Conforming to one's surroundings

My mom would be so happy to know that I am trying to "blend" in with the native folks here in Dushanbe.  I received my first kurta today.  A kurta is a type of long, shapeless dress (much like a muumuu) and is almost always worn with pants underneath the kurta that is made from the same material. I believe the pants are called shalvar or a pocha.  

Just about every woman in Dushanbe wears a kurta on a daily basis.  There are thousands of different types of fabric here.  The best way to get a kurta is to go to a market and pick out a fabric you like.  There are many things to think about when buying your fabric.  Will this be for summer or winter? Is this an every day dress or do I need something fancy? It is very overwhelming, but extremely fun to shop for.  Sadly, I was just at a very large market a few weeks ago that had a HUGE selection of fabric and it has since burned down.  

Once you have bought your fabric, you get to find a dressmaker! I used my friend Mavzuna's dressmaker. I decided that I wanted a simple, every day dress that looks like I bought it in Central Asia for when I return to the States.  I picked out a very light cotton (as I still feel too hot here!) and asked for a simple kurta that didn't make me look like an old person.  I wanted a younger style! 

The shalvar isn't very comfortable, I think my dressmaker made the crotch a little too long. It touches my knees, but I don't think I want to wear the dress without the shavlar.  I don't see many people wearing a kurta without the shavlar.  

Some women do wear western clothes.  I don't see it often, but usually they are foreigners.  The people I work with typically tend to wear western style clothes, but I think that's because we work for an American School.  

Men's fashion here isn't nearly as interesting.  The clothes they wear are similar to what the men wear in America, jeans and a shirt.  The shoes are completely different here for men than in the States.  Here, men will wear sandals in the summer with their jeans. Not flip flops, but sandals.  They will be wearing tight jeans with sandals. It doesn't look bad, but it doesn't look like something a person in the US would wear. 

Kids Fashion-The poor kids go to school here on Saturdays! However they are so adorable when I see them.  All kids have to wear black pants (for boys) or a black skirt (for the ladies) and a white shirt.  The little girls all have these enormous hair bows on the top of their heads. I find it very sweet. 

Well that's all for now!