Happy 4th Of July Lao Planet
Our family has been celebrating most American holidays, especially the ones with foods and gathering, that’s what we do best. I can’t say that all of my sisters knew and understood the true meaning of July 4; my third sister mentioned to me yesterday, ‘Aren’t we suppose to have a cook out? Isn’t that what American people do on July 4?’ I guess cook out is what we’ll be having today.
When I was little, we celebrated July 4 by going to Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, and on the way back home, we’d be stuck on traffic for 1-2 hours, it was a bumper-to-bumper traffic, anywhere from Brooklyn Queens Expressway to Long Island Expressway; most vehicles would come to a complete stop along the stretch of these highways to see the fireworks display; thinking back now, I think it might have been the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks, but the best view overlooking the East River was from the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. We must had done this for over 7 years, then most of us out grown the theme park, my mom got sick one time from riding something that appears as a washing machine where it would spin you real fast, I’m not sure why she thought it’d be fun at the time.
I haven’t done anything that adventurous in a long time, and it’s more of a cook out now. I think most people in the United States celebrate the 4th of July, but I seriously doubt if they knew exactly why the holiday is so important to our country. On July 4, 1776, America became “The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.” definitely something worth celebrating; especially for Laotian immigration like most of us…it is the celebration of independence, liberty, and freedom.
We never had a chance to see fireworks like that until recently. Our parents never took us anywhere. Even in high school they wouldn't even sign a permission slip for us to go on field trips.
Luckily I had a chance to attend summer camps and one year I was able to stay in St. Louis for an academic camp and got a chance to see fireworks for the 4th of July, under the St. Louis Arch.
I only remember a couple of times that I was allowed to go to a 4th of July BBQ at a friend's house. This was like when I was a junior and senior in college. Could you believe that I had to ask my parents' permission just because I was staying with them for the summer?
The nice thing I can recall is saving soda cans and to trade them in for fireworks. If we are lucky then our parents will spend a few dollars for extra fireworks so we can play on our front yard.
Most of the time our parents have to work on the 4th of July so we have to stay inside the house and watch TV and eat whatever I make for dinner.
Thinking back now, our family has gone many places together; I think it’s one of the reasons as to why my dad bought a mini van. As far as asking permission to go places, I didn’t feel as if I was asking them for permission, but more like telling them as to where I was going, and that seems to work well and maybe because I’m a very responsible person and they trust me.
I think if you treat yourself as adult, then most likely they will also, but in your case, your parents seem to think that you’re their little girl, very protective. My dad thinks of me as one of the boys.
My parents bought a minivan too but only to shuttle us to Sunday School and for my siblings to go to their music lessons and sporting events.
For me if I miss the late bus after school activity I had to walk home which is a long way, especially when I have to walk in the snow. That was my punishment for not coming home straight from school and wanting to play sports or do other school activities.
My parents are funny. They trust me the most even when they are going out of town two years ago they asked me to go back and babysit the house. It's just that when I am there they can tell me what to do while they can't tell other kids what to do. They can yell and yell at my siblings but what they say just go in one ear and out the other.
I was the one in the family that learned by observing others and was the only one that never got in trouble at school. I learned as a kid in Laos to observ others and take lesson from their mistakes. It would seem that my siblings like to get in trouble. When the adults say "no" they would ask why and would go ahead and do it anyway. Some people like to learn by getting burn you know. If you say don't touch the fire, they would ask why and still go ahead and stick their hands in the fire, sort of speak.
I think it's a controlling issue. I let them feel that they are the parents and in control of everything. When you have a father that used to be one of the most strict teacher in Vientiane, the house must be run like a school.
My parents were very strict growing up, especially my dad, and I guess I learned from observing my sisters also, they were punished, so I didn’t do what they did…certain things are not worth getting trouble over. I guess I wasn’t very adventurous when it comes to being rebellious, you’d have guess that about me.