Celebrating Asian Culture With Student Perspectives

Daniel Vue ‘24 

Creative Digital Media, Film Studies minor  

I’m proud of my Asian heritage because of the culture and food. It’s different from others and it’s unique on its own. Hmong food is a little different. You use all aspects of the body of the animal. Like the intestines and all that. Most of the time it’s a bit greasy, sour, spicy, and salty.  

One dish that’s very simple is like a Hmong sausage with a cup of rice with a side of hot pepper fish sauce on the side.  

I like our culture, our clothing. It’s very vibrant and decorative. There’s different clans within the community and each clan has a different style of clothing. The Vue clan design is very simple.  

The clans are based on our last names. There’s 18 clans, so 18 different last names.

I’m part of the Vue clan. Each clan has a different folk story behind it. There’s a story that could be good or bad at the same time. I know some other clans they can’t eat heart. There’s a folk story behind it. I don’t know much about the Vue clan’s folk story.   

When two people marry from different clans, it’s like a two-week process. It’s like a deal where my son marries your daughter and you can have this and we’ll have that. Then the wedding process happens, then groom’s side of the family would need to pay a minimum of $5,000 for the wedding and expenses. Both family households come together.  

Tips I would say for others to help Asian students feel more included is to join Asian clubs and just be there to learn and understand the culture.

Also just be willing to talk to them as if they’re just another human being. Just a simple hello would work! Students who aren’t Hmong are welcome to join the Hmong club. They’re more than welcome to join. There are other non-Hmong students who join and participate in our events and want to understand the Hmong culture. Just learn with an open mind.  

To further celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I interviewed my fellow peers about what they’re most proud of about their Asian culture and their suggestions for how other Asian students can feel more engaged on campus.

Eveeh Thao ’25

Health education, Japanese Studies minor

Something I’m proud of is the obstacles that we’ve overcome.

I think that specifically, since I’m Hmong specifically, we have overcome a lot of barriers and we have a lot of untouched, natural like talent and skill within the Hmong community.

Find a place where you belong, whether that’s with like friends or family, people who look different from you, or whether you’re in your room.

Find somewhere that makes you feel comfortable but gets you out of your shell. That’s where you’re going to see a lot of growth and development within yourself.

Pamella Wenzel ’24

Public Health

I’m proud of how we treat family. How we treat friends and how our food is very unique.

Honestly, what helps Asian students feel included is for other to go out of their way to learn.

Learn what Asian students offer and especially learn their culture. That will help them feel more welcomed. Thank you.

I think one tip I would say is join the Asian clubs at WSU whether it’s the Asian student nation or like the Hmong American Student Association. There’s other like Chinese club and like Japanese club, so I think it’s really important to go to the clubs and just hang out with the other Asians because, well, it helps our community.