Getting a haircut…
October 19, 2008The relative difficulty of being a foreigner in Shanghai is personified for me by the relatively simple task of getting a haircut. In Sydney, where my home is, a haircut is a pleasant experience that I usually indulge in about every two weeks with a short walk up to the shops on Johnson Street, in the inner west suburb of Annandale, where I can chat with my Italian barber Enrico as he cuts my hair. I then pop next door and get a nice coffee followed by the nearby bakers to buy a sausage roll for my dog….
The only difficulty involved in this whole process is making sure I time it right to be there after the midday customers have dried up and before the arrival of the school kids!
In Shanghai on the other hand I am faced with the choice of paying the exhorbitant charges at Toni & Guy in nearby Xintiandi if I want to converse in basic English or risk it all with a visit to the local Chinese barber…
Being follically challenged, I cannot bring myself to pay the Toni & Guy prices, so I go for 10 RMB (A$2) option at the local barber. But there are no free lunches in this world and the fact that the barber’s grasp of the English language matches my abilities in Mandarin, means that sign language is the order of the day. The obvious problem with that if I fail to communicate my requirements properly I wear the consequences for the next few weeks!
I am due for a visit to the barber later this week so I’ll attempt to capture the essence of this tonsorial experience with my camera – so stay tuned for the next thrilling installment…
Don, I am not sure if others will be able to read this, but in case they can I have the following comments which may be of interest.
I have known Don Silcock of several years mostly because we have been in the same business together. However, over the past few years when he worked directly for me, we have become good friends.
If he is able to keep this blog going, I am certain you will get a lot of value from it especially if you are considering living in China as an expat or otherwise. I have spent time with Don in China on business and personally doing some site seeing. He is an amazing individual. One of the best I have met.
So, get to know him by visiting often.
Don, I can’t wait to see your $A2.00 haircut. Get that photo posted ASAP. Last time I saw you there a month or so ago, I didn’t get a haircut, but I did get my first manicure. I think I went to Toni & Guy’s place, because it wasn’t what I would consider low price…but, they didn’t speak English, either, so maybe I just got taken.
Your American friend, Chappy. BTW, I got my new business started up and will be contacting you to train your team in Salesforce Efficiency Excellence, the essence of SEE Corp. My website isn’t active yet, but check it from time to time and it will be.