Bee Vue

Today I brought a flute with me. It is something that is always with me no matter where I go. If this one breaks I will replace it. I have many flutes, big and small. I leave this one here at work. The reason behind the flute is my life as an orphan. My father joined the secret war against the communist Vietnamese and was unfortunately killed at a base camp. At that time I was orphaned and devastated. I missed my parents. So, when I saw others playing the flute, I wanted to learn how to play it to express my sorrow.

From then on, I taught myself to play and kept it with me at all times. Whenever I was sad or missed my parents, I would bring it out and play. I played to express my sadness, pain, and longing for my parents and family. All of this was expressed through the flute.

This song I am playing is saying, “Your parents raised you well with a big family. Are you sad? My parents didn’t raise me well. I am an orphan and it saddens me. I am going away and am leaving you behind in this world.” That’s what the flute is singing.

These days, I am still playing the flute in the same manner. When I play, it makes me happy. It’s a great way to express sorrow and when you’re done you feel better. It’s like going to a doctor for therapy to feel better. The flute is like that for me.

The flute is very important to me. I was unable to bring my first flute here. We crossed the river and I dropped it. When we reached Thailand, I bought a new one. On our way to America, I couldn’t bring it either because it broke. So, again, I bought a new one after we arrived.

Now, I have many flutes, about 4-5 of them. I really hope that the younger generation learns to play this flute. It’s an important part of our Hmong culture. We have musical instruments like flutes and the qeej that attest for our culture. I hope young people learn to play this flute. I am willing to teach anyone who wants to learn.

Zaj nkauj no mas tshuab hais tias, “Koj niam koj txiv, yuas txawj yug koj, koj muaj niam muaj txiv, muaj viv, muaj ncaus. Puas kho koj siab? Kuv niam kuv txiv tsis txawj yug kuv, yug kuv tsis muaj niam tsis muaj txiv. Yuas kho kuv siab ua luaj li no. Kuv yuas muj, yuaj tshej koj nyob raj teb rooj ntug no”. Ces hais lus li no hauv no os. Nej hnub no los kuv yeej tshuab tim yaj ncaum li. Thaum kuv tshuab ces kuv zoo siab na. Ces qho no yog kuv muab hais ces, nyob li cov es nws nyuaj nyuaj siab nas, yog koj tshuab lub raj tag ces koj zoo siab lawm thiab. Ces ib yam lis cov neeg nyuaj siab es nws mus ntsim ib tug doctor tas ces ua raus nws kuj kaj siab. Ces lub raj kuj pab kuv li ntawm thiab. Lub raj yeej tseem ceev heev rau kuv. Kuv qab tsis tau vim peb hla deb peb khias los xwm ces poob lawm. Qab tsis tau. Ces tuaj txog Thai teb ces kuv rov qab yuav ib lub. Ces thaum peb tuaj ces qab tsis tau lawm thiab. Lub raj tawg lawm. Ces tuaj txog ces kuv rov qab yuav dua thiab. Ces niam nos kuv muaj ntau ntau lub os. Kuv muaj txog plaub tsib lub diam. Ntawm lub raj no mam, kuv xav kom nej cov hluas kawm xws os. Xav kawm es, qhov no yog ib qho sawv cev peb lub culture. Ces peb yuam tsum muaj raj, muaj ncas, muaj qeej. Cov no ces peb cov culture nas. Ces kuv xav kom nej cov hluas kawm thiab. Es twg twg xav kawm los tuaj kuv mam qhia os.