The Pressure and Price of being an Asian Student

In many Asian communities, education is the top priority.  Many parents put tremendous pressure on their child to not only graduate from high school, but do so with honors. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2009) ” Non-Hispanic whites had the highest proportion with a high school diploma or higher (90.0 percent), followed by Asians (86.8 percent), African-Americans (80.6 percent) and Hispanics (58.4 percent)”. Simply passing is not sufficient or satisfactory for some Asian American parents. Instead they want their child to excel in high school and college.  While it is obvious that education seems to be important to a great number of Asians, the statistic does not tell more than the basic facts. For example, it does not show the pressure and stress some of these Asian students go through in their quest for a high school diploma or post secondary education. Of course there is a good reason to celebrate this achievement, but the road to higher education attainment can be detrimental to some Asian students due to excessive parental pressure, critique, and admonishment.

Most parents no matter what ethnicity they are, equate a good education to a brighter future. While some motivate and encourage their kids to do well in school, others lecture, prod or  threathen their kids to be successful. Most of the Asian students I have heard from and taught are under more pressure from their parents to be the best when it comes to school.  I am not taking anything away from American parents or contend that only Asian parents are tough on their kids when it comes to education. However, it has been my experience that Asian parents can be slightly tougher, overbearing and demanding when it comes to achievement in school. Simply getting A’s is not enough for some Asian parents. The want their kids to get the highest A’s and be the best. To put it bluntly, they want their kids to be perfect when it comes to school. For example, one of my former student is a senior this year and number one out of over 586 students. Due to her Advanced Placement courses she is number one as well as her dedication and hardwork. Also she has close to 30 hours of college credit. To make a long story short, most parents would be estatic about this achievement. While her parents are proud of her, they still think she can do more. For instance, another student in her community (Indian) was nominated by our school for a prestigious scholarship and her parents asked her why she wasn’t nominated. They nagged and nagged her about it and made her feel that she was at fault for since the other in her Asian girl was nominated. Things like this, drives her insane even though she is the best (academically), her parents are not giving her any slack. She can’t go out like other teens. She works, but is not allowed to drive while her other senior friends do. The tremendous pressure from her parents to do well is cultural she says. In her Asian community, there it is understood that the kids represent their parents and they have to be the best in everything, from behavior to academics.

This student along with many others have shared their frustration about their parents’ expectation. All of them ask what they can do to make it better? What they can say to their parents to give them a break.  Also, they have asked what other students have done to survive the madness while they are still at home. Here are some suggestions, but it is best to seek professional counseling like your school counselors or a private one if you can afford it.  Based on my reflections and personal experience, here are several ideas to lessen the pressure your parents put on you.

1. Communicate your frustration to your parents. Talk to them. If that doesn’t work which from my experience with Asian parents will not. Some of your parents will accuse you of talking back to them. Some will say that they are doing what is best for you and they really are,but just going about it the wrong way. If verbal communication is ineffective, write them a letter or email them. If your parents are not computer literate than that will not work. Sometimes, leaving a note for them explaining want you want and having them read it, gives them time to process the information.

2.  Create your own network of supporters ( friends, other family members, your church, temple, etc).  My friends and siblings helped me out tremendously. Simply talking them actually helps.

3. Get involve in school activities so you have an outlet. Join clubs or sports or do community service.  This is actually beneficial to your college dreams because it helps you become more marketable for scholarship. Explain to your parents how this will help you get money for school (colleges are looking for students who can balance school and extra-curricular activities).

4. Get a hobby. Mine was writing, drawing, reading, and sewing. You have to relax! Make it a point to take a break from school for an hour a day to do what you want like listening to music or take a nap or do something nice for yourself.  Since my parents did not let me do much outside the house, I read a great deal. Also, my friends came over to my house since I was not allowed to go to theirs. My mom barely let me go three houses down to hang out.

5. Get over it. What I mean is that it is useless to focus on the problem or frustration. Like many of us, our parents will not let up or stop nagging. You know some of your parents are not going to stop so why stress about it. Crying about the unfairness or injustice is not going to get you anywhere. You have to work with what you have. For example, if your parents don’t let you go anywhere, then find something in the house to do that will relieve the stress.

6. Put everything in two categories: things you can control and things out of your control. For example, your reaction to your parents’ expectation is controlled by YOU not them. Whether you cry, scream or yell is up to you. Don’t let them frustrate you. You know their rules is out of your control so work within the confines of it. For instance, my mom did not let me go to hang with my friends if they were not in the same neighborhood. So, I compromise with my parents to have my friends come over to the house. Also, since my parents were so strict and did not allow me to have any social life, I joined clubs at school and participated in church activities.

