Learn

What is it about learning? Learning comes in many ways as one learns how to. When it comes to learning it’s like a series of stairs that you’ll have to face. In order to be taught how to learn you have to overcome obstacles and make attempts to complete the tasks in your life. You might fail, but in order to improve your learning you must practice and challenge yourself. It’s amazing how children spend their time in learning because nothing is plan. Learning should be not plan because learning is something that one can teach, but it’s always one that has to learn for him or herself to understand the meaning or teaching. As time goes on, the learning ability improves.  As you move up the series of stairs, the more learning or knowledge you’ll get as improvement is made by the time used in your tasks you conquered.

My Labor Day

My Labor Day was long exhausting day. It started as the alarm clock went off at 4:00am. As I try to open my eyes I thought to myself, this day will be a long tough day. Today was hu plig for my Dad. Hu plig is a day where the shaman a healing practitioner who interact with the spirits and material world. My uncles say, they seen a change in my father’s health and harmony that’s why the hu plig needed to be done. By doing the hu plig it will bring my father back to good health and bring his soul happy again. The hu plig ritual includes sacrificing animals, burning spirit money, and a lot of preparing and cooking. That morning I had to go with my uncles to kill two pigs for the ritual. The killing of the animal is a role done by men only and the role of women is to prepare and cook. As my uncles and I arrive back to my Dad’s house at 8:00am with the pigs, the house was full with aunts, uncles, grandpas, grandmas, cousins, and friends. As the shaman begins her journey the incent starts burning, the gong starts drumming, and women started to prepare food. On the menu was boiled pork with greens, egg rolls, and salad. As the day went by, women were still cooking and the men were sitting around chatting away. Lunch wasn’t served until 1:00pm. As time came, the men came and took their seat on the table. As part of the ritual the family members are given a white string to tie around the wrist of the person who is being blessed. The white strings are blessing from family and friends. Then extensive toasting takes place while the women comes and serves food and drinks. By the time everyone was eating I was running around the house making sure everything was done. By the time I got to eat the men were leaving the table ready to leave home and the women were cleaning up. As all family and friends left at 4:00pm, I was left to clean: dishes, big pots and pan, garbage outside, and the list goes on and on. At 6:00pm, majority of the cleaning was done I was tired and exhausted and ready to go to bed. It may have been a long exhausting day but I’m glad we’re able to bless my father good luck and to see family and friends.

About myself!!

Hi, I'm Phong Thao. I’m in the Architectural Technology program. Someday I hope to be a well known home designer in the next five years.  I am married with one son.  He's three years old named Vincent.  We're expecting a second son by the end of this month.   

One thing that I enjoy doing going is fishing.  Fishing is a time where I relax; it's a time where I can spend time to myself.  I would have to say, I'm a competitive fisherman. I like the challenge trying to catch a bigger fish then your partner.  Other things that I enjoy doing are playing volleyball and soccer with friends and family.