This is truly a beautiful video! I am in tears watching this video. I lived in camp Ban Vinai as a young girl back in the 80s. These people, Erica Hagen and the rest of the team, are the true heroes. You ALL deserve so so much more credit! Thank you so much for the love and care you had given the Hmong people!!! Forever grateful! I feel so blessed to be in America, an American citizen now, but looking back to the Ban Vinai camp time, boi.....so much to share and so many stories to tell. Again, thank you! Subscribed and shared it on my Facebook Account.
Erica told me that acting never gave her any satisfaction. She told me that only helping people and animals gave her any satisfaction; and that she didn't really discover that until she went to Thailand where she learned so much from the people there. I also learned so much from Erica-she was always generous telling me stories of her time there
This gives me chill watching this clip. Thank you for what you did for the Hmong people. Today would not be possible for me and my family without the love and humanity from those amazing people. Thank you, thank you!!! 😘😘😘
Thank you for posting this awesome video. The Hmong people want to express their heartfelt thanks to Erica Hagen for her love and care. She is such a wonderful human being and kind. Her love and care will never be forgotten.
Thank you to Erica and the many others that came to help! We will forever be grateful for all your wonderful work and kindness you gave to the refugees!
Good to see you two who worked in the Camp for Hmong people and thank you for that. I was in the Vinai Camp also. I came from Laos to the Camp in 1982 when I was 12 and stayed there until 85 then I left it to the U S. It's been a long time. Thanks for sharing us your video.
Kevin thanks for showing Erica's story. We were one of those people she had serve and forever grateful to know her and miss her last time we met when she came to visit us in North Carolina in 1996, since then we lost contact with her, last known she live in LA. if you don't mind please let her know we are looking for her. we are Zue and Neng. Thanks.
I didn't attend Erica's class except a friend of mine and I were just watching from outside of her class. If I remember correctly, this class was somewhere near the UN office. I rememer she was beautiful, skinny and tall. In this video footage, I know all the people there. The narrator, Laurie Kuntz and her husband Steve, Erica, Ken and Visaka Kawasaki. Lauri was my teacher in 02. It was in this class that I was first introduced to English songs with the Beatles and was told that their lead singer was shot and killed. Ken and Visaka Kawasaki were friends to my best friend's brother. For this reason, we remained friends long after the Trip program ended. If I remember correctly, they were in Hawaii when they came to Ban Vinai, but currently they are in Michigan. There were many people that I knew, but lost their contacts. It's the first time I've ever heard of them through this video and it certainly brought back a lot of memories of my younger days. Laurie and Steve, you may not remember me since you hand so many students, but back when I was in your class, my name was "Yang Ying" and my friend was "Lor Ying". However, our real names were Yang Ying is Fong Lor and Lor Ying is Chong Thao. We assumed those names because they didn't show up to class and we wanted to study English directly from Americans. If I am not mistaken, sounds like Erica is no longer in this world; RIP Erica Hagen.
Hi, I was also teaching in Ban Vinai. Lots of beautiful memories! Anyone know Jacque Trainer? She was a teacher at CAMA. Please let me know! Thank you!
As if I wasn't already in love with this wonderful lady. Little did I realize what an exceptional soul she was. I fell in love upon first seeing her in 'Thunderbolt & Lightfoot', not just because of her exquisite beauty, but because she reminded me of a very dear childhood sweetheart that could pass for her twin. Of course, Ms. Hagen was, and is, the rarified soul she is, most certainly in heaven above. I look forward to meeting her one day out there in those stars...if only to laugh at the feeble words I would have struggled with here on this planet that she helped make so much brighter. God bless you, Erica, where you remain in the hearts of all you have touched.
It’s so wonderful to learn about this chapter in Erica’s life. She is so giving and caring to everyone. She is a dedicated rescuer of people and animals.
What a beautiful soul. The Hmong people were so fortunate to have such loving, caring and kind white people who dedicated their lives to help better ours.
Wow! What blessing! For all of you whom helped my parents and all of us.
May the lord be with you, come visit us!
Thank you Erica and all whom served.
Thank you for what you gals did. Watching this vdo makes miss my parents so much.
Thanks so much for sharing those pictures and your memories of Ban Vinai. It brought alot of emotions, memories back
Hi Erica I am thankful for video from ban vinai refugee camp so we are miss you where are you know I am living in Minnesota
This is truly a beautiful video! I am in tears watching this video. I lived in camp Ban Vinai as a young girl back in the 80s. These people, Erica Hagen and the rest of the team, are the true heroes. You ALL deserve so so much more credit! Thank you so much for the love and care you had given the Hmong people!!! Forever grateful! I feel so blessed to be in America, an American citizen now, but looking back to the Ban Vinai camp time, boi.....so much to share and so many stories to tell. Again, thank you!
Subscribed and shared it on my Facebook Account.