I know many of you are under tremendous pressure to do well. Don’t give up. Hang in there and give yourself a break once in a while.

Lao and Proud: Teen activist

For most of us if we were asked to compile a list of the most profound activist we would more than likely list Gandhi, Nelson, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King and the list goes on. These individuals without a doubt shaped our world with their tireless effort to make a difference. They set the standard for activism as well as show us why and how we should stand up for change.
One individual who is causing a ripple is Lori Phanachone, a Lao student from Iowa. This young lady may not be famous,or have a massive influence yet,  but her fight against what she sees as discrimination and injustice is noteworthy. She is an example of an ordinary person doing extraordinary things. She reminds us that we should fight for what is right.  Sometimes, doing the right thing is not the most popular, but necesary if we want to be the vehicle for change.

Lori is an honor student at Storm Lake High School. It is her senior year and instead of enjoying her last year, she is stressed out with her  fight against her school’s demand that she takes the English Language Development Assessment. This test is given to students who are identified as ELL(English LanguageLearner).  Usually students who are identified as ELL are place in a class specifically geared toward helping them with the acquisition of the English language. However, in Lori’s case, she has been been placed in any type of language class because she can speak and write English rather well.  According to Russ Oechslin, Journal correspondent for the Sioux City Journal, “…school officials have told her she is considered to be illiterate based on her refusal to satisfactorily complete the English Language Development Assessment, a test she says is demeaning and racist”. Lori was identified to take the test based on her response on her registration for school. She had put Lao as her primary language spoken at home instead of English so the school assumed that she was not proficient in English. Lori told the Sioux Journal, “”Someone told me I should have put English as my first language when I registered for school,” “But I refused. I will not deny who I am. And I will not disrespect my culture or my mother.”

I have to agree with Lori that her having to take the test is demeaning and racist because the school had assume that she is illiterate based on her response to that language question. So if all of us put our primary language as something else other than English, are we going to be called out and tested? What the school should have taken into consideration is that Lori is an honor student. If she was struggling with the English language then why did none of her teachers say anything? I know as a teacher, I can identify my students within the first week of my interaction with them. By looking at their writing samples as well as their verbal response, I can tell if they are proficient enough in English to stay in my class or be placed in SEI. I just want to know where were her teachers in the middle of all this?  Why did they not come to her defense and vouch that she does not need to take the test?http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2009/03/05/news/local/754d93a7a005ccb3862575700009cc99.txt or

If you would like to find out how you can show her your support go to the blog: http://www.angryasianman.com

Speaking from an educator’s stand point, I understand that the goal or purpose of the English Profiency Test is to identify the kids who do need help, but it is obvious that Lori is not one of those students. According to the Sioux Journal, “The school district’s curriculum coordinator, Lori Porsche, said taking the test is mandatory because Phanachone indicated on her school registration that English was not the first language spoken in her home. Her parents are Laotian and still speak little English.” Just because her parents speak very little English does not mean she is deficient. Are they saying that just because her parents struggle with the English language that she also has the same problem?  Is that not being a little presumptious? As an educator and immigrant, I see this assumption as very offensive and discrimatory because the implied message behind Ms. Porsche’s statement  is that if you do not speak English primarily at home, you are illiterate or stupid. This may not be her intended message, but her remark does have an negative connotation that only intelligent people speak English. In contrast, I think that being able to communicate in many languages shows that you ARE intelligent because it does take some effort to be able to switch back and forth between languages.

What I find very inappropriate and unprofessional is the remark made by Mr. Ruleaux , the Assistant Principal. In the interview with the Sioux Journal, Lori said, ” Mr. Ruleaux (assistant principal Beau Ruleaux) told me I was ‘no Rosa Parks’ — that I should give up because I would not succeed in my protest,” Phanachone said. I beg to differ because look at the positive ripple effect of Rosa Parks’ defiance and bravery to give up her seat on that bus.  Her action eventually led the Supreme Court to announced that segregation on city buses was against the law.
Lori’s protest and refusal to take the test is as admiral and significant because she is fighting against what she sees as injustice and discrimination. Her refusal to stay in her “seat” and take that test is momentous for all students not just Lao students. Any form of injustice suffered by any race is wrong and should not be accepted. We need to remember Eli Wiesel’s powerful words,” “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”

Lori is a role model for all people because she has the courage to stand up and fight against discrimination. She is an ordinary person doing extraordinary things. If you are interested in reading the rest of the story please go to:

President Obama’s speech

As everyone knows, the 44th president was sworn into office today.  Most of us probably watch the inauguration as well as heard his speech. Personally, I think the speech was well written. It was well delivered in terms of tone, emotion, and effectiveness.  His references/allusions to the Constitution, the Founding Fathers, and the Civil Rights movement contributed to the emotive speech.  He is an effective orator because  his voice is full of conviction and righteousness.  He makes you want to believe that change is acoming!

