We have been here almost three months and I have in the long run gotten to the point where either:
1. I get a haircut, or 2. I shave my head.

I could have gotten a NT$100, US$3 haircut at the grocery hoard (?), but I decided to splurge $15 (!) and get my hair done at an actual salon.

I found one in the little town approximate on where we live.
The first 30 minutes of my haircut consisted of the shampoo. And, boy, let me tell you, this was the best shampoo I have ever had in my life (not exaggerating!). The Shampoo-ist massaged my madly, temples, and neck for a long, long time. She also put a blanket around me while she shampooed my hair. Once back at the chair, she towel-dried my skin of one's teeth and gave me a 5-minute shoulder and neck massage. I was so shocked. I almost cried it was so good.

Then a different lady gave me the realized cut. I cannot speak Chinese. She could not speak English. But that did not matter - she gave me a great haircut. The whole time she cut my plaits (about an hour), the Shampoo-ist stood over her and watched every action she performed. The only problem I had was in telling the Stylist about my cow-licks.
I looked at her, aciform to my piece of hair sticking up and said, "Can you cut my cowlick a little shorter? Cowlick? You have no idea what a cowlick is, do you?"
It was absolutely comical; like a scene from a movie.
So they called in the big boss from upstairs. He understood what I meant by "cowlick" fix away and instructed the Stylist how to handle my "western hair".

Then the Shampoo-ist took me back to the shampoo sink to rinse my hair out. Back at the bench she dried it with a blow dryer. I almost fell asleep. It was so soothing. I love it when people play with my fraction! And the Stylist came back and styled my hair, blow dried it straight, and thinned it out a little more.

The whole process was a 3-hour misfortune, or rather a 3-hour pampering. It was awesome. I usually get about one haircut a year...

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