Interviewing my Grandmother

 A Timeline Oral History of the Life of Me Vang

April 18, 1948 – The blistering day was winding down; all was quiet as the gray slowly covers the sky in the tiny village of Haiho, southwest of Luang Prabang. The family gathered around the fire, waiting for the cry to signal the new baby. The day lengthens into night. The sky becomes black glittering with stars. The family continues to whisper prayers to their ancestors for a healthy baby. Finally, at the rooster’s first crow, a baby’s screeching cry was heard. The midwife ran to tell the waiting group that a daughter has been born and she was named Me for the endless meadow grass. She was the sixth of eight children and the third of four daughters.  The family rejoiced, happy to have another hand to work in the field.

Me’s family was considered wealthy for their abundance in silver bars and animals. The family had about fifty silver bars, 10 water buffalos, two chicken coops, 2 pig pens, and several guard dogs. The entire family, parents, grandparents, two single aunts, a single brother, and all eight siblings all lived together in a one room straw house. Six big beds were built using tree trunks to line up neatly on one side of the house. The fifteen family members were divided to share the six beds. Fortunately, Me and her sisters got a bed of their own to share. The kitchen, living quarters and bedrooms were all in a single open space. Then nearby woods were their bathrooms.

The family grew their own rice and vegetables in the nearby fields. Their daily chores included the adults waking up before daybreak to go till the land and plant new seeds. The elders and young children stay back home to babysit the babies, cook, clean, repair and make new clothing, and feed the farm animals. Play time was limited because there were always chores to get done.

1960 – This was Me’s blissful existence for the first twelve years of her life. Then rumors came that war was heading to their tiny village. There were whispers of men in uniforms killing marching their way, killing unarmed men and their families, including the old, women and children. Me’s father met with his relatives and it was agreed that the clan should move before war reached them. The villagers rushed to pack up what little possessions they had. Me’s parents had too many silver bars to transport so her father buried them in several secret places near the Red Water. He vowed to come back for his silver after seeing to his family’s safety. Me’s father moved them from one village to another, never staying long. After several years of uprooting the family through at least five villages, Me’s father finally settled them down in the small village of Ban Xay. After settling the family down, he secretly made his way back to the Red Water to retrieve his silvers.

1966 – It was in Ban Xay that Me met her husband, Toua Yang. Toua was from a poor family. He has just lost his father and his mother had remarried his father’s younger brother. In the old days, when an older brother passed away, it is the responsibility of the younger brother to marry his older brother’s widow and care for his nieces and nephews as his own.  As with Hmong tradition, Me was “kidnapped” by her husband while she was walking home from the field with sisters. Toua made his intention of marriage clear when he brought Me to his house and his father accepted Me into the family by waving a live chicken over both their head as a blessing. A messenger from Toua’s family was dispatched to Me’s parents’ house to inform them of Toua’s intention and to set a date for a wedding feast, which usually occurred within a few days of the “kidnapping.”

During the wedding, it was customary for Toua to pay a bride price of two silver bars, but because he did not have the money, he only paid one silver bar and promised to pay Me’s parents the other silver bar within the year. This was a hiccup in their wedding ceremony because it shows Toua’s lack in wealth. To further embarrass Toua and his family, Me’s father gifted her with two silver bars, one water buffalo, thirteen hand-made traditional skirts, six traditional dress shirts, and one silver necklace. After the wedding, Me came to live with Toua’s family of six; Toua’s mother, his step-father, two brothers and a sister. Toua’s family also farmed for a living. The daily chores were just as Me’s were before she married, but this time it was work for her new family.

1973 – Me’s days continue on like this for many years. She and Toua tried to have children but could not. One day, during a trip to the big town to trade for supplies, Toua met a lady by the side of the road begging people to take her child. She was sick and unable to care for her anymore. The child was barely two years old. She looked hungry and dirty. Toua took one look at her and feel in love with the child. He brought the child home and Me was hesitant at first but eventually feel in love with the little girl as well. The little girl is my mother. 

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Hmong Traditional Clothing

Preserving my Family's Lao Silver Bars

In this post, I will be preserving my families Lao Silver bars. Because the bars were made from Sterling silver, I employed several measures to ensure the metal would not deteriorate.

1. To prevent scratches and other damages, each piece is stored individually in its own compartment.

Here I have a container that is made from Nylon. Each of the bars is placed in its own compartment.

2. Store in tarnish-resistant case.

I put the bars in a case that would keep out moisture. The box has foam padding that can be placed on top of the object to create an almost airtight environment.

