By: Ingrid Remak 01/01/2012
Minnesotan’s pride themselves on not only their tolerance for cold – but for an actual fondness for winter. While Nordic skiing has its roots in the Scandinavian heritage of the state, today Minneapolis is made up of thousands of residents that are new to ice and cold. Experiencing winter and its sub-zero highs for the first time can be both an enchanting and brutal experience. But imagine if it is not just “winter” but the concept of winter that surprises you at your doorstep. How do you describe that? Such has been the conundrum faced by many Hmong families and their youth as they tried to get to know winter, snowy sports and numerous new ideas that are part of a Minnesotan way of life, but have no direct translation into Hmong.