I arrived in Dhaka about a week and a half ago and tomorrow it has been a week since I came to Sylhet. Already, I wish my bangs were longer, parted in the middle like the women I see here. The trendy haristyles of east London look absurd here, especially with my dupata wrapped around my shoulders keeping me warm but most of all acting as a cultural marker letting me blend in. When I first visited Bangladesh almost 4 years ago I was shocked at how quickly I adpated to wanting to wear the scarf around my chest, shoulders and at especially at night covering my head. I remember riding a rickshaw through the busy city centre as night fell and being so thankful that I could hide myself beneath my magenta and lime scarf (they way of contrasting colours here in one's wardrobe is amazing although to some it may be more of a clash than a contrast). In anticipation of this upcoming trip I relayed this story to a British friend and she used the word shield-- how empowering I thought, yes I chose to shield myself not hide. And yet I am quite the awkward white fool fumbling with my dupata (scarf) here. Try as I might to fit in with my culturally appropriate wardrobe (My dear friend Stacy has warned me to remember that it is not culturally appropriate everywhere) I still have not mastered the elegant ease one can drape their dupata around their shoulders or shift from covering their shoulders to head when displaying respect and reverance to people you meet. You can take a girl out of the west, but can she dress in the East?
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