Today I got a great letter in the mail. My mom does a fabulous job of keeping me updated on local news and monthly credit card statements by sending me weekly letters in the mail. Sometimes she'll even include a personalized post-note to say "hi". However today's letter included an INCREDIBLE full page hand written note from three fabulous cousins and one loving grandmother. Even though the letter was written to explain the absence of cookies being sent (they ate them all, shocking) their wittiness left me happier than a box of cookies (and guilt-free!) could ever do. You all have made my fridge, right next to my boyfriend. Ok not really my boyfriend but rather the super sexy latino who held the umbrella over my head while I got a FREE professional haircut the other day. Shall I touch on that story?
So last weekend (saturday) I was walking along the uber-touristy boardwalk (where about 80% of guayaquilenos spend their weekends) and noticed that a local hair salon was giving free haircuts and then remembered how badly i needed a haircut and how i much i loved the price of FREE. Apparently all I had to do was present a bottle of shampoo and they would give me a new "look" in exchange (they really do use the english word "look" but it sounds more like "luuook"). After emptying it out into numerous travel bottles, an old aloe vera bottle, and a reused salsa jar for it was recently purchased and returned the following day to the boardwalk with my almost empty shampoo bottle in hand. I wasn't sure if they were looking for full bottles, partial, or empties but there was no way I was going to turn in my practically full bottle of shampoo. Turns out they only wanted EMPTY bottles for a recycling project they were promoting (clarity must've gotten lost in translation) and dumped the rest of my shampoo into a plastic "to go" cup. They then add my name to the list, I'm third up, and am asked to wait.
Finally my turn comes, they wash my hair, give me a good scrub, and then set me in the main chair. The hairdresser presents himself, Marcelo, and tells me "Don't worry, I'm going to give you a super hot luuooook". So I sit, awkwardly staring up at the sexy teenager shielding me from the harsh sun with the umbrella meanwhile getting my head corrected to the forward position again while the crowd on the boardwalk gradually starts to build, gawking at me. I honestly can now say I now know how it feels to be a zoo animal. Being tall and white here obviously gets me a lot of stares and I'm used to walking into a room causing all conversations to stop and heads to turn to look at the awkwardness that just entered BUT this crowd was on a whole different level. Usually people understand that its rude to stare so when I catch them starring they'll nervously look away. This time however I put myself in the position where starring, gawking, admiring if you will, was completely acceptable. The crowd that formed to watch reached such a point that I had to clasp my eyes shut out of embarrassment. Shit, I'd take parading around in my swimsuit and heels over getting my haircut in public ANY DAY. But like Marcelo promised, I left with new friends (sadly no boyfriend despite my relentless stares and eye-battings) and a super hot luuooook. Free is free. Free haircut in exchange for free public entertainment. Winners all around.
Today I planned out my running schedule for the next 10 weeks. Its marathon time baby! Although I'm not really excited about the idea of running 16 miles in inner-city Guayaquil. I'll have to start getting clever with my long runs. I think a weekly trip to the beach might be my best option...Still looking for running partners if anyone is interested.
Welp thats about it for now...hope you all enjoyed and see you around for the next post. love.
No comments:
Post a Comment