Htoo enjoys event celebrating Karen people, culture

Sophomore Eh Lar Dah Htoo immigrated to America from Thailand along with her parents and four siblings and has been living in Pittsburgh since 2009.

Htoo is part of an ethnic group called Karen (pronounced kuh-ren) that has resided in Burma. Many have migrated to other countries, including America, due to war and ethnic cleansing.

Htoo always has looked forward to traveling to Ohio for a celebration of Karen Martyr’s Day, an annual event that honors her country’s heroes.

“This event is my favorite because it brings me the closest to my culture,” Htoo said. 

It is a day filled with noodles, Burmese tea leaf salad, and boba, and she has felt a deep sense of belonging and connection to her heritage there. The event also featured soccer and volleyball games, which Htoo loved to watch.

“The last time I was at this event was in the summer of my middle school years. The main thing I remember was being with my family, eating rice on woven colored mats,” Htoo said. 

The event was canceled during the pandemic. It came back last year, but Htoo could not attend, though she does plan on attending this year. 

Htoo wished more people knew how beautiful Karen culture is and how hardworking the villagers are.

“Our cultural clothes are woven and consist of different patterns and colors depending on the consumer’s preference. There is also a popular bamboo dance that is performed at important events, which can be difficult to learn because of its complexity,” Htoo said. 

Growing up surrounded by people of the same ethnicity at her church, Youth With a Mission Pittsburgh, taught Htoo important values, such as respecting elders, taking care of the house, and maintaining relationships. She learned to bend over a little when walking past elders and to prioritize doing chores.

However, Htoo also has experienced the misuse of the name “Karen.” For example, she would see Karen people sharing their culture on TikTok, but in the comments, people would make fun of it by comparing it to the online nickname for an entitled White woman, “Karen.”  Htoo felt hurt that others used the derogatory online name to disrespect her heritage.

Despite this, Htoo is proud to speak the Sino-Tibetan language, Karen. While she wasn’t fluent in English at first, she quickly picked it up due to being surrounded by it at school and taking classes like ESL.