Sacramento, CA -Hmong novelist, Patrick (Txhim) Vang, was born in the province of Luang Prabang in Laos to parents Xay Teng Vang (father) and Zoua Thao (mother). In 1969 his father, Xay Teng Vang – a high official who worked for the CIA, was captured by the communist and never seen again. Due to the repercussions of the U. S. secret war, his mother, Zoua Thao, journeyed to Thailand and stayed in the Soptuang refugee camp, where they were relocated to France in 1980. He spent his childhood in France for 10 years, then resettled in the U.S. and lived in Stockton CA. where he attended Delta College.
Mr. Vang graduated a bachelor of arts in French at the Sacramento States University in 1996, and student taught French at McClatchy High School in 1997. In 1998, he was employed at Rosa Parks Middle School to teach World History and U.S. Government, due to lack of need for a French teacher. Teaching world history was a great experience, which lead Mr. Vang to see that there was a need in preserving Hmong history, and culture. He realized that because the Hmong written language was just established 30 years prior, there was no known documentation of Hmong history. It also became more evident that Hmong youth were losing a sense of who they are, their identity, and their respect towards parents, due to the culture shock, language barrier, and their lack of understanding Hmong history.
Because of these evidences, Mr. Vang talked to school administrators at Luther Burbank about the possibility of converting the Hmong literacy class there into a world language class where every student would have the opportunity to learn Hmong language, culture, and history. With the support of Hmong parents, school administrators and Hmong teachers, he received the approval and began to implement the Hmong literacy program, and started to teach at Luther Burbank High School in 2001. Committed to sharing his unique teaching techniques and knowledge of the Hmong language, Mr.Vang published his first textbook "Discovering the Hmong Language" in 2006, which is being used by many school districts to teach Hmong literacy. He also co-wrote the Hmong courses of study for CSUSD, which is believed to be one of the first Hmong High School curriculum to meet the foreign language requirement for many universities.
Hmong students have grown in numbers in the Hmong literacy classes, and since 2006 Luther Burbank has added another Hmong literacy teacher, Mr. Cha to the program. The Hmong classes not only teach students to read and write the Hmong language, but expose students to Hmong culture, tradition, history, and ways adapt to modern American society.
Mr. Vang states "My purpose of writing is, I want to preserve Hmong history, culture and language." He believes that any novel or story can be written in Hmong, and be just as beautiful as any other language. Hence the reason why he came out with his first novel: "Ntuj Cais Teb Hlub" (Meaning: Exiled in Heaven, Accepted on Earth) that was published in 2008. The book is a Hmong historical novel, based around true events, that most Hmongs have experienced in Thailand, and of the struggles the first Hmong refugees coming to America faced.
Mr. Vang has now published a sequel called, "Ib Tug Neeg Ob Lub Ntuj" ("One Person Two Worlds") which was just released this October 2009 and will be available for purchase at the Sacramento Hmong New Year at Cal Expo. "Ib Tug Neeg Ob Lub Ntuj" is the continuation and the ending of "Ntuj Cais Teb Hlub". A journey of sadness, hope and dreams coming true after thirty years of separation torn by the Secret War of Laos.
By exercising his ability as a writer, Mr. Vang has provided a path for readers to experience a new adventure through a different perspective in life, and to preserve how beautiful Hmong language, history and culture is. For more information about his books, please visit http://www.pebyoghmoob.com/ or call 916-215-0494.
We were given the honor to use his first novel as a jumpstart to our novel of the month section, so you will find Chapter 1 to "Ntuj Cais Teb Hlub" on our website: http://www.sachmongjournal.com/