One of the things he said that stood out was our ‘economic woes are from ‘greed and irresponsiblity”.  To a certian extent I think he is correct.  I think some people are greedy which leads to irresponsiblity to self, family and country.  Some of us are living above our means even though we know the consequences. We justify our “wants” and “needs”.  We live in the moment and totally disregard how it will effect us emotionally, politically, or financially in the future. Our definition of “living the good life’ has drastically changed from things that don’t cost money to things that cost the most.  Our obsession with material goods has override our sense of morals and values, our sense of integrity and self.  Are we letting greed dominate our life to the point that it has made us irresponsible?

I am definitely not saying that EVERYBODY is greedy and irresponsible. I am also not knocking people down who has worked hard for the money.  Power to those individuals who does that and not take advantage of the system. They can spend their money however they want because they have earned it.  All I’m saying is we need to all be responsible citizens:  work hard, pay your bills, and help make this country better.

Show Lao pride through education

As everybody knows, every New Year some of us make a New Year’s Resolution in an attempt to change our lives in some way, shape or form. Some of our resolution involves issues such as health, relationship, money, or personal goals. For the first couple of months, some of us will stick to our resolution or work as hard as hell to pretend like we are succeeding in our goals. However, half way through the year, the newness and excitement wears off and we start to forget what it is that we wanted to change and the reason behind it. I think the most important thing to remember when it comes to making a resolution is to make one about something you feel passionate about and is achieveable.

My most important resolution is to increase Lao pride through education. When it comes to college education, Southeast Asians meaning us, has the smallest number of college graduates as compared to other Asians. Also, Laotians has the highest high school drop out rates among other Asians. We have to stop this trend. We have to make education our number one priority among our group. We all love being Lao and say we have pride. If that is the case let us do it by getting our education and be positive role models for the younger Lao generations. Let them have more educated Lao people to look up to or aspire to be like instead of just seeing only a handful of Lao people who are doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, or inventors.

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to show what you are made of, not by how big your house is, how much money you have, how nice your car is or how much bling bling you wear. All those things can be lost, taken, sold, or barter away, but education is something that is yours forever.

Blogactionday: Educating the poor to help themselves

Good video on how it is important to teach poor countries to be self-sufficient through rural economy.  Giving the necessary resources to people in poor countries so they can help themselves is the key to ending poverty.  Many third world countries who have been given loans to start businesses have proven to be successful.  The best way to end poverty is through education.  This video is inspiring.

http://blogactionday.org/js/ee1fe4421fce3e3b645afedd4dc0c875144bf717

Blogactionday: Stand up and fight poverty

 

Blogactionday.org is encouraging the international community to discuss, look at,and find solutions to end poverty around the world.  Let us be a part of this movement to end poverty through education, action, and movement.  Do your part now by voicing your opinion, share your story, and give your ideas about poverty.

According to Poverty.com, “About 25,000 people die every day of hunger or hunger-related causes. Yet there is plenty of food in the world for everyone. The problem is that hungry people are trapped in severe poverty. They lack the money to buy enough food to nourish themselves. Being constantly malnourished, they become weaker and often sick. This makes them increasingly less able to work, which then makes them even poorer and hungrier. This downward spiral often continues until death for them and their families.”

Realistically, it would be a challenge to completely end hunger everywhere.  However, what we can do is to help decrease the amount of people who are living in poverty.  I think it would be easier to do this in America instead of a third world country.  In America, we already have governmental agencies in place to help people who are struggling financially and who can not afford health care or grocery.  We have mediacare and medicaid for people in need.  We have foodstamps, HUD, and WIC to help low income people.  Of course, these systems are not without flaws, but at least we have it available for people.  In contrast, many third world countries do not have these governmental agencies where their people can turn to for help. To decrease the percentage of people living in poverty in these country requires assistance from the more industrialized nation to send help or aid. 

