Laotian Daughters and Monkey Dance

In the film Monkey Dance, three Cambodian children found how to interpret the Monkey Dance into the American culture through hip hop, sports, etc. Although the dance may not be the same, the tradition has been diffused and passed onto the children. On the other hand, in the excerpt Laotian Daughters, it shows how important language and recognition is in their respective families. Both the film and excerpt explains how important it is to stay together and have organizations in the perimeter in order to pass along one's culture or to build relationships with each other.

Coming from a similar background, I identity with the Cambodian and Laotian adolescents. My parents and grandparents have immigrated to America from Southeast Asia looking for a better future for themselves and their children. We do not have much to celebrate for, but our culture and food will always bring us together. Little victories such as gaining one's citizenship or getting a new job helps my family grow stronger. Finding a new recipe to improve on a ethnic dish we once made keeps the food culture alive. Although I sometimes know that the culture we participate in will not be the same as what my parents and grandparents participated in, I am glad that I was apart of the culture my parents and grandparents had. However, often times, I do regret not being able to learn more about my culture before I went to college. I do regret not embracing the fact that I can speak, read, and breathe the Vietnamese and Chinese customs when I was younger. Hopefully I can learn more and grow more with my family as I continue to grow up.