Shopping in a Hmong village

Shopping in a Hmong village

(written waiting to go to the Bangkok airport on July 4. Oh and yeah, for those of you who celebrate these things, happy American Independence day. I hope you watched things explode and ate charred meat)

A few days ago we visited a Hmong village north of Chiang Mai. Everything I know about the Hmong people I know from reading Anne Fadiman’s excellent book, “The spirit catches you and you fall down” about Hmong people living in California. It is an excellent book and I highly recommend reading it.

The shop

After touring the village I bought a piece of embroidery from this old woman. She agreed to let me take a picture with her. (At first she said she was too dirty, so she went and put on a coat). I collect pictures of myself with folks who sell me fabric (it is a quilting thing I guess). I have picture of myself with a fabric seller on the street in Ghana from my trip there 10+ years ago.

I have a picture from our Japan trip about 3 years ago, and I have a picture from Bali when I got some fabric for baby quilts on this trip. This woman is the best so far.

Can you tell I am feeling pretty akward at this moment? I haven't been this much taller then someone since middle school when they boys were all still this tall