What is the answer to poverty?  This is a difficult question because every situation and place is unique.  However, the most important thing to remember is that we all have to do something however big or small.  Sending donations of clothing, food, or money is helpful if it goes straight to the people instead of to corrupt agencies or government where the people who are suffering are not getting what they need.

To end poverty, it is going to take more people to stand up and fight for those who can not do it themselves. Through activism, education, and awareness we can do something about it. If we all sit back and think only about our comfort and welfare without further regard for the needs of others then we will never end poverty.  We can all start all in our own community and identify the areas of need whether it is in our neighborhood, church, or school.  Being aware of those around us, can help us see who needs help.  Even if we can help one person a day or week or month, that is one less person living in poverty.  If all of us will commit to helping one person then pretty soon that can turn into a large number. 

To end poverty we have to all work together as a community, nation and world.

What am I doing to help fight poverty?  What have I done to help fight poverty? 

1.  Taken my club kids to the homeless shelter to volunteer to serve food.  We have made a long time commitment to the shelter for the rest of the year.  While we were there we notice they needed to stock up on can foods so we are going to have a can food, clothing drive, and blanket drive to donateto the shelter.

2. October 18th my club kids and I are going to prep low income houses and get it ready to paint on October 25 the which is the National Make a Difference Day.

3.  My students and I have collected school supplies for kids in the poor neighborhoods of Iraq. We have former students from our school who are serving in the army and they are stationed in Iraq.  They wrote home and told us about the needs of the community they patrol so we are doing our part.

http://blogactionday.org/js/ee1fe4421fce3e3b645afedd4dc0c875144bf717

What do you mean I can’t teach your child…

I usually complain that parents don’t take enough interest in their child’s education. Well, I was made a liar today! Okay let me explain.  First of all I have an open door policy in my class, which means I invite parents to come sit in my class if they want. I created a website specially for parents and students so they know what we do in class.  In fact my class website is located here at wordpress as well.  Anyway, I am a firm believer in motivating parents to give me ideas, suggestions, and feedback about their child’s education because I want their input, I want to do the best I can for their child. Now that I explained my view, let me tell you my story.

After school today an irate parent came to the school to complain about me.  One of my co-worker (whose son is also in my Advanced Placement United States History class) told me while she was in the office, a dad came in asking for the history department head.  So my co-worker asked who was he looking specifically for and the parent said, he wanted to talk to Ms. A (me).  My friend told the man, “Oh, my son has her for class, she’s a great teacher!” The man angrily looks at her and said, ” I’m not here to praise her, I’m here to complain about her doing debates in class!”  He told her he was upset with me because I was setting his kid up for failure… he said I should be focusing on history.  The debate he was upset about was the election issues. On Fridays we do current events, and I told my students we would do debates about election issues until the election so they know what is going on.  The dad was upset about this and wanted me to stop doing debates. At least that is what he told my co-worker.  Tomorrow I’m sure I will find out the full story.

As a teacher, we are not permitted to talk about religion or political views.  I don’t tell my students what my views are on those two issues.  They have asked but I always tell them my views are not important but theirs are because they have to form their opinions themselves. In my class, I do not censor my student’s views because it would be hypocritical of me to teach them about the First Amendment one day and the next take those rights from them.  It’s ironic, but one of my students had told the class during our discussion of freedom of speech that she felt that students had more freedom of speech than teachers.  I had asked her, how?  She said, ” Ms. A, it’s sad but I can say what I feel or think about any topic in class, but you are not allowed to because of rules preventing you.”

Are parents threatened by free speech? Are some parents afraid to let their child think for themselves? Are they worried their child will rebel if they are exposed to different ideas and thoughts?  From a teacher’s stand point, I believe in encouraging students to express their opinions and ideas without fear or discrimination.  Education is not regurgitation… in order for them to be prepared for the  “world’ classroom they have to be able to think for themselves and not me telling them what to believe.

Proud to be a nerdy Asian

Me the nerd in high school. I was a junior when we went to Washington to compete at the National FHA Convention

A recent comment made by one of my good friend, Peu reminded me how after all these years I still have not escaped my image of “the nerd”. She was in the middle of  telling me  about her struggle in a Literature class she was taking at the college when she paused and said, ” Hey, I bet this class would be easy for you because you were so smart when we were in high school”.  It has been over 14 years since I graduated, but yet people still remembers me as the “smart” one, the nerdy one as my friends fondly remembers.  I guess I fit the profile of what they describe as nerdy characteristics:  studies  a lot, always completes assignment, and gets good grades. 

