Salon Day

When it comes to make-up and hair, I'm a pretty low-maintenance gal.  This is demonstrated by the fact that I have waited almost a year before getting my first haircut in Singapore.  I'm not sure why I was so nervous (I don't get highlights or anything), but I was - so it just grew.  

Finally this weekend, I decided it was time.  I had been scoping out places every time I am out and about, and I settled on a fairly large salon in a nearby shopping mall.  Friday I stopped by to make an appointment - I thought mid morning (10am) would be good.  I asked if they also did manicures/pedicures and signed up for one as well.  They lady scheduled it also for 10am, which I thought was odd, but didn't argue.

Next morning, always running late, I grabbed a taxi rather than wait for the bus.  Got to the mall at 9:45...ghost town.  I forgot that Singapore doesn't really get going in the early morning. However, McDonald's was doing breakfast business and I got me some food.  With 5 minutes before my appointment, I walked around a mall still mostly closed to business.  It was weird.  The salon didn't slide up their doors until exactly 10am.  I hadn't realized I was going to be the first appointment for the morning. 

They took me to the back, sat me down and provided me the 'color' menu for my mani/pedi.  Apparently both the mani/pedi and haircut would be at 10 after all.  The stylist asked what I wanted and how long since my last haircut.  I was embarrassed, but honest.  She immediately commented that must be why I had so many split ends and my hair was very dry.  These comments were followed up by a quick question as to whether I wanted to try one of their conditioning treatments.  Come to find out it was $105 for the cheap one as compared to my $40 cut & wash.  I doubted how dry my hair could be in such humidity being as it only gets washed every other day or so and I haven't been swimming a lot.  I think this was a marketing technique for which I did not bite.  She was disappointed - more so when she found out I also don't color (do you want to try?) or bond (chemically straighten) my hair. 

The cut begins, dry hair and all.  I'm paying for a wash....when's that going to happen?  Last time I had my hair cut dry it left little hairs everywhere and was not the best cut.  She was using a single scissor blade as a razor to put in layers.  I was a little worried about how this was all going to turn out.  Meanwhile, I have a second girl at my feet, washing them, trimming nails, smoothing callouses, etc.  Haircut done...here comes the separate lady to wash, pedicure still ongoing.  My hair gets suds and a massage for a while until we're ready to rinse.  To the wash sink - now this is familiar.  Then, back to my chair for a dry and finish of the mani/pedi.  I had four different people working on me - one time three all at once. Another girl finished my pedicure while the nail technician started on the manicure.  It took the lady the whole time of the manicure to dry my hair - no wonder she wanted me to take the conditioning treatment, they planned to blow out every ounce of moisture :). 

(before & after shots)

Finally all finished, it actually looked and felt great.  I was very happy.  After moving to dry my nails further, I did a little shopping.  For one of the first times ever, I did not have pieces of hair all over me and my shirt.  No shower required immediately following the haircut!  It was a different experience but turned out to be great.  It may have been more the 'big salon' than the 'Singapore salon', but I don't plan to wait another year for my next appointment :).

To round out the morning I got some cute new sandals to go with my pedicure.

Hope you're having a great weekend!!

Randoms

Here is the thermometer in my kitchen.  It pretty much always looks like this, sometimes a little less humid.  I do have air and the rest of the apartment is cooler - the kitchen is kinda blocked off and there's a huge gap under the door to the outdoor utility area.  I have acclimated.  It helps that I don't really spend time in the kitchen.

Crazy talons waiting with me at the bus. You should really click on the photo to get the enlarged, full effect.  It boggles my mind.

Fogging at a condo.  The first time I saw this I thought there was some huge fire.  No leaf burning here. For mosquitoes I assume.  

Workin' Lady

I realize I've been very slow in posting new updates the past few months.  The truth is I'm just burnt out and have been very lazy lately - more so than usual.  I'll try to have some more fun, entertaining posts in the near future.  ;)

In the meantime, I thought I would share a little bit about where I spend my weekdays. Here's my cube at the office.  I took this quite a while ago before I let my papers run amok.

The normal workday in Singapore tends to be from 9-6.  There are plenty of people working late, but I find not so many starting early, which is the complete opposite of the Midwest where 90% of the population seem to be morning people.  So I fit in here much better! :) The official start time in my office is 8:30.  The aircon doesn't even come on until 8am, so even if you come in early, you're sweating.  This of course is a loose 8:30 and that's one thing I love about my job - flexibility. If I don't get to work until 9/9:30, I stay late to make it up.  Sometimes later than I should, but I will be focusing on my "work/life balance" as year 2 rolls around.  I can hardly believe it's almost here - end of August was the big move!

While the workplace environment is different, it's also so much the same.  Since I've started travelling for work I am always amazed how you can go halfway across the world and the day is basically the same as it would be back home.  The little things are different, but the big stuff is pretty much still there.  I've learned:

-my gray-shaded spreadsheets are too drab and boring for Singaporeans who love to highlight with bright colors

-I am now the person on time to meetings (usually we run late about 5-10 minutes)

-vacation is annual leave, sick day is MC/medical leave, CPF is 401k

-it is hard to multiply by 12 in my head - all compensation is discussed in terms of one month, not one year

-no tax withholding! (but not looking forward to having to pay my tax bill)

-lunch rush is at ~12:15, not 11:15 :)

-as with all things American, my calculator is comparatively ginormous and I always get wide-eyed looks when I need to do some math

-we all want to be appreciated, fairly compensated and have a life outside of work :)

I know there are plenty of other things I've learned/observed/appreciated...but for another day.  Here's a current pic of me with one of our summer interns ("vacation trainees" or "VTs" here) who worked with me.  Not the most flattering, but I haven't had a new pic of me recently.  The weight I bragged about losing is back and he caught me on Friday at 5pm, so pretty much ready to call it a week.  Happy Tuesday!!