My First LäwE.

November 27, 2013

Yesterday I took another giant leap toward looking a little more like a Nuer woman: I bought my first läwE! A läwE is just a pretty piece of fabric that women wear wrapped around their torso and tied at one shoulder…but EVERY woman in Nasir wears one. And they’re gorgeous!

I have always loved clothes. In fact, it’s one of the things I had the hardest time leaving behind when we moved over here. And my wardrobe here in Nasir is a choice between 4 skirts, 2 dresses, and a few t-shirts and tank tops…the exact same shirt in a few different colors. It’s not very exciting. In addition to my wardrobe mitot, Nasir is also quickly turning into the Land of Brown. The rainy season is pretty much over, and everything is dying. It’s a lot like winter in the Midwest, except that it’s still around 100 degrees and sunny. But it is quite dull.

I have been eyeing and admiring the läwEni for some time, but I wasn’t sure what they meant or who could wear one. Are they reserved only for women with babies? Can any woman or girl wear one? Do they have any religious significance? I started asking these questions of our language tutors, and they all said that anyone can wear one. A woman or even a girl can wear one. I then started asking my female friends what they would think if I wore one. Unanimously, the response was that it would be gua e long (very good).

So yesterday after our visit with Simon’s wife, we went into the market and I was determined not to leave until I found a läwE that I loved. And I did. Simon helped me negotiate a good price, and a few ladies helped me tie it properly.

The walk through the market and back to the compound was EPIC. I have never heard SO MUCH FUSS, EXCITEMENT, and CHEERING over one simple piece of cloth. Men and women alike all commented with giant smiles and thumbs up. I got SO MANY compliments! My favorite reactions were from Ruac, our other language tutor, Mary, an older woman with whom I’ve become good friends, and NyaReat. All of them smiled and laughed, cheered and clicked, and babbled profusely about how great it was and how Nuer I looked. They all told me to wear it every time I leave the compound.

I think it’s colorful and pretty…and I feel kind of fancy when I wear it. =)