The experiences of a Hmong man from Laos who has spent 15 years in the United States illustrate the possibilities of being both Hmong and American and demonstrate the acculturation process even as they show what it means to become American. The three values of resourcefulness, relationship, and respect are an integral part of the identity of Shou Cher as Hmong and as an American. Shou Cher left Laos for refugee camps in Thailand with his family in 1979 and subsequently settled in the United States, where he is employed as a community liaison and bilingual staff member at an elementary school. In addition, he is a minister in an evangelical Christian church and a community activist with a special interest in intergenerational conflict among the Hmong. Father of seven school-age children, Shou Cher is an active member of his Hmong clan council. Interviews with Shou Cher himself and with other informants paint a picture of daily life, in which he has displayed great resourcefulness in dealing with difficulties, and in which relationships are central. By showing respect for Hmong traditions and his new religion and culture, Shou Cher provides an example for a new generation of Americans who must look beyond their own traditions to an increasingly diverse society. (Contains 52 references.) (SLD)
