Final Blog: Leaving the Village by Lukman and Anabelle

Daweyu.

A phrase that traverses the land of the Lahu. A phrase that means hello, goodbye, and everything in between. A phrase that is deeply ingrained in the culture we have immersed ourselves in for the past month. Daweyu. The words effortlessly flow from the heart-warming, toothy smiles of the villagers as they balance bamboo and rice bags on their motorcycles. Despite the cultural and linguistic barriers, the memo solidifies the bond between my homestay parents and I by disregarding our differences. In a similar fashion, the phrase’s influence spreads within the community, branching off individual relationships and turning into an infectious enthusiasm most prominently found at the celebratory dances. Daweyu. The subtle, yet powerful remark used to reel in onlookers into the swirling circle of people gracefully mirroring the movement of the lead with the traditional instrument.

As time continues to dwindle, the words grow heavier with meaningful memories of the feast-filled days followed by hours of routine dancing past sundown. To top off the final ceremony, numerous lanterns were lit and sent off by the community as a whole. So as these lanterns roam the night sky, symbolizing our departure, we must also say goodbye.

Daweyu.

Lukman and Anabelle













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