Get Into Houa's Mind

This year for the Hmong New Year, they held an essay writing contest called "Passing the torch." I decided to enter and although mine did not win, I emerged a winner because I helped made history in the new year. Today, I share with you, my essay for the passing of the torch. Enjoy. Ib xyoo ncig los txog ib zaug, ib hnub muaj 24 xauj moo, ib hli muaj 30 hnub, lub neej pib thaum nco tau yus niam lub xub ntiaj. Lub siab laus thaum quaj tau kua muag vim kev txom nyem. Yav tag dhau los, niam txiv khws diam teb plej hnub tuaj tim hnub poob. Ib ncig peb caug, tau ib qhov mov nplej tshiab los noj, muab qe los tuav hu plig peb caug txais tos lub xyoo tshiab. Tsuas paub tias muaj ib lub ntuj uas muaj neeg plaub haus daj thiab qhov muag xiav nyob. Yuav ua cas thiaj khiav dhau kev rog kev txom nyem coj me tub me nyuam mus nyob lub neej vam meej. Yus ua niam thiab txiv ua tsis tau los kom me tub me nyuam ua tau. Khiav hav zoov hav rog ntshav nrog ywg av yam so tsis tau. Hla dej Nab

We put up our Christmas tree today. This holiday tradition has always been fun for the whole family. As soon as my husband brought out the box, the kids went wild! Of course, everyone had to touch every single ornament and had to fight over who put what up. It was a work in progress especially with 6 kids, but the moment never grows old. As soon as it was up and the lights were on, everyone ooed and ahhed over how pretty it was. Their hard work was on display for the next month and a half. 

The holidays are coming! Houa Production is launching a film contest to stir up your heart as the holidays come near. I am hoping to see a lot of good work from this. I'm super excited too! We just launched it yesterday. The contest begins tomorrow and will end on December 16th and iconic film maker Moua Lee with Houa Production will announce the winner on December 20th. I love the holidays, which is why I'm hosting this contest. It's open to anyone of US resident ages 16 and older. Turn yours in! Follow us at www.facebook.com/HouaProduction

Before the end of the summer, I told myself that I had to make sure I experienced something I’d never thought possible. My parents were the suffocating kind where they held me closed in for years. When I turned 20, my mom’s sister, Justine, bought me a ticket to visit her in France. I grew up with two older brothers so I never had someone to talk to. My mother was soft spoken and simple with words. She never said much and I was always embarrassed to talk to her about anything. She made it seem unlikely that a mother and daughter should have any sort of relationship. But my Aunt Justine was the total opposite. She was wild, smoked, and drank like no tomorrow. In reality, my father didn’t really like the idea of me spending my summer with my aunt, but because I was finally legal, they didn’t refuse me.           If I wanted something I never got to experience, I got it the summer I turned 20. I wasn’t expecting it at all. If I knew it was going to happen this way, I might have