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| TOPICS OF 2007 January Tseem tsis tau hlub tag Un amour inachevé An Unfinished Love Tus poj niam txiav plaub hau uas kho kho siab La coiffeuse langoureuse The languorous Hairdresser February 3 lub kub toj xub kev sib daj sib deev Les trois perles faisant face à l'infidélité The 3 Pearls Facing Unfaithfulness June Vim li cas NaisPhoo Vaj Pov raug mus nkuaj thiab Hmoob sawv pab thuab? Comprendre le projet politique General Vang Pao et les réaction de la community hmong Understanding Former General Vang Pao's Scheme and Hmong Community Reactions July: Guest Writer: Malie Siong LajZim thiab MasLias Txoj Kev Sib Hlub Hauv Nruab Siab L'amour secret de Lazi et Malia The Secret Love of Lazee and Malia September Guest Writer: Judy Yang Txoj kev yeej ntev, tabsis peb yeej taug mus txog Asmeslivkas teb La voyage fut long, mais nous sommes quand nous sommes enfin en Amérique The journey seemed long, but we made it to America. Guest Writer: May Zoua Hang Dab Neeg Qhia Lub Hauv Paus Pib Ua Neeb Thiab Kev Siv Tsiaj Thiab Cuaj Yeej Ua Neeb Mythe d e l'origine du chamanisme hmong et les usages du sacrifice des animaux et les fonctions des instruments du chaman Myth of the Origin of Hmong Shamanism and Healing Uses of Animals for Sacrifice and Functions of Shaman's Tools December Part I: Nws tus hluas nkauj raug deev Le coeur trompé The Heart Is Hurt. Part II Tus txiv neej uas xav tau ib tug tub L'homme qui désire un fils The man who desires a son Ib tug poj ntsuam muaj 60 xyoo tus nqi taub hau. The prix de fiancée d'une veuve de 60 ans. The Bride Price of a 60-Year Old Widow. |
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| CURRENT EXPERIENCES A $1,000 Bride. The Bride Price of a 60-Year Old Widow Kao-Ly Yang Sau ua lus hmoob Version française - I was 57 year old, Mother Jen explained, when my husband passed away. Three years later, I got remarried. Uncle Potchue took $1,000 for the bride price. Her eyelash blinked. Then she closed her eyes for a moment. She whispered her anger. - Why? Asked Nalia, a young divorcee who has been waiting for the bus with her two young children. It was 4PM. - He was the leader of the lineage of my current hushand. Not my first husband's lineage. The same clan name, but different ranks of sons. My former husband was a member of the 3-son lineage. The chief belonged to the 7-son lineage. ... But he said so. - 3 and 7-son lineages, but do they share the same group of rituals? - No. The two lineages are a little bit different; but still, it is the same clan. He had no right. It is a permitted wedding: an older sister-in-law marries a younger brother of her late husband, inside the same family. No need to ask for $1,000. - Don't you have any sons? - They cannot collect their mother's bride pride. - I meant did they protest? - No. They did not attend the wedding. We bought pieces of pork, and did the wedding meal, here, in Sacramento. My sons did not come. - This is really odd, concluded Nalia, shocked and saddened. You are too old to be asked for a bride price. - Yes. Uncle Potchue had asked $2,000. But I protested. I said he has no right. He took $1,000 off. I am too old. I have done my part as mother and wife. Mother Jen sighed for a long time. - What could I do? I am just a woman. Nalia's mind became tormented. This was the first time she heard about a bride price for an Elderly. She knew parents asked a bride price for young widows or divorcees, but not for the elderly women. - Uncle Potchue kept the money for himself. I know. It is egoistic. - Why did he ask for $1,000? What is the purpose of this money? To protect you against repudiation, or domestic violence? - I don't know. - You have your own sons. They take care of you, right? Jen did not answer. She was angry. - I am not an animal. She replied. Sitting on the bus station bench, the four women thought of their life, watching the road. - The bus is late, said Jen's daughter, carrying her two bags of DVDs, CDs and some packs of sugar cane and of fried pig skin. My daughter should be hungry right now. She smiled at her mother. Dee, a 58-year old woman who traveled with Nalia remained strangely silent. She worried. She has been tossing ball for hours with her new male acquaintances today. The too shining traditional costume wipes out her beauty, leaving her face pale and exhausted. - No one pleases my liver, she then exclaimed with a loud and quick laugh. Mother Jen replied her in laughing too. - Don't you? Be patience. I met my current husband the last day of the Hmong New Year. We spoke a few minutes. We exchanged our phone numbers. We called each other, then we got married. It was not easy. I lived in Portland. He lived in North Carolina. We met in Sacramento. - I feel quite hopeless, said Dee. My children are not with me. They moved to Wisconsin. - Why don't you rejoin them? Asked Nalia. - It is too cold over there. - But you have no support here. - I have my sister's daughter. A real niece. Her mom and I drank the same milk from the same mother. They buy me food, take care of me when I need help. - It is not like your own children, suggested Jen. - it is true, also said Nalia. Dee did not pay attention to their answer. Her memory already lost track of the conversation. She was back on her unique preoccupation. - I did not find any men. Dee said, hesitating. It would be nice to have someone to share the rent with. The four women's thoughts fled back to the Hmong New Year celebration. They had been happy. - I don't mind to have another husband, said Dee. It will be good to have somebody to talk to. I am married three times. I regret my first love. He died years ago, of diabetes. - How did you meet your second husband? Asked Nalia, quite intrigued. - I met him during the Hmong New Year of Fresno. He was from Laos. He was younger than me. But I thought he might be gentle. But he left me for a younger wife when he got his paper. I really have a bad karma. - Is it really bad karma, auntie? - Yes! My third husband left me too. I don't know why I let him in. This one just sneaked in my home. He was handicap. I thought he would live with me because he was an invalid. He only stayed with me during eight years before running away. He left me $1,500 as compensation. Nalia was also emotionally and financially distressed. She totally understood Dee's concerns. She did not want to be a $1000 bride as Jen. She divorced her husband because he has an affaire with an underage girl. Her mind was suddenly sharpened by one thought: In the Hmong society, women are not free. Young or old, they remain minors. Having sons is not safe, yet. They depend on their father, step-father, husband and chief of lineage. The bride price always reminds Nalia that she is just a woman, a less important human being in the Hmong society. - But the Sky-God did not help him, said Jen's daughter, ironically. He took the $1,000. The following year, he died in an accident. TOP The characters depicted in this story are fictional. Copyrights © 2007 Kao-Ly Yang. All rights reserved. |
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