China Town

I have been dying for a haircut for a couple of months now. It never happened before we left Utah because life was just too crazy. My most common hairstyle lately has been a ponytail, which is a big sign that I need to get a haircut!

I asked around the ward for some suggestions and got a few replies. I decided to go to a place in China Town that was recommended. I left the kids with neighbor Megan and took off for my appointment. I found my way over to China Town and found a place where I could pay and park on the curb. China Town smells like Chinese food! Who knew? And a lot of the signs were in Chinese too, which wasn't very helpful when I realized that the address I had led me to a vacant store. I walked around trying to find the salon without any luck. I called Megan on the cell and she looked up the salon phone number but when I tried that they didn't answer. So I walked up and down a few blocks. The shop signs were all in Chinese and I was worried that I wouldn't recognize it if I passed by it. Some of them were more run down looking as well, so I was getting a little worried. Thankfully, I finally found it, and the sign was in English. All those Chinese people could probably tell I was lost.

I'm so glad I found the place. The lady did a good job (yes, she was Chinese and had a pretty thick accent, but I could understand most of what she said), and I am really enjoying the change and the shorter style for the summer. I'm especially glad I got it before I meet any of Justin's co-workers! Hooray for good haircuts!

Brandon is the photographer for this shot. He was quite excited that I let him take a picture with the camera.



As a side note, I have never lived anywhere before where there are so many different languages provided on general advertising mailings. I got a flyer for cable service or something and noticed the translations into 4 or 5 other languages on the bottom. One was the typical Spanish, one was Chinese, and the other 3 I didn't recognize. One was probably Thai, one Vietnamese, and the other one I couldn't even guess. That is one thing about living here. There are so many different cultures and lifestyles, and from what I can tell, people are much more accepting of these things (for good or for bad), hence the more liberal population. For example: Justin started with a few other interns on his first day (there were several days they could choose to begin the internship). There were three other MBAs and probably 10 undergrad computer programming interns. One of the undergrad guys showed up to work on his first day wearing among other things a white lab coat, sporting pink hair, a purple hat and big pink sunglasses on his hat. And Justin has not heard any comments from anyone on that day or since. The MBAs were all much more conservative in their dress, but it is very interesting. We're definitely having quite the experience!