Advent in St. Paul, by way of Laos

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Newly ordained, I stand in front of a brightly decorated Christmas tree. Next to me is Nhia (Jonah) Xou Yang, former CIA collaborator turned minister. We are in the shared sanctuary of our respective Hmong and American congregations in a church on Saint Paul’s North End. It is Advent 1982. Soon the peacefulness is shattered. A rock band composed of Hmong teenagers arrives, rehearsing as they do each weekday afternoon. The noise drives us from our contemplation. I am glad that the kids are off the streets, however, and out of gang life. But for a moment, time stops as Nhia and I stand lost in thought staring at the tree, this well-known symbol of Western Christendom. Continue Reading

Going back, paying it forward: Miss Minnesota USA doing good on trip to Laos

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Recently, Miss Minnesota USA 2012, Nitaya Panemalaythong, was invited by the U.S. Embassy in Laos to “help promote business, charitable, and cultural ties between Laos and the U.S.” She’s running a fundraising campaign at http://www.gofundme.com/hok38 in preparation for her trip, which will be the first time she has ever gone to Laos. Continue Reading

In pictures: Boun season in Laos 2555 (2012)

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Boun That Luang. I remembered it like yesterday: Glaring bright lights, screeching sounds of live bands, clusters of laughter from the locals flooding in, sweet and spicy aroma tingling curiosity at the tip of my nose. While strolling along the edge of the Mekong River with a bag full of cafe nom yen and stuffing my face with about three freshly steamed sticks of khao lam, a young man tries to sell me a handful of Hello Kitty balloons. My first thought was, oh, consumerist culture sneeking in at its best? After all, it’s Hello Kitty. Who wouldn’t let this furry face of happiness dominate the world? I definitely would. Continue Reading

Behind every Lao community is a strong Lao woman

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It’s 5am. Mom quietly shuffles in to pick up baby Coraline. Her hands plagued with age and diabetic stiffness carefully cups Coraline’s little head against her chest. She sways and sings a lullaby. Mellow and sweet, it pierced my memory bank. Where did I hear that before? Familiar. Comforting. An hour passed by. Then I woke up wondering how I fell asleep. Continue Reading

The poetry of Lao spoons

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This month I’ve been celebrating the fifth anniversary since the release of my first full-length book of poetry, On the Other Side of the Eye, and part of that process has been looking at the poems I’d included, and what I was thinking. Continue Reading