The Greatest Cultural Experience

Ok, now having lived outside of the US for over 2 years, I have found what has to be the greatest cultural expereince.

Some might think it is the food, the people, dating a person from that country, the places, using the language....BUT I think it is getting a haircut. Yes, getting a HAIRCUT.

Why? Because, for a short period of time you put yourself at the mercy of this person with scissors. This person can make you look great, trim that hair that is in your eyes, shave the neckline you can't reach, and give you information (depending on the language barrier). OR, this person can cut yor ear off, mess up your hairstyle, cut you with the razor, or rip you off for a terrible haircut.

Luckily for me, I have had great barbers in Indiana, Japan, Little Saigon in California, and now China. Sure the prices vary and maybe I get charged more for being a foreigner, But now that I have these places, I would never trade them in for some new barbershop or go somewhere cheaper.

At home, the barbershop is small and its there you can hear thet local politics. Have a good talk, get a haircut, watch baseball and enjoy some coffee. They know you by name, although in there I am a Rizer, it's ok. And it is only $12 for a cut. In Japan, I had the chain-smoking barber. If he wasn't cutting hair he was carving souvenirs for tourists to buy. Even though I didn't speak Japanese, I had a great time there... I usually stayed for a bit and had a short chat with some coffee. I even traded some souvenirs from vacations I went on with them. Sure the haircut was 3000yen ($27), but it was the best, no clippers were used. I bought several of the barber's souvenirs for gifts and he gave me a generous discount.... Now in China, I don't have one barber, but just a shop to go to. It's there I don't have to explain, I just say cut and control the length of the hair... and they copy my style. It's great, except for the dry straight blade razor to trim the neckline. I pay 20rmb ($2.50), and all is good.

Every time I have to get a haircut at a new place, I stress out. Will it be ok, will I lose an ear and so on.... There is usually a language barrier for me, but I seem to get past that and it's all good. So, the next time you are getting your haircut in the comfort of your home country, just think what it might be like to do it in a place where you speak gibberish. Let me tell you, it can be quite the expereince.....