My name is Matthew Kee Her. As of now, I’m a senior who will be graduating by the end of spring semester 2019. I’m a double major in Asian Languages & Literature and Linguistics in addition with a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language. I’m the oldest of 4 in my family. I’ve studied abroad twice and have been to China, South Korea, and Japan (travel) – basically East Asia. I was a previous officer for the Hmong Minnesota Student Association and a previous mentor for the Asian Pacific American Resource Center. I held multiple leadership positions serving underrepresented communities such as refugees, youth, and adult learners.

My learning objective while on the Global Families Program in Thailand is to observe, immerse, and reflect the experience of Hill Tribe groups particularly the Hmong. My interest lies in learning about the Hmong Diaspora and since I’ve already went to China to learn about one piece, I’ve yet to gone to SE Asia to learn about another. Because we will be getting opportunities to observe how ethnic minorities are integrating themselves into Thai culture, I want to connect the experiences of Hmong Thai to my experiences as a Hmong American. When we go to the Hmong villages, I intend to be involved in any activity if possible instead of just being on the observing side. I want to make my experience fulfilling as much as possible. My parents were refugees when escaping to Thailand, so I want to return as someone who has come back home. In other words, I want to trace the roots of my ancestral history or the Hmong Diaspora.