidding me? All the gas stations are out of gas!! Last night I went to get gas and I had to go to two different gas stations just to find gas, this is insane. I was listening to the radio on my way to work this morning and people were calling in about having to fight in line just so they can get gas, and it’s hard to tell when or if the gas was going to run out at the gas station. They also were talking about having to drive out of their way to find a gas station that actually had gas. I was lucky; I only had to go to two different stations before I found gas and these two gas station were less than a mile apart and I didn’t have to wait in line. When I finally found gas at the BP gas station the Chevron across the street was empty and looked like a ghost town. What is up with all these gas station running out of gas? All these gas stations their parking are either empty with no customers or with too many costumers lining up their cars to get gas. The gas price had actually come down compare to last week, but this whole entire running out of gas is insane.  

Beneficial 5K run/walk

(#379 was my number out of over 900 runners)

On last Thursday September 18 some of my co-workers and myself joined the 5k run for our company, and believe me, it felt great to be able to join this beneficial walk/run. This 5k event was held at our corporate office with lots of booth and entertainments, also this 5k was to benefit a camp that helps camp many diseased children. It was an honor to participate in this event, knowing that I had mad a difference even if it was just a little bit, it means a lot to someone else.

 

I hope that next year and the many years to come the new company will continue this tradition that my previous company had been holding. This event has been held every year for over the last eight years and had helped this particular organization continue helping diseased children. Not just this event, but I hope that the new company will continue with many of our charitable events that my old company had been holding.

 

It was great to see many runners and faces at the event. Even my boss, the VP of the unit I worked for was there to run and give his support and many of my other employees and other supervisors were as well there with their friends and family members. It was an event that does not matter the title of the position because every one was there for one reason, and the reason is to raise money and show support.

  

Just a beautiful lazy pre autumn Sunday

It was a beautiful Sunday today! The weather was great the air was splendid, the wind was perfect, the sun was not up but yet everything about today was beautiful. As always Sunday’s are my lazy days and I made the best out of it. I was able to hang up the hammock and indulge in my romance novel for over 4 hours until I had to cook dinner. Every now and then there was a hint of cool breeze but it was not enough to have to put on a sweater, but it was enough to tell that autumn is yet around the corner.  As busy as I am I am glad that I am able to have some lazy Sundays and is able to indulge in whatever I can. I was also glad that I decided not to go anywhere Saturday night but stay inside and also indulge in my romance novel and few Thai lakorn. Every now and then it’s great to just stay inside and not go out anywhere for the weekend. I guess I am starting to feel a little old and started to have the effect of being a “party pooper” as my cousin had called me for canceling the Saturday night plans.

I am certainly enjoying this pre autumn weather. It’s not too hot nor is it too cold. The weather has been perfect. I’ve been able to drive down the highway with no AC on and only my sunroof open and my windows slightly ajar. This is yet another reason why I love autumn; I am able to open my sunroof and drive down the road and not worry about my terrible watery eyes, no pollen to make my eyes watering so I can enjoy the wonderful autumn air.

Hmong dance Ga New Year 2007-2008

This post is for Ginger from Nye Noona and anyone else who cares to watch.

 

These were dances by my youngest sister’s group and my little cousins’ dance group. All dances were taught by my aunt except for the umbrella dance that was taught by one of my cousin’s wife.

 

The first three dances are danced by my youngest sister Cindy (the tallest girl), my cousin Vandala, my cousin Jackie and their friend Brenda.

 

The name of their group is called “Paj tawg pig pooj” which literally means “exploding flower” the word “pig pooj” is actually the mimic of an explosion. Or it can also be translated into “blooming flowers”.

 

The second group is called “Nkauj Hmoob Thov Siab” which means “Hmong girls from the mountains”. My Uncle, the majority of the girls’ grandpa gave them this dancing name. In this group the girls range from age 4 to 6. They were all so very adorable! It was their first year and also with their age I thought they did a great job!

 

Please do excuse the terrible shaking, I had to hold the camera and it was painful! Ahaha… But do enjoy the dances from last years Georgia New Year Dances perform by the two groups. This year I’ll be smart and bring the tripod.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THis is actually my favorite dance from the girls, but my Aunt didn’t call me on time for the dance. Right before I walk away to get water they were called to go on up stage, thus I missed most of this particular dance.

 

 

 

The last two dances are from the little girls group.

 

 

 

 

 

To be acquired?

So the acquisition is to take place this Friday, after that anything is possible, we may or may not wake up with a job by Monday morning as bad as the economy is at the moment it’s hard to comprehend what is going to happen next. Earlier this year we were inform that the company was going through a series of being acquired by another company, this was of course a shock to me and many of my co-workers, and no one was ready for this big blow. It was just a normal early spring morning when we all came into the office with a big shocking email that this company may become of something else in the next couple of months. Questions were raised and concerns were all over everyone’s face not understanding that a well to do multi-million dollar company is going to be acquired by an even bigger company, most of all, not from the states. Many people like me were concern about loosing our jobs and not being able to find another good job since the economy is not doing too well.

 

We’ve been told in our Unit that there is nothing to worry about for us thus what we do will not concern the company that will be acquiring us. There will not be any overlapping in our unit with the new company, and no one in our unit will loose our jobs. I hope that that is really the case because it will be hard to have new management and new fellow co-worker and not just that, it would be hard to be the individual who has to find a new job. I hope that by Monday, and for the many years to come (that is until I get my photography degree) I will be able to work in this company under the same management and same co-workers.

 

I know that starting Monday morning, many things in this company will have to change, anything may happen and anything can become of us. I just hope that whatever it is, loosing our jobs will not be apart of the agenda.

Ze’s style dumplings

My sister-in-law had asked me to make some dumplings for her class so I decided to make a post on it. Like I’ve said before in one of my previous food post, if you want to know how to make it or the ingredient you’ll have to ask me because I don’t measure the amount I  use, I normally just put in the amount I want and it always turns out the way I want them to.

 

I took some dumplings to work and share it with my small team and my managers and they loved it. Actually this is not the first time I brought some dumplings in for them, but once again they love it.

Before all the ingredients are mixed, there are pork, cabbage, green onion, cilantro and onion

All the ingredents mixed together with my favorite oyster sauce and some black sauce.

The dumpling wraps

Before I close the wrap together.

The dumplings inside the steamer

My favorite steamer

The finish product! YUMMMY!!!!!

Hmong Dance Practice

It’s almost that time of years again, the Georgia Hmong New Year. I am actually very excited for the annual festival. Honestly the only reason I am looking forward to the New Year is because of the dances my youngest sister and little cousins will be performing. They dance for the New Year every year and they get better and better every year. My sister’s group had been dancing for the past 4 years although there is always more room to improve. My aunt their instructor had also decided to teach her youngest daughter and my little cousins’ age ranging from 4 to 6. Last year was their first time these little girls had ever danced and they did such a great job; they got the crowd extremely excited. I am looking forward towards watching these two groups on stage again.

The girls are a little late, but they are now practicing hard for the New Years. They normally start practicing their dances in the beginning of summer, but this year, they are running late and had just started practicing, but I am very confident that the two groups will be doing great. They have about two more months to practice their dances and I am sure that they well do great.  

Both my sisters, Hlee showing the girls the dance that she made up for the girls

My Aunt teaching the dance to the girls. This dance is mix between the two groups of girls, few girls were not at the practice thus there are i think 4 girls missing.

The little girls dance group. Two girls were not at the practice.

More practicing.