I got my hair did! Ok, a really Okie way to put it, perhaps, but hey! I did! I'm not sure why on Earth I have put off getting my hair cut in Korea. Especially at Juno Hair. (Maybe it's my loyalty to Janelle at Beyond the Bridge in Durango who last cut my hair in June!) But, I'd heard about this place from teachers who have been here a while. I've heard it's an awesome experience from teachers who got here the same time as me, too.
So, yesterday, I walked to Sunae, found Juno Hair and headed up to the 2nd floor to make an appointment. The receptionist spoke enough English to take my name and wrote me down to see Jessica the next day.
I got there a bit early with my freshly purchased White Chocolate Mocha from the Starbucks down the way. I sat looking at a magazine while I waited for Jessica to appear. This place is set up like a spa. There's even a barista! Jessica rounded the corner and introduced herself. She spoke English. ~I'm not sure why it's still such a treat to find people who do, but it is.~ She took my purse and umbrella and put them in a locker, then returned with the key and placed it around my wrist. My coffee was placed behind the bar for keeping. Next, she helped me into a robe and said we'd be going to 'counseling first'. Great! Hair therapy. I need it.
I opted for a moisturizer treatment along with my hair cut. We started off washing my hair. The first round of treatment happened in here as well. Next, she had me to into another room where I took off my sneakers and was given slippers. She placed a pillow behind my back as I sat in the chair. I received another pillow for my lap on which she placed a very thick Glamour magazine. In Korean. But, who really reads the articles anyway, right? Anyway...I sat under a humidifier for several minutes. She left and came back with my coffee and a tray with goodies. A quarter of a chocolate muffin, 2 Saltine crackers, and 3 pretzels.
As sat there with my slippers, in my robe, sipping coffee, nibbling on my yummies and flipping through a Glamour mag, I thought how I could certainly get used to this! "When in Rome", right?
Oh, but wait. "Last treatment" began. With a scalp massage. I almost fell asleep. I laid there thinking, "I don't care how much this costs. I'm 40, I deserve this! Happy Birthday to me...all flippin' year!!!"
She did a great job on my hair! I signed up for a free VIP membership!!! I'm high falootin' know, folks! She gave me a card, added a discount bar code sticker for next time and walked me to the elevator, making sure to tell me I need at home treatment too....if she only knew.....
Thoroughly relaxed and feeling lovely, despite the rain that was now coming down pretty hard, I enjoyed my walk to the bus stop. I decided I'd go home, take a hot bath, drink a glass of bokbunjajoo and finish spoiling myself.
As I pulled out my phone to check the bus schedule, I realized I'd missed several calls from the kids while the phone was in the locker.
They quickly picked up and I was jolted back to reality as my youngest son, through his tears, told me their guinea pig had died before they got home from school. After skipping the bus (it was 39 minutes away), I literally ran home to be with my kiddos. As we finished burying Irene under a tree, using a spoon for a shovel, in our raincoats, using a flashlight, next to a beautiful granite rock, Zane added these final, heartfelt words: "Irene, I hope you find Quade's spleen." :*}
I didn't get my bath or my bokbunjajoo. But, I was reminded that even though my kids are older, they still need to be comforted by Mom. They still need me around to dry some tears, even though they pretend to be tough guys most of the time.
All the more reason to take care of me (every now and then) so I can be around longer to take care of them.
