Hmong Food and Games-Tony Yang-March 18, 2002

TYANG103,Pov Pob,Tony Yang,March 18, 2002,Transcribed by Courtney and Jessica

TY: Good Morning, and thank you for having me here today. I will be talking about Hmong
games first, and then I will be talking about Hmong food later on.
TY:First of all, I would like to start out with some Hmong games. We actually have some Hmong
games here today that we would like to demonstrate and talk about. The first game that I would
like to talk about is called the traditional Hmong ball tossing. These are the balls. (Showing
the class the balls) Actually I have two kinds of balls here. This is the traditional ball
(showing the traditional ball), and it is made out of cloth. Usually back in Laos, were a
lot of Hmong women will take their time towards the New Year, and then they will start
making these balls.
TY:What they do is, they cut the cloth in to pieces, and they just wrap it
around and around until it gets to be the size they want. It can be smaller like this one, or
it can be bigger like this one (showing the balls) or what size you want it. Like for young
children you probably want a smaller size. For young adults like you guys age, you
probably want this size (showing the ball) and for elderly people you probably want like
a bigger size.
TY:This is the new ball version. (showing the tennis ball) This is the new
adaptation that when Hmong people came to this country they don't have time to make
the traditional balls so they use the American tennis ball. It's easy and anyone can use it.
These can be like one size fits all so you know adults , children, young adults can use
these and these takes a lot of time to plus you know people are working and you know
they don't have time to make these so we're using these and this is a game that is played
only at the Hmong New Year, and usually it is played between boys and girls at the
TY: Hmong New Year. People play this game to get to know each other. Usually the boys
and girls when you toss the ball to on another you not only tossing the ball to one
another, but you also talking while you're tossing the ball back and fourth ok. So, by
tossing the ball you also talk about what did your family do this year and did you go
anywhere and that kind of stuff. And it's really a game for boys and girls, and as well as
adult, to play to get to know each other. If you are married, you know, you can also lay
this between you and you wife too, but most of the time it's been played by single people
or young adults that want to get to know one another. (playing Pov Pob) most of the
time when people play this game they usually have a conversation, and they also sing
traditional songs too.
TY:So sometimes you can arrange the game to however you want it. For example, you will be
tossing and you will make a verbal commitment saying ok, if I toss it to you and you drop the ball,
well, you have to sing me a traditional song. So sometimes you can make the game more fun
you want to. By adding things to it like if I toss it to you and then you drop it then you have to sing
me a traditional song, and if I drop the ball I have sing you a traditional song to you. So this is
called the ball tossing game, ok?
TY:This is the traditional version of the ball, and this is the new adaptation. This game is only played at
The Hmong New Year. If you have a chance and go to the Hmong New Year, usually you will
see people play this game at the Hmong New Year. This game you usually play it to get to
know other people like back
TY: In Laos, where Hmong people didn't get to see each other for one full year because
everybody is working in the fields is working in the farms and people live in villages.
Different villages that they don't get to see each other. Hmong people don't have
holidays. They don't have any other thing, and the only time they get together is the
Hmong New Year. So that's why it's played during the Hmong New Year only.

TYANGFG203,Dhia Yas (Rubberband Jump Rope),Tony Yang,January 28, 2002,Transcribed by Matt and Dan

TY: Okay it is not like you are jumping over hurdles. Try to make sure
that your right leg goes over and your left leg tucks in by your thigh.
You can see that your leg up and over. See you can just try to go
over by not tucking your left leg in. So if she can make it over then
you can switch with someone else to try. Well, just try to see how yea
just like that, there will be more space. So it would be easier then you
can jump higher. Now you move the rubberband to your waist. So just the
thing you lift up really high. It's not my game. I practice sometimes
with a little girl. So try that again and so does anyone else want to
try?
TY: Does anyone from the audience want to try like a boy? From here a
boy again jump higher then a girl. So if you want to try it is a game
for everyone. It is not just for girls. As you can see that down at
Hamilton they do this game all the time. A lot of the girls actully put
there heads down by there legs. Then they kinda of go up and over if
she is on a team. If I go over the rubberband okay I can't go over. Then
my leg come and it can actully do it like that so I can be on a team
too. So you kinda get your team over too. So you can go has high as you
want but actully they go over and then they can just go over the
rubberband. You also play as a team. I don't think I want to try the
highjump.
TY: So you can see the base of the rules. When you get use to it
then you can jump over the rubberband. Are there anyother questions?
This game is played year round and anywhere and anytime. Like you mean
you start at the basic level. Then you go to the highest level. Then
once they pass they start over again. There is know levels you just go
over by the height. It is the extention of your arm. You have to run but
I don't think you can here. I don't think you can make it. You go like
10 feet and then run make sure that you jump really high.