- Patty Loew: It's estimated that
more than 47,000 Hmong live in Wisconsin
and some are recent immigrants.
A clash of cultures for elders raised in Laos
can make the transition to a new homeland difficult.
On that note, Bao Thao-Vang came up with a recipe for success
involving good food that's good for you in Appleton.
- Liz Koerner: Bao Thao-Vang has a job that keeps her on the move.
She covers three counties in the Fox Valley,
teaching nutrition to the large Hmong community in this area.
[speaking Hmoob]
- Bao Thao-Vang: A lot of the Hmong people
now have high blood pressure and diabetes.
[speaking Hmoob]
- Liz Koerner: One place where Thao-Vang teaches
is Appleton North High School.
Here she lets teens know not only how to make healthy meals,
but how to make connections with their elders.
- Bao Thao-Vang: When I teach the younger Hmong, I tell them,
that this is what you're eating in this country,
but your in-laws or your parents,
they like the Hmong food,
so you can make this into Hmong food, too.
- Liz Koerner: One of the recipes they're learning to make is for
Hmong rice cake, a dessert most of them eat at home.
- Girl: I have eaten it before, but this is my first time to make it.
- Liz Koerner: Thao-Vang also goes out to educate the elder Hmong.
They gather for classes sponsored by Lutheran Social
Services at the Thompson community center in Appleton.
She gives this group the same advice as the teens,
but in reverse.
- Bao Thao-Vang: For the elder, I will make them American food and say,
this is your children, your grandchildren,
when they go to school, these are the food that they eat.
- Liz Koerner: Thao-Vang is in a good position to understand
both the elders in her community from Laos
and the generations of Hmong growing up here.
That's because she was born in Laos
and at the age of eight came to America.
- Bao Thao-Vang: My first day of school, when the teacher talked,
you just hear the "s" sound, so it's really difficult.
I go, how am I going to learn this language?
[speaking Hmoob]
- Liz Koerner: It's her memories of learning a new language and culture that
she calls on when teaching the elders about good nutrition.
For them, even shopping for groceries is a challenge.
- Bao Thao-Vang:
For our Hmong people, when they go there,
they don't take canned food or boxed food because they--
it's not that they don't like it.
It's that they don't know how to cook.
- Liz Koerner: In addition to her in-person education efforts,
Bao hosts a Hmong-language cable show on television.
Thao-Vang speaking Hmoob]
It's called "Bridging Hmong American" and presents a wide
range of helpful ideas.
The most popular show so far tackles the topic of turkeys.
- Bao Thao-Vang: I hope people come to me and say,
we saw your show on the turkey and it's good.
- Liz Koerner: She says the turkey show came about because new immigrants
were confused when offered a gift basket
with a raw Thanksgiving turkey.
- Bao Thao-Vang: And they go, well, this chicken is so big.
How do we cook this chicken?
Sometimes they are cut up and boil it like a chicken.
- Liz Koerner: With her media exposure and many nutrition classes,
Bao continues to spread the word about the health benefits
that come from eating nutritious food.
That and a sympathetic ear make her a valuable resource to both
young and old in the Hmong community.
- Bao Thao-Vang: I listen to them
and try to be a person that they can go to
if they have any question about anything.
Patty Loew: Repeats of the show "Bridging Hmong American"
still air in the Fox Valley,
but new production has been canceled by Time-Warner Cable.
An extensive list of programs in the Hmong language
is available through the Appleton Public Library.
To find a link, log on to our website at W-P-T dot o-r-g
Then, scroll down and click on In Wisconsin .
Topics include health, safety, and culture.