Haircut for Humanity

Yesterday I went to one of our "rebuilding livelihoods" projects to get a haircut. Before the tsunami, the hairdresser, Agus, ran a busy hairdressing salon out of her home. When she lost her home, she also lost her husband, son, parents and way of life. Now she is living in temporary shelter (barracks) and has just begun to cut hair again using a chair in a friend's salon. The organization I work for has given her money to buy some materials to get her business started again.

Our staff reporter wanted to do a story on Agus and I was asked if I would go along to get a haircut. I willingly accepted because 1.) i wanted to get out from behind my desk and into "the field" to see some projects, 2.) i desperately needed a hair trim and 3.) it seemed like a good cause.

Upon coming back to the office, my co-worker's giggles inspired me to write a poem about the experience. Set to the tune of Robert Frost's "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening"

Whose salon is this I think I know.
Her house is in the barracks though;
She will sparingly cut my hair
A subtle trim to make it glow.

I climb into the modest chair
No common language! Brings some fear
“Only an inch” my fingers make
She smiles (or perhaps a sneer?)

After. I give my head a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
My face betrays the inner ache.

My hair is gone! AH! Bleep bleep bleep!
But she has customers to keep,
And one by one, God pray, they come.
The pathway back is slow and steep.


Lessons learned:
-There are other ways to see "livelihood projects" that involve less self-sacrifice.
-I'm not a poet.
-Rebuilding one's life here is very difficult. No home, no materials, no family, no social services (other than donations). Starting again from zero. I guess my hair is a very very small price to pay. I wish Agus lots of luck!

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