By Heidi M. Pascual
It was two full days of glorious exposure to a wealth of culture offered by various individuals and groups at the United Refugee Services of Wisconsin's (URSW)* Summer Festival Aug. 27 and 28 at Reindahl Park.
ThajYing Lee, URSW executive director, was obviously in high spirits as he looked around and saw hundreds of participants and guests, not only in the main tent, but also around the huge open field, either watching the games of Kato or Tublub, "window shopping" at the vendors' booths, or tasting the mouth-watering grills and desserts by food vendors. "This is a wonderful way to showcase the talents of our refugee families in Wisconsin," he said. "This is a wonderful way for others to understand their new Asian neighbors."
"Healthy competition was the order of the festival -- from singing to dancing (individual and solo), to sports and beauty contests. Participants came from throughout Wisconsin and many from as far as Minnesota. The beautiful and colorful costumes of young dancers reflected the beautiful and colorful Hmong culture, while the talents shared by the beauty contestants reflected the enormous hidden wealth waiting to be tapped by the American society.
The Kato and Tublub games [Culture Notes from demographics.rschooltoday.com/hmtl]
Kato is a game using a small woven ball, and played almost the same way as volleyball. Three players on each side hit the kato back and forth over a net. The players can do head spikes and the spinning flying foot kick, or they can hit the ball with their head, legs, arms, shoulders, but not with their hands.
Top spinning, or Tublub, is a game that Hmong adults and young children play. The top is made of wood. A thick branch from a tree is cut and carved on the top with a knife to create a flat top and a pointed bottom. A top needs a long strong string, about a yard long, and a stick to spin the top. |
