no shame...anymore!

So, it used to drive me nuts when I was working at studio branca and women would come in and get 'the works' and then come up to pay and their credit cards would be declined, or they would not have any cash, etc. I mean, if you don't have money quit coming in, right?  Well, my pride was broken today as my friend, Diana and I arrived at an upscale Chinese salon today. Not only do I not know how to speak English, but how does one explain, "Please, color my roots the same color as the ends...cover the gray, just a trim...shorter bangs." Yada, yada, yada.  So, after a delightful game of charades, and the huge help of my friend Diana...we were able to communicate what needed to be done. Many hours passed, yes, four...and then it was time to pay...we were then 'delighted' to find out that our visa's did not work...we live in a very 'small' town (1 million people) so they are not up on the technology that would allow them to use our cards (i think is what they said). soooo, i had the pleasure of walking with one of the shampoo boys to the atm and had to get some cash...it was an awkward walk to say the least...i learned his name and age...that was all i could get out of him...AWKWARD!  all this to say...it's rough sometimes, and don't be so prideful it happens to everyone. i was also made aware (again) that no one cares about being cool....my students ask me every class period now to sing a song...word has gotten out that i did it in one class and now they all ask...ahhh! and they ask for me to sing the most lame songs! "My heart will go on!"  But, they are soooo cute, how could i refuse...and then I realized, they don't care if I am good, or bad...they just want to have something in common...they love Titanic, and now they think I do too!  It's hilarious...and now they sing for me....they are so brave and adorable...I just absolutely love them! I would sing 'Copacabana' if they asked me to. Which I did sing tonight at my first Karaoke in China. I have never laughed so hard in my life!  They take you to this private room...that is hot as a sauna... and it has a dance floor, strobe light, and disco ball..top notch!  The song list is ridiculous...Addicted to Love, Blackbird singing in the Dead of Night, Culture Club's 'Do you really want to hurt me'...and since it was all in Chinese we had no idea how to work ANYTHING! So, it just kept repeating the same songs over, and over, and over! I sang 'Blackbird' three times!!! The people were so nice to us! One girl came in and just sat with us and took pictures for 30 minutes...which, in karaoke time is forever!  It was a really fun night, and I am having a blast in Fuxin! There is nothing to do here, but when we find something...it is great!  Hope you all are doing well! Love you lots!