Haircut

Everything, even the most mundane of tasks, is an adventure in a country where you don't speak the language. I have needed a haircut ever since I arrived in Latvia, and hair salons are everywhere; you just look for a sign that says "frizētava" or some variation thereof, and you have found one. On the other hand, finding one where you can explain to a stylist how you get your hair cut is a different matter altogether.

Enter Uģis Urtāns, a teacher in one of the Daugavpils secondary (high) schools, who I met at a public library presentation on my third day in Daugavpils. It turns out that he lives in the building next to mine, is working on his master's degree in translatology, I think, at Daugavpils University, and has become my indispensable translator when I need it. He came with me to arrange a cell phone service plan, for example, and said that he knew a good place for a basic haircut.

And so he did, navigating the language barrier for me so that I could look a bit less shaggy. And he actually stayed throughout the entire haircut in case I needed any help. I think that he likes to practice his English, so I hope he feels that this is a mutually beneficial relationship. I promised him to visit his school and meet his English club.

At any rate, now I have a hair cutter. She speaks only Russian, but I have her business card and have been told that all I need to do is come to the salon, point to her name, and they will schedule me with her. It's heartening to know that people really do want to help you when you need it, and if depend on the kindness of strangers, they will almost always come through.