Lyfu Vang
Lyfu Vang
Hmong Pilot and Teacher at Hmong International Academy
I encourage you to go home and talk to your parents and learn the language, so you can speak with your grandma and grandpa. They have a wealth of knowledge. Show respect and know who they are. Love your culture and learn from others.
Lyfu Vang
Hmong Pilot and Teacher at Hmong International Academy
My name is Lyfu Vang. So, you want to hear my story? This boy named Lyfu was born on December 8th 1956. My name then was Mee Tou. But we had the special ceremony and they gave me the name Lyfu.
When I was a little boy I wanted to go to school and my dad said, “No, you must stay home with your mommy.” I said, “I want to go to school! It's so much fun out there.” It was boring at home and I wanted to play with those people!
When I was in school I learned everything like those big kids. I knew my subtraction, my division, my addition and I could read in French and Lao. I listened and I learned along with all the big kids in 3rd grade. We had to take tests. I passed all those tests that they gave us, just like when you go to the computer lab and take your tests.
People had to walk very far to the school. We didn't have a telephone. I could not call my dad and my dad could not call my mom.
On the weekend we saw all the flower plants on the mountain. We walked to the top of the mountain. When we rolled down the hill the Hmong parents say, "Don't do that because your body will be like a big balloon and burst. Then you will die.”
When we got sick they would have a ceremony with the Shaman for us to get well. They would kill a pig and have a good meal.
Back at home us kids would clean, cook, and help our older brothers, sisters and parents. We would have to study by candlelight and oil lamps until we fell asleep. We would get up very early in the morning and study till sunrise.
I went onto college and by the time I was nineteen I almost finished all the college work. My college work was in French and English and that's why I became a teacher. So that boy named Lyfu grew to be bigger, older, with grey hair and is now a teacher at Hmong International Academy.
What do I love most about Hmong culture? We include everybody, we invite everyone in. Our door is open night or the day for food, for anything. Hmong people, never in our history, ever invaded another country, nor another territory. We cannot separate ourselves from the peace.
Hmong Boy, Hmong Boy
Honoring Lyfu Vang
Hmong Boy, Hmong Boy
(Honoring Lyfu Vang)
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
Do you want to hear my story?
Hmong boy, Hmong Boy.
Wow, that’s a long long time ago.
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
When I was born
they called me Mee Tou.
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
Then after three days, Lyfu!
And all that time I keep my name.
I still want to keep it,
I want you to say it right.
It’s a beautiful name
Mr. Lyfu
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
My Daddy was a teacher
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
Parachute down from an airplane
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
My daddy was a soldier
Hmong boy Hmong boy
Chickens, pigs, horses to raise.
I learned everything like those big kids.
By the time I was five years old
I learned subtraction and division
By going to school away from home.
Mr. Lyfu!
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
Flowers on the mountain
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
Like a monkey in a tree
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
We go swinging
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
Rolled down the hill, we felt so free
Don’t have cars nor bicycles
Some people walk four days to go
To get to school to do their studies
Live one month away from home
Mr. Lyfu!
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
The war started raging
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
Dad a pilot in the military
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
To a refugee camp in Thailand
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
To a land with trees with no leaves
We came here in March in the winter
What kind of land is this I thought
The trees are dead I remember
Came back to life after the frost
Mr. Lyfu!
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
Don’t get disconnected
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
From your culture, history
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
Your ancestors
Hmong boy, Hmong boy
Live in you and live in me
To include everybody
To invite everybody in
Door wide open in small houses
To the Hmong we’re all friends
Mr. Lyfu!
Music by LARRY LONG. Words by LARRY LONG with Mary Davis’ 8th Grade Music Class. Hmong International Academy.
(Minneapolis, Minnesota.)
© Larry Long Publishing 2012 / BMI