Forty years ago, the first time I worked in the US, one day, a local-hired staff asked me how is his haircut. It was not bad, indeed. So I told him the truth. Later, another employee said that guy would ask the same question to all co-workers, whether they were local-hired or home staff. I wondered why. He said that guy had his hair cut from the hands of his wife.

It was not funny. People all know haircuts in the States are more expensive than in Taiwan or the Mainland. Besides, unlike all walk-in customers in Taiwan, people must make an appointment with the barbershop. (But there is an exception in Flushing, New York where Chinese are the mainstream residents.) Therefore, haircut or hairdressing here in the States is a big deal.

It has been nearly two and a half months since I came to the Bay Area in late March, and I have not had a haircut yet. I was not to need one, but tomorrow is the first graduation of my second granddaughter, from preschool; so, for the etiquette, I should have my thinning but long hair cut. Yesterday I went to a purely Chinese plaza to find a barber shop and walk in. To my surprise, it necessitated an appointment first. Without a choice, I made an appointment and came to the plaza again to have my hair cut this morning.