“Returning Home”

Lue Thao

Saint Paul, Minnesota | Hmong | He/him/his

I was born in Thailand and came to the United States when I was 3-months-old. We lived in Frogtown at first – well, near Frogtown – in the housing projects. Many of my uncles and cousins were in gangs, but I didn’t get involved because dancing became an outlet for me. I was lucky that I found something that I was passionate about. 

Almost three years ago, I went to Thailand with the project Street Stops and Mountain Tops – with Tou Saiko, Mai Yang, Keng, Dao, and Leedra. Our goal was to go teach hip hop, music, and the arts in Thailand. We wanted to teach at in an orphanage called Piyawat in Chiang Mai then go to Hmong villages to do workshops. 

We went to Piyawat and introduced ourselves and put on a quick showcase of our talents. All the kids were very shy at first, but when we asked, “Who wants to do breakdancing with Lue?” A couple of hands raised. 

With about 30 kids in the room we decided to just turn on the music. Then at least 10 more hands went up. The next day, 15 kids came to the class. I think they were shy but it didn’t mean they didn’t want to learn so we taught them.

I also had some connections to some Thailand Bboys so they voluntarily came to help teach the kids, too. Though we are all Hmong, I’m not the best at speaking Hmong and they weren’t the best at speaking Hmong either.hey are better with Thai – so we had some language barriers. But they came and taught. I was inspired because they came voluntarily and the kids had the opportunity to meet and see actual Thai dancers. The kids really loved it. We eventually went to the Hmong village where the orphans were originally from. We didn’t teach there, instead we listened. 

We heard the stories of the kids and their families. In one case,their parents both remarried, and didn’t want to have to take care of  him anymore so they gave him to their grandmother. The grandma was elderly and could barely take care of herself. So, she asked the orphanage to take him and they did. It was sad to see their living conditions. The grandma was loving and offered us food even though she didn’t have much. I’m a lot like her because that’s how I am too. I always give no matter how broke, sad, or low I am. I’m always a giver no matter what. It made me think: no matter where you are, you should always give instead of take. Some people take too much and don’t give. It was just great to go back to the homeland and see the living conditions where I was born. I eventually want to go back.