Why Did They Pick Merced?
- Anne actually couldn't find any Hmong at first when she arrived in Merced. A gas station attendant clears this up when he explains that the Hmong live on the "wrong side of the tracks" (16.5).
- In this case, he means it literally—most Hmong residents live in a rough part of town that is, you guessed it, across the train tracks. In fact, this area of the city was once the local Chinatown. Ironic, when you remember how the Hmong feel about the Chinese (the word "overbearing" ring a bell?).
- There's one big question on Anne's mind, however: why did all of these Hmong refugees end up in Merced?
- It all starts with Dang Moua. These days, Dang Moua is a prominent businessman and respected leader in the local Hmong community.
- Thing weren't quite so rosy when he "used to live in Richmond, Virginia" (16.10). Back then the dude worked eighteen hours a day and still couldn't make ends meet.
- Then he hears that Vang Pao (remember, the rebel group guy) is planning to buy land in Merced. After hearing more good things about Cali from his brother, Dang Moua buys a cheap car and moves across the country.
- Despite a massive no-show by Vang Pao, scores of Hmong rush to Merced as word spreads of Dang Moua's success.
- This massive influx of new residents places a serious strain on the city of Merced. The city is already in the middle of an "economic catastrophe" and has little money to support these new residents (16.13). Bet you can guess how that turns out.
- Yup: though they didn't cause the initial problems, the Hmong are blamed for all of Merced's economic woes. Being forced to play the big fat scapegoat role only makes the Hmong community become more insular.
- Interestingly, Merced is home to the only two Hmong men to have studied at overseas universities during the '70s—Blia Yao Moua and Jonas Vangay.
- Blia Yao Moua is "the executive director of Lao Family Community," an organization dedicated to Hmong issues (16.57). Blia has big ideas but little energy. He moves to Minnesota to teach a year later. So much for the only two men.
- But the one who's left over ain't so bad. Jonas Vangay works in the school system and teaches at Merced College. Out of gratitude, Anne invites Jonas to dinner at a local restaurant.
- The dinner is awkward, to say the least—in no small part due to the waitress' boneheaded comments toward Vangay. Her ignorance is especially ironic because Jonas has dined in restaurants that make this place seem like McDonald's. Not that we're one to scoff at a happy meal.