3. Store in a cool, dry place - preferably air-conditioned.

I stored the container in a shelf in one of our living rooms. It is far away from any bathroom, so moisture is not an issue. By placing the case in the shelf, I also protect the bars from any sunlight.

Analyzing my family's Laos Silver bars

These are Lao Silver bars, passed down through my family since the early 19th century. These silver bars were made as tools for religious ceremonies and as a form of currency. These bars were a very valuable item in Laos, as they were also a symbol of status. The older the bar was, the more it was respected as "old money". The main way to identify the worth of each piece is to look at the weight. To put the worth of the silver bars into perspective, just 5 half-pound pieces could buy a 500 pound cow. Additionally, the bars could be used to "buy" a bride. The engravings on each piece are inspired by the Dok Phikoun flower, and was originally only intended to be currency for the royal family.

The silver used to create the bars is actually sterling silver (92+%). From what my family has told me, it would reduce the worth of the bars if one was to clean them, as it essentially removes its history. Each bar in its current condition is worth $200-300 USD online.

These Silver bars are priceless antiques that have helped me learn a lot about the history of my family and my native country. I hope then when they are passed to me from my parents I am able to inform others about how important the bars were to those living in Laos and those that came to the United States.

Making Firecake! (Revised)

Hey everyone! In this entry, I will be going over and talking about changes that I would have liked to make when I cooked Firecake.

After doing extensive research of the many types of food cooked during the Revolutionary War, I decided to make Firecake, a food eaten by Colonial soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Very simple to make, this Firecake only had 2, sometimes 3 components: water, flour, and sometimes salt.

Choosing the ingredients was fairly easy - but I forgot an extremely important part: oil! This caused my end result to be very soggy and still "doughy". Additionally, baking soda would have been very helpful.

Ingredients: I made my Firecake with ingredients as close as possible to those originally used.

> Flour

>Water

>Salt

When I first started working on the fire, I thought it would be pretty easy! It turns out I was very, very wrong. I ended up having to use a torch to even get anything on fire! I probably should have at least used a grill pit of some sort - the wind basically put out every fire I made.

There is no specific measurement of each ingredient as the only requirement is that the Firecake is thick and damp before you cook it. I also made a small fire in my backyard to cook it on top of.

I should have known that the Firecakes wouldn't cook all the way through if the batter was almost liquid, but I went with it anyway! An improvement I could have made is to use a bit more flour or possibly baking soda and oil.

1. Mix together the ingredients until you get a texture close to mashed potatoes.

The bottom line here is that I should have used a pan of some sort. I didn't even wash the rocks! All in all, my idea of cooking the Firecake on top of the rocks didn't work out very well.

2. Place on hot rocks to cook.

I probably should not have eaten this afterwards, considering the health hazards. In retrospect, it would have been better to try and cook the Firecake inside of an oven. As you can see, it came out almost gooey. If I had cooked it in an oven, it should have come out like a hard biscuit.

3. Eat when the dough is cooked!

I learned a lot about what kind of conditions the Colonial soldiers had to go through while researching about Firecake, especially their diet. Seeing what the soldiers had to eat to survive gave me a big wakeup call on how much easier it is for us to find a suitable meal. 

I'll admit... that was not the most exciting thing I have eaten in my life. It really, really does not taste great and makes you smell like smoke afterwards! The main reason this food was made so quickly is because the Colonial soldiers were constantly moving around, they were forced to create a food that would last a long time. However, it is still interesting to see what Colonial soldiers ate in the past.

Visiting Renaissance Festival 2013!

I went to Renaissance Fair with my family on Sunday, October 13th. We did not stay long, but I was able to get some really nice pictures and video. Due to my school schedule, I could not come to any other days.

 Here was a lady working on a loom, making blankets and clothes!

This is an example of pottery. Towards the bottom, you can see all of the sculpting tools used to create the plates and cups.

Here is a video of the parade as the reenactors moved towards the stadium.

Renaissance Parade

I had a great time, and I wish I could have stayed longer and come on other days!

Washing Clothes by Hand! (Revised)

In this entry, I will be reviewing and note additions or changes I would have done while washing my clothes by hand!

Today, I decided to wash my own clothes outside. I've always wondered how it would be like to be in the 1700s washing clothes by hand. Now I know.

I should have also set up a clothesline to hang my close on, rather than using my fence. 

Here is a picture of reenactors doing it:

One major tool I was missing was a washing board! My family doesn't own one, sadly. I believe I would have gotten a more in-depth experience if I had used one. Also, I didn't use soap of any kind, so that would have been helpful as well.

