John's Haircut

John is pretty much able to blend into any of the cultures where we've lived because guys in this region of the world wear khakis, sandals and buttoned-down shirts, too.  Even his gelled-spiked hair fits in.  He's been accused of being Egyptian several times now.  Only I give away our foreign roots…

John & Sadik

It was time for him to search out a barber so he turned to Sadik* for help.  Sadik knew right away the place he wanted to take him.  They pulled up and Sadik went inside with him to make sure he was treated right.

John was greeted by a man who ushered him to the styling chair.  He began to ask John the normal Egyptian greetings:

"How are you?"
"Good. Good.  You?"
"Good. Are you good today?"
"Yes, I am well.  How is your family?"
"My family is well.  How is your family?"
"All of my family is well.  So you are well?"
"Yes, I am well."

THEN and only then may your proceed to the next part of the conversation which includes your real question or request.  It does take time, but it does remind us to be mindful of genuinely engaging in their well-being.

The barber asked John to describe how he would like his hair.  John told him the clipper blade numbers that he likes and the cutter went to work.

Meticulous cutting...

John said the man paid GREAT detail to each section of his head and was using scissors to clip, snip, shape and form.  When John thought the man was almost done he pulled out the clippers (not the numbers that John had mentioned) and shaved the sides until pink showed.

John was preparing to exit the chair when the man pulled out 2 strings.  The barber used them to groom John's eyebrows, sideburns and tear-evoking nose hairs.

The man patted John's face down with a hot cloth and pronounced him finished.  John thanked the man and paid him.  He was complimented by Sadik when he exited the door.  "You look good," he said.

John not yet realizing the pinkness of his head, thanked him and smiled.  

I smiled as he walked back in the door and knew he wouldn't be needing a haircut again for a while.

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