Brookline High School in China

China 25: A Homesick Haircut

Price of a haircut in Xi'an: 10 yuan = $1.25
Price of the german hair gel bought to fix the haircut: 80 yuan = $10

After being told to shave off my goatee by GaoXin High, I woke up today and decided that in the few hours I had before the group met up I'd walk around Xi'an on my own to look for a hair cut. Well I easily found one. Beauty Salons are everywhere with prices ranging from 3-10 yuan (.37-1.25 dollars. Being an American, I decided I could go for a little decatance and go for a 10 yuan cut. The place looked pretty nice, and the guy giving haircuts was surrounded by assistants in lab coats. His own haircut looked alright so I stepped in.

I sat in the chair and told the guy to do as he wished as long as it was "shui" (hot). So I sat and watched my beautiful long brown hair turn into a mop. I looked at the mirror and I couldn't even think of anything I could say to make the mess cleaned up. (If only I went to beauty school instead of BHS!) So I asked him how he felt about the cut, and he said he liked it. So when I tried to pay they didn't have change, so they said I could come back later and pay, but I saw the shelves of hair products and decided that if I was going to bear this animal on my head, I'd have to work a little of my own magic. So I bought a bottle of German hair gel which cost me eight times the haircut, and then they had enough change. I walked out of that place looking like a 12-year-old kid from the 70's. But worse. And even my German gel couldn't make a asthetic appealing shape out of the pieces of hair on my head.

I can't believe how much I miss my haircut guy that I've had since 7th grade when he professionally bleached my bangs. From then on he cut my hair in whatever the "shui" style was, to perfection. I'd do anything to fly him hair to fix the threads spinning out of my dome.

Other than Clyde though, I think I'm finally beginning to feel the effects of homesickness. And it's odd because at the same time, I'm having the best time in Xi'an now that I've settled in. I miss how when I come home late at night back in the US my dog has beat me to my own bed so that I have to find a little corner to curl up on while he sprawls out on my pillows. I miss making breakfast for myself on Sundays with REAL coffee. I miss my parents and brother. I'm not homesick but all of a sudden I think I've realized that all those things are pretty far away not in distance but in time. These days I could return home in two days from Xi'an; the distance is certainly not a worrisome thing anymore. It's the time that matters. I mean by now everything could be different. Wow! I like the way that sounds. By now everything could be different.

I mean my hair is different, right? Sorry I don't have any pics yet. And you might never see any b/c I'm considering slaughtering this beast that rides my head. ;) Love.

posted by dAVID @ 9:15 AM