Hair cut

English teachers often wait until they have a mop of messy unrecognizable hair on top of their head before they break down and attempt the dreaded hair cut. I myself waited until Jacob began calling me a hippie - 3 months. Jacob waited until he was unable to spike his hair and a had a growth of fur on his neck.
Saturday, Jacob ventured forth to get his hair cut into a more manageable state. He was lucky in that his chosen hair dresser spoke a little English. After showing her a few pictures and waiting in the chair for 15 minutes, he was on his way to pay. Shockenly enough, his hair cut only cost him 10,000 won. Cheapest hair cut he's ever gotten.
I, on the other hand, go by gut feeling when it comes to getting a hair cut and I didn't find Jacob's chosen place to be the one. After printing off a few of my own pictures, I went into the hair salon across the street from our OfficeTel. I entered and, immediately, my coat and purse were taken in exchange for a key to a locker somewhere in the back room. This was a lot nicer than just setting my purse down on the floor or on the table where all the hairdressers supplies lay. I sat down and was given coffee with two lumps of sugar (actual lumps and actual drip coffee - not the instant crap). Shortly after downing my coffee - it's freakin' cold outside, I was taken to another room where I received a lovely scalp massage and shampoo. I couldn't help but giggle to myself as my hair was towel dried. I felt like I was a little kid again and mum was shaking a towel all over my head so I wouldn't catch a cold running around with wet hair.
Fast forward to the CHAIR. Here I am, in front of the mirror, with the hair dresser behind me, shampoo girl to my left, and stylist to my right. I showed them the pictures I had brought in but my ideas weren't quite getting across. I knew this and they knew this, thankfully the hairdresser isn't one of those people who say "Yea sure, I get it" only to have me wind up with a horrible hair cut. Being the innovative woman that she is, my new favorite hair dresser chose to phone a friend. After a short conversation, I was handed the phone where I proceeded to explain my likes and dislikes - all of which consisted of "I like it short in the back and long in the front". I handed the phone back and the hair cut began.
It was a little nerve wracking having the hair dresser, shampoo girl, and the stylist all watching and speaking to each other in a language I didn't understand. There were lots of laughs and many awkward smiles from all of us. When the hair cut was finished and I gave my "thumbs up" of approval, the stylist moved in and very seriously (as serious as any high schooler I've ever seen) began blow dryer and styling my hair.
When all was said and done, over an hour later, I walked to the register fully expecting to pay 60,000 won (roughly 60 USD). The man looked at me and said eight-e-thousand to which I held up 8 fingers, he shook his head and tried again "eight-teen-thousand".
Suffice to say, I will be going back.