Truthfully, it is not as easy as it looks! After bending down and washing a pair of pants and a shirt, my back and my hands started to hurt. It is definitely a tedious and exhausting job; I sure wouldn't want to do it all day!

I would have liked the opportunity to go to a creek or river and retrieve water to wash my clothes. Not that it would have been cleaner, but I would have been able to experience the full ordeal of washing clothes during the 1700s and 1800s. 

Here is me washing clothes by hand outside:  

Local Historical Site in Katy, Texas

Photo courtesy of Google Map

It recently dawned on me that I have been to this local historical site in Katy, Texas countless times over the last six years, but never really thought about its history. As a matter of fact, I have spent several summers here with its owners. For this project, I interviewed the owners, my mentor, Mr. Samuel Saenz and his wife, Dr. Karen Pitts Saenz.

The house was built in 1910 in Katy, Texas. The address is 5718 Fifth Street.  P. C. Pitts and his wife F. A. Stockdick Pitts moved into the house in 1947.  Their daughter Karen Pitts was 1 year old at the time.  In 1972, Mrs. Pitts passed away and the following year Samuel N. Saenz and Karen Pitts Saenz moved in to the home to be with Mr. P. C. Pitts.  Mr. Pitts passes away in mid-1970's leaving the home to Mr. and Mrs. Saenz.  During the 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial year, the house was cited as a historical home as one of the first homes built in the Katy area. A historical marker was erected by the local Texas Sesquicentennial Committee for this quaint ancestral home. 

The home is not open to visitors and there are no exhibits other than the plaque in front of the house.The home is in a business district and city council was petitioned in 1980's to allow the home to become a homestead.  The petition was granted and the home is still in the residential classification.  There are no special rules that apply to the home as it is not a "National Historical Home." It is only a Texas State recognition.

Photo courtesy of Google Map

5718 Fifth Street, Katy, TX

Below are pictures of nearby historical sites within 

5 blocks  of the Saenz's historical home.

Katy Heritage Park 

Photo courtesy of Katy Heritage Society

Katy Post Office

Photo courtesy of Katy Heritage Society

Traditon of Freedom Train

Photo courtesy of Katy Heritage Society

MKT Depot

Photo courtesy of Katy Heritage Society

MKT Caboose

Photo courtesy of Katy Heritage Society

Camping on the Beach in Galveston, Texas

For camping, some people go to national parks with trees and lakes. My family decided to camp out at the beach. On September 14th and 15th, my family along with three other families decided to spend the weekend fishing and camping out in Galveston Beach. It was our family's first camping adventure and my mother, who has never gone camping packed so much clothing, towels, blankets, and supplies that my father's Toyota Tundra truck was unable to hold all her stuff. After a quick disagreement between my parents, my mother's supplies were cut in half. Also, the plan was to cook what we catch for the day but my mother was afraid we wouldn't catch anything so she and her friends brought hot dogs, chicken, rice, buns, and sausages which easily fit several igloos.

We arrived early Saturday morning, ready to fish. the weather was perfect, in low 90s. To fish, we had to go into the water until we're waist to shoulder deep to cast our fishing line. The waves were choppy as well. Everyone had a great time and we caught a large igloo full of fish, mostly sand bass and catfish. My cousin caught a medium size shark and kept it for dinner. For cooking, my uncle brought his grill. To start our fire, we used a lighter and small pieces of wood. Once the fire got going, we added more wood to the fire. My uncle dug a hole in the sand and placed the grill halfway into it to help keep it steady. In addition to the fish we caught and the food we brought, my uncle brought some wild boar that he had hunted just a few weeks earlier.

However, I have to admit that I was exhausted from spending the whole day in the water. After dinner, we sat around the campfire and told stories for a while. Two families decided that they couldn't handle the mosquitoes so they went home. After they left, I finally decided to get some rest. I brought out my sleeping bag to sleep under the canopy, but it was really windy and sand kept getting in my nose. After this I tried to go sleep in the car. However, it was too hot and there were so many mosquitoes, my father cleared the truck bed for us to sleep on.

The next day, we fished for a little while longer then decided to do some crabbing. We came home around 2 o'clock in the afternoon. It was a fun adventure for me. We're all so used to the luxury and comfort of our homes, so being in an environment where we have to work for our food helped me realize how much we take for granted. When you're at home and need to use the restroom, you just go, but out here, the bathrooms were at least 2 miles away so you either find a place to go discreetly or walk the two miles to the bathroom. I saw how hard to get the food to cook correctly. The fish that we caught were cooked, but some were not cook all the way while others were charred black.

Would I recommend this experience to anyone? Absolutely! It was a great fun and I had a blast.

Day 1

Day 2