Erica told me that acting never gave her any satisfaction. She told me that only helping people and animals gave her any satisfaction; and that she didn't really discover that until she went to Thailand where she learned so much from the people there. I also learned so much from Erica-she was always generous telling me stories of her time there
Lwm tiam yog muaj tiag thov yug los ua Hmoob ib tus ntxhais os. Ua tsaug ntau22 rau koj txoj kev hlub kuv hais Hmoob nawb! 💜
This gives me chill watching this clip. Thank you for what you did for the Hmong people. Today would not be possible for me and my family without the love and humanity from those amazing people. Thank you, thank you!!! 😘😘😘
I met Erica in 1982-83 in Omaha, Nebraska. I just remembered she was one of the sweetest nicest wonderful caring woman.
Thank you for posting this awesome video. The Hmong people want to express their heartfelt thanks to Erica Hagen for her love and care. She is such a wonderful human being and kind. Her love and care will never be forgotten.
Thank you to Erica and the many others that came to help! We will forever be grateful for all your wonderful work and kindness you gave to the refugees!
Thanks for sharing good documentary
I’m utterly fascinated by Erica and her humanity and passion for others.
Erica was a gem. One in a trillion. All of us who knew her were blessed. 🐯and her Spirit walks with us ...
Good to see you two who worked in the Camp for Hmong people and thank you for that. I was in the Vinai Camp also. I came from Laos to the Camp in 1982 when I was 12 and stayed there until 85 then I left it to the U S. It's been a long time. Thanks for sharing us your video.
Kevin thanks for showing Erica's story. We were one of those people she had serve and forever grateful to know her and miss her last time we met when she came to visit us in North Carolina in 1996, since then we lost contact with her, last known she live in LA. if you don't mind please let her know we are looking for her. we are Zue and Neng. Thanks.
Sorry to say that she died in 2018 at the age of 72. I did not know her though. There is a memorial video of her if you want to google it.
Thank you for sharing.
I didn't attend Erica's class except a friend of mine and I were just watching from outside of her class. If I remember correctly, this class was somewhere near the UN office. I rememer she was beautiful, skinny and tall. In this video footage, I know all the people there. The narrator, Laurie Kuntz and her husband Steve, Erica, Ken and Visaka Kawasaki. Lauri was my teacher in 02. It was in this class that I was first introduced to English songs with the Beatles and was told that their lead singer was shot and killed.
Ken and Visaka Kawasaki were friends to my best friend's brother. For this reason, we remained friends long after the Trip program ended. If I remember correctly, they were in Hawaii when they came to Ban Vinai, but currently they are in Michigan. There were many people that I knew, but lost their contacts. It's the first time I've ever heard of them through this video and it certainly brought back a lot of memories of my younger days. Laurie and Steve, you may not remember me since you hand so many students, but back when I was in your class, my name was "Yang Ying" and my friend was "Lor Ying". However, our real names were Yang Ying is Fong Lor and Lor Ying is Chong Thao. We assumed those names because they didn't show up to class and we wanted to study English directly from Americans. If I am not mistaken, sounds like Erica is no longer in this world; RIP Erica Hagen.
Hi, I was also teaching in Ban Vinai. Lots of beautiful memories! Anyone know Jacque Trainer? She was a teacher at CAMA. Please let me know! Thank you!
May God continue to bless her of her kindness to the HMONG Peoples
Thank you guys for the your passion and kindness. You guys are the true hero’s to the Hmong.
As if I wasn't already in love with this wonderful lady. Little did I realize what an exceptional soul she was. I fell in love upon first seeing her in 'Thunderbolt & Lightfoot', not just because of her exquisite beauty, but because she reminded me of a very dear childhood sweetheart that could pass for her twin.
Of course, Ms. Hagen was, and is, the rarified soul she is, most certainly in heaven above. I look forward to meeting her one day out there in those stars...if only to laugh at the feeble words I would have struggled with here on this planet that she helped make so much brighter.
God bless you, Erica, where you remain in the hearts of all you have touched.
It’s so wonderful to learn about this chapter in Erica’s life. She is so giving and caring to everyone. She is a dedicated rescuer of people and animals.
Thank you for sharing this video and your hard work.
Erica, thank you for your generosity and sacrifice for helping us, the Hmong refugees. May you rest in peace.
May god bless this beautiful soul! She’s done many good deeds for our Hmong people while she was in Ban Vinai.
My name is ya xiong.i love all Americans who love Hmong that I can say
Thanks 🙏 for sharing.
That nomadic life still traumatizes me until this day...that place was a total dump but was free of war and strife.
I love this so much! thank you for sharing this video
I like to hear more of her story... such qn awesome person...
The subtitle are wrong!
Thank you very much for the Americans.
A great story, so sad to look back and remember when when I was kid lived in this Camp.
Beautifully
go back ti bavinai loved
Kevin Kelly do you personally know Erica Hagen?
My birth place.
Me too, was born there.
That's where I met my very first GF at 14. It brings back many good and sad memories. Thank you.
What a beautiful soul. The Hmong people were so fortunate to have such loving, caring and kind white people who dedicated their lives to help better ours.