Because of this image of me being smart and nerdy, people would love to sit by me in class because they wanted to cheat off of me especially in my history class. I can still remember, Sammy who almost fell out of his chair trying to see my test answers over my hunching shoulders. I guess once he realized that he didn’t have any x-ray vision, he would do the next best thing which was pretend to be elastic man and stretch his neck  over my shoulder in a vain attempt to get those answers!

Another of my ‘cheater” friend is Jackie who by far has no shame when it comes to cheating.  She didn’t beat around the bush, or waste time trying to be discreet about cheating off of my test.  Oh, no she didn’t make a pretense of trying to pass the test on her own , she straight out told me to give her the answer.  After that she would have the nerve to ask if I had a quarter or a dollar, like I would give that to her even though I wouldn’t hand over my answers! Okay… sometimes I did give her money because I felt sorry for her.

In retrospect( now that I’m older and wiser) being a nerd in high school was not so bad even when my little sister would make fun of my extra-curricular activities. Yeah, she would laugh and  teased me about being the president of the Future Homemakers of America, Home Economics Related Occupation Club, but she did it goodnaturely.  I have no shame being the head of that club because my team went to national competition for our community service projects because we placed first at state and earned our spot.  Yes, I acted too mature and serious for a high schooler, but that was part of who I was and still am to a certain extent. 

I am a proud nerdy Asian even though I consider myself average in intellect.  However, if my high school friends still would like to hold that image of a smarty pants, then who am I to persuade them to think differently!:)

Please do call me ouan( fat), yaay(big), or dum (black)

  Some of my favorite lines from Author Miller’s book, The Crucible is spoken by the character, John Proctor. When others try to convince him to continue lieing so he can save himself from being hanged like the others who are accused of witchcraft, he roars at them and angrily tells them why he can not lie anymore. He screams his response ”Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” He basically is tired of the lies he has told to save himself and feels like a coward for not standing up against injustice like some of the others. Eventually, he redeems himself by refusing to admit to something he did not do just to be saved from the hang man’s noose.  Consequently, he once again brings pride and honor to his name.  His children will not have to suffer the humiliation and condemnation of having a coward for a father.  They can proudly say their  father is John Proctor, an honest and truthful man.  Retaining the dignity of his name is the greatest legacy he can give to his children.  This brings me to my questions, “Don’t we all want people to think of positive things when they hear our name (first middle or last) instead of negative things?

 I love those lines because it reminds me the importance of our names representing who we are, where we come from, and yes, even our cultural values and beliefs.  An article  I read  in The New York Times  called In Thai Cultural Battle, Name-Calling Is Encouraged  has me thinking about this issue.  In the article (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/world/asia/29nickname.html), Vira Rojpojchanarat of the Thai Culture Ministry discusses how he is worry that ”the Thai culture will vanish” because the younger generations of Thais are heavily influenced by foreign media.  Based on the astonishing result of a survey conducted among 3,000 students , I can understand  why Mr. Vira feels worry  about the danger of losing ones cultural identity.  According to the survey, “Forty percent of secondary students and 56 percent of primary students had English nicknames”.  I don’t know why this number is so high, but I do see this tread of Laotians and Thais giving English names to their children instead of the more traditional names.  In a way, this is a tragedy because a lot of times you can not tell what a person’s ethnicity is based on their name.  Are we trying to hide who we are by using American names whether it is just our nicknames or first names?  Are we trying to become too American?  Are we assimilating too much to the point that we do not even realize that we are losing our cultural identity with changing our Asian names to sound more American?  Many of us immigrants have not only use English nicknames, but have changed our first names to more American names. Some of us have altered the way our name is spelled ( as I have from Anousone to Anasone) to make it more phonetical so people can pronounce it. Then there are some of us who has totally changed our names beyond recognition. For example, Dom instantaneously turns into Mary.  We all have our reasons, but it is still sad when I think about it. 

I can sympathize and yes even understand why people want to have American nicknames, first names or middle names because people slaughter the pronounciation of my first( Anousone)and middle (Maa)name all the time. However, are we sending the wrong message when we prefer or use American names instead of our Laos name or Thai?  Maybe, I am making too big of a deal about it.

