Sharing Hmong Music - Mim Yaj

I believe Mim Yaj released her sophomore album this past Hmong New Year. She also participated in the Hmong International New Year Beauty Pageant and came out third place.

Nraug Hmoob by Mim Yaj is a nice blend of qeej instrumental music (I can hear Yang Geli in there) with a traditional "kwv txhiaj" from the White Hmong of Paj Taug Lag, Wenshen, Yunnan.

Hlub Hauv Npaus Suav Summary

Hlub Hauv Npaus Suav Summary

**Spoiler Alert **

Muaj Tsim (Nuj Sua Lis) keeps having dreams about a beautiful girl, who he remembers her name in the dream to be Laim Txias. Having fallen in love with the girl in his dreams, he sketches her face onto a poster board.

Muaj Tsim moves to a village in the highlands to be a doctor for the local villagers. While taking a break from his duty, he spots a girl swimming in a lake who resembles the girl in his dreams. He calls out and chases after her, but is unsuccessful.

Nkauj Hmoob Noj Neeg

Nkauj Hmoob Noj Neeg Summary

**Spoiler Alert**

Koob (Koob Xyooj) is a student at Siam University. Since Thailand will become a member of the ASEAN Integration, Koob and his classmates are instructed to research the diversity of cultures and religions in Thailand—including ethnic minorities. Koob is stressed out about not being able to locate any information on the Hmong. His Thai friend, Da, suggests he focuses his topic on a Hmong religion so he can gather data by interviewing Hmong elders. Koob and his friend locate an elderly Hmong man, who then shares a story about a group of Hmong who practiced cannibalism.

Tub Feej (Koob Xyooj) and his friend are on a business trip. They get lost and end up at a strange Hmong village. Trying to sell his “ntiv qeej,” Tub Feej borrows a qeej (reed pipe) from the village head and begins to play it. The moving and beautiful sound of the qeej draws a crowd of admirers, including a beautiful, mute girl named Nag Yuam (Dej Ntxhee Muas). She falls instantly in love with Tub Feej.

Tuag Hlub Summary

Tuag Hlub Summary

**Spoiler Alert**

Yis Hawj (Leem Lis) was betrothed to her sickly maternal cousin, Kim Lis (Xeeb Lis), at age three. Since then, she has lived with her fiancé’s family and visits her biological mother occasionally. Yis, however, does not love her fiancé and is annoyed by Kim’s pestering elder brother, Teem Lis (Vej Lis).

One day on her way to visit her mother, Yis trips and falls near a bamboo-pipe water system. A young man, Kuab Yaj (Ceeb Hawj), happens to be nearby and rushes over to help Yis. Afraid that Yis’ twisted ankle might swell up, Kuab quickly finds an herb. He chews it up in his mouth and wraps it around her ankle with a piece of cloth torn from the sleeve of his hemp shirt. Before he leaves, she asks him to give her drinking water and they both seem to be fond of each other’s presence.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year readers!

I apologize for being inactive in the last six months. I've been thinking about the blog a lot but I was and still am very busy applying for professional school and I just don't have the time to post anything. The good news is that hopefully my busy schedule will dampen a little and I will be able to find bits of time here and there to put up new posts.

Hope everyone has accomplished a lot in the past year. If not, set new goals this year and strive for them!

Below, I'm sharing a picture of the newly reconstructed General Vang Pao statue at the Fresno Fairgrounds. I was there for the unveiling ceremony. It looks good, much more improved in quality and size than the old one.