Last week, I went shopping at a market and when trying on a dress, took off my sunglasses, which I ended up leaving at the little stall in the market. I was incredibly mad at myself for forgetting them (because I always lose my sunglasses), but I thought I’d try to go back and see if they were somehow miraculously still there. I went shopping there Thursday, and returned yesterday (Sunday). Much to my delight, the girl working instantly recognized me and rushed to return my sunglasses to me.
It’s funny, but I wasn’t super surprised. There is something ingrained in Chinese culture that makes most people very honest. (If I lost my sunglasses in New York, you can guarantee they’d never be returned.) I have a friend who lost her cell phone on a bus, and the Chinese people who found it called some numbers in her phone until they reached some of her friends and could arrange to return it to her; another friend left her wallet at a restaurant and went back a full day later to find her wallet – cash still inside – waiting for her. It’s a nice trait that comes in quite handy for careless people like me!
I also treated myself yesterday to a day of pampering. At the same market, I found a stall where I was able to get a manicure and pedicure for 90 RMB total ($13). Afterward, I headed to a local salon with the intentions of just getting a trim, and I emerged about three hours later with… uh… extensions??
In speaking with the two hairstylists (both men: I’ve yet to encounter any female hairdressers here), I told them just to cut a little bit off because I am trying to grow my hair out. At hearing this, they insisted I need not wait to grow it out: I could have long hair again instantly!
Fast-forward, and, well, let’s just say I have a long history of making bad hair decisions. I guess this is OK, but it feels pretty nappy and I’m not convinced it looks real. I think I’m going to head back to a different salon tonight to try to get it cut shorter because as it is, it’s way too long, and the ends are all totally uneven and look pretty trashy. I’ll have to keep you posted on how this situation turns out…
My face pretty much says it all...
A few weeks ago, I bought a beret cap at a street fair in midtown Manhattan. It was a very nice-looking checkered beret that I purchased for a mere $10, and I wore it with pride for about a week. And then I lost it on a bus. Never did get it back. I guess I would have better luck getting it back if I had lost it in China, huh?
i have seen you do much worse with your hair so it is no surprise. Its not as bad as i thought it would be before i scrolled down. never again the “blonde” (actually mustard yellow) you once had. mom to the rescue!
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