According to the article, “Mr. Vira, says his mission is to preserve what he calls Thai-ness: “not only the Thai language but Thai dress, Thai food — everything that shows Thai identity.”  I think this is a noble goal because we all should want to preserve everything that makes us unique and different and that includes using our Asian names.  I for one do not want to lose my “Lao-ness”!  I think I will do what Mr. Vira is planning  which is:  make a list of traditional Lao first names and nicknames and post it here. Maybe the younger generations will stumble upon this site and find a name they can give to their future children.

Thalassemia

*** This is for informational purposes only.  My little brother  who is a clinical pharmacist will post a more detailed information when he gets a chance.  This is based on my own experience amd information I’ve come across. I hope the way I explain it will not confuse many of you.  I am NOT a specialist or have any medical training.   I am sharing this story in hopes that more Asians get tested.  It is always best to seek the advice of your doctor who knows your medical history.

About a year ago, my oldest brother told me he had thalassemia minor, but the less severe kind.  He said he was lucky that his doctor was vigilant about his health by suggesting that my brother get a full physical and blood work done.  Since, my brother is from a Southeast Asian country, the doctor had the lab test for a genetic blood disorder called thalassemia. There are two types: alpha and beta thalassemia.  According to Medline Plus website “Alpha thalassemias occur most commonly in people from southeast Asia and China, and are caused by deletion of a gene or genes from the alpha globin chain. The most severe form of alpha thalassemia causes stillbirth (death of a fetus before delivery)”.  Also the most severe victims  of thalassemia needs to get blood transfusion and folate supplements. 

Symptoms

The second form of this disorder is beta thalassemia and it is common among “…people of Mediterranean origin, and to a lesser extent, Chinese, other Asians, and blacks” ( MedlinePlus website).  To figure out if you have this disorder or what types or how severe you have to go to your physician to get a blood work done.  If you suffer from severe fatigue, shortness of breath, jaundice or bone deformities in the face it is wise to tell your health professional about the symptoms and tell them you want to be tested for thalassemia.  Sometimes, thalassemia can be misdiagnose because it is mistaken for a simple iron deficient ( anemia) and some doctors might prescribe iron pills to ratify the situation.  This is the case with me.  I would not have known that I had Thalassemia minor until my older brother advised me to get tested.  So I asked my doctor I wanted to get tested for the disorder.

Getting tested and treated: Cultural and Language barrier

There are many Laotians as well as other Asians who are not getting tested for this disorder because they are unaware or uninformed. It is mind boggling to note that at the Northern California Comprehensive Center at CHRCO that ” 80% of the patient population is of Asian origin. Many of these individuals are recent immigrants to the United States and almost half do not speak English.” The Center stresses their frusttration of adequate patient care because of the difficulty of translating the information in a clear and concise manner where a Lao or Hmong or Chinese person can understand.  If the translator does not have medical training it is much more difficult to translate biology and genetic terms to that language.  Health care providers agree that in order to understand, treat, and explain what thalassemia is, language can be a major  obstacle to overcome, but it is not impossible with a good translator.  Another problem to overcome in regards to treatment is the cultural barrier.  The difference  between eastern and western health beliefs or ideas when it comes to health and sickness can get in the way of treatment.  According to Charles Kemp from Baylor University,” Some health care beliefs and practices are related to Brahmanistic and animistic beliefs. Illness may be attributed to the loss of one of the thirty-two spirits (think also in terms of souls) thought to inhabit the body and maintain health. As with other Southeast Asians, “winds” also play a role in health and illness and bringing the winds into balance restores health or well-being. Laotian views of physical and mental wellness are also tied to a person’s ability to sleep and eat without difficulty.”  This belief can lead many Laotians to rely on their own religious or cultural beliefs to heal instead of seeking western medical help.

If you are of Asian or Mediterrean descent, you can go to your doctor to get tested for this blood disorder. Your health care provider can also recommend genetic counseling for further testing.  This is especially important because if you or your spouse both possess the trait, your kid can have thalassemia major which is the severe form of this disorder.   If  left untreated it can lead to heart or liver failure.  Another thing to be concern about is that the disorder can lead to diabetes which can be lethal if not properly managed. Of course, your doctor can advise you on what diet to follow. . According to the Cooley’s Anemia foundation, “Some people with thalassemia develop diabetes so it is important that if you are suffering from this disorder that you watch your diet to prevent  the onset of diabetes. The main cause of diabetes in people with thalassemia is iron overload in addition to these other factor and the presence of liver disease and viral infection which are common with thalassemia.”  For a detail description on the causes, effects, treatments and dietary help, please click on the following link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/thalassemia.html