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From Top to Bottom September 07, 2003   September 7, 2003 After 10 years in Brazil I still don’t know how to get a haircut. I remember it took me 6 months after we moved to Brazil to get up enough courage to get a trim. Of course I had someone with me to help me communicate. How do you tell someone in another language, another culture that you want one part feathered, one part cut just so over the ear, and that you don’t want your bangs cut straight across Chinese style? It is still hard. As I sat this week waiting my turn I felt my blood pressure rise again as I approached the salon chair. Through use of pictures, gestures and some lame Portuguese I got it all communicated. I had to chuckle as my short little hairdresser kept asking me to sit further and further down in the chair just so she could cut the top part of my hair. I splurged this week and got a manicure and pedicure, something that most Brazilians do regularly, even men. Although it only costs $3.00 I still cringe at this luxury. The young woman who dared to touch my cracked and unsightly feet went about her work as if it was no big deal. How would I like to face dirty feet all day? I had a good chance to observe those around me and wonder about their lives. For instance what about the young girl at my feet? How do I begin to talk to her and find out about her life and her needs? One thing led to another and another and her story came out. Everyone has a story. One of her childhood memories was canoeing out to the middle of the Black River (Rio Negro) just to jump in for a swim. Pools are so boring compared to that. Things did turn to the spiritual. Marta belongs to a vibrant church and was glad to know that I did also. We even knew a mutual friend. Small world. As I walked out the door the feelings of awkwardness had been replaced by a feeling of accomplishment and peace. Not only had I gotten through another haircut but I had also made a new friend in Christ. Grace Ensz