International stylist provides free haircuts
Borey settles back for his Laotian-Polish-Kiwi haircut
Not only did TOULAVANH VONGSAY extend his skills of speaking and listening in English (the main objective in coming to New Zealand) but he also broadened his scope as an internationally renowned hairstylist. Toulavanh, from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport in Laos, explains his secondary career.
My time in New Zealand was wonderful and useful for me. I improved my skills of English language, especially speaking and listening, which I felt changed the most from the first day I came to New Zealand.
However I not only studied English. My friend Ba (from Vietnam) and I became temporary cutting hair cutters for our ELTO friends in intake 29.
New Zealand is not my first country to provide haircuts because I used to do it for friends in Poland when I was studying for my master’s degree so that is why my friends here trusted my skills.
The reason I became a temporary hairstylist for friends is because in New Zealand it is very expensive for a haircut - maybe 20 times more expensive than in our countries, such as Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. For example: in my country it costs just $NZ2 but in New Zealand it is about $NZ35-40. That is the reason why some ELTO students wanted me to cut their hair. I did haircuts for nine students in the ELTO Programme, seven were men and two were women. And my hair? Well I cut the front and sides and Ba cut the back.
This was rewarding work for me because I could help them save money for shopping. I am happy to do this job for friends.
