when you move to a city, and you are used to being surrounded by friends constantly, there is seriously only 1 way to make new ones. say yes. say yes to things that put you outside of your comfort zone. anything. it's a little like the movie 'yes man', minus a lot of the hysterical antics (plus more embarrassment).
so, when the aveda institute of vancouver called out for volunteers to act as witnesses for their leg of the 24 hour cut-a-thon, i said yes. i didn't really know what i was getting into - only that i would spend 8 hours at the salon, and would be the world record witness for their guinness world record book attempt.
i have to say, it was one of my favourite vancouver experiences so far. i arrived to the smiles of excited stylists, who had just walked 6km to symbolize the walk that a girl in east Africa must complete in order to attain clean water. they were all energized and ready to go.
i was promptly whisked off into the chair of julie - a new stylist who works in the salon of the aveda institute - who massaged me, washed my hair, and styled me and my recent haircut (that i had yet to figure out how to style myself). (hey everyone. get an appt with her. she's fantastic and wonderful, and so sweet). i then spent the day watching as the students, teachers, stylists, and every other person working at the institute, spent their time with each person in their chair.... with all funds from cuts that day being donated to watercan.
essentially, it was all part of a global 24-hour cut-a-thon that aveda international was coordinating. beginning in asia, aveda salons across the globe were coordinating in 8 hour shifts, to raise the most money from haircuts and styles, in a 24 hour period - ever. they had been working tirelessly throughout the month of april to raise money from various events, and this day was the culmination of not only the vancouver institutes hard work, but also of a strong bond across the globe from the various salons...
it was an awesome day. so much money was raised. so many people had smiles on their faces all day. i was offered so much hospitality and spoiled rotten by all the lovely people who i met that day - leah who arranged the whole thing, julie who took care of me right away, kirk, who was insistent on ensuring i was comfortable and happy all day, and Shallynn who sat with me and chatted, and gave me a wonderful gift. it was clear from all the lovely LOVELY people at the aveda institute of vancouver that they were simply passionate about what they were all contributing to that day.
i have to say - from my experiences within corporate culture, i had become jaded... i had lost the faith in a corporations passion for believing in something other than profit. spending the day with the folks at the vancouver institute was so inspiring... and a reminder that corporations are not only capable of keeping their eyes on a goal other than profit, but can be motivated, energetic, and humble about it.
i have to say, it was one of my favourite vancouver experiences so far. i arrived to the smiles of excited stylists, who had just walked 6km to symbolize the walk that a girl in east Africa must complete in order to attain clean water. they were all energized and ready to go.
a few of the lovely ladies on the vancouver institute team, working to spread the word outside the salon
i was promptly whisked off into the chair of julie - a new stylist who works in the salon of the aveda institute - who massaged me, washed my hair, and styled me and my recent haircut (that i had yet to figure out how to style myself). (hey everyone. get an appt with her. she's fantastic and wonderful, and so sweet). i then spent the day watching as the students, teachers, stylists, and every other person working at the institute, spent their time with each person in their chair.... with all funds from cuts that day being donated to watercan.
essentially, it was all part of a global 24-hour cut-a-thon that aveda international was coordinating. beginning in asia, aveda salons across the globe were coordinating in 8 hour shifts, to raise the most money from haircuts and styles, in a 24 hour period - ever. they had been working tirelessly throughout the month of april to raise money from various events, and this day was the culmination of not only the vancouver institutes hard work, but also of a strong bond across the globe from the various salons...
me having my hair delicately handled by julie (top left) - among the other clients that day (from aveda institute vancouver's instagram)
it was an awesome day. so much money was raised. so many people had smiles on their faces all day. i was offered so much hospitality and spoiled rotten by all the lovely people who i met that day - leah who arranged the whole thing, julie who took care of me right away, kirk, who was insistent on ensuring i was comfortable and happy all day, and Shallynn who sat with me and chatted, and gave me a wonderful gift. it was clear from all the lovely LOVELY people at the aveda institute of vancouver that they were simply passionate about what they were all contributing to that day.
i have to say - from my experiences within corporate culture, i had become jaded... i had lost the faith in a corporations passion for believing in something other than profit. spending the day with the folks at the vancouver institute was so inspiring... and a reminder that corporations are not only capable of keeping their eyes on a goal other than profit, but can be motivated, energetic, and humble about it.
thanks for having me aveda institute of vancouver - i will see you again very soon!
to book a service with the vancouver institute in vancouver, check out their website here. you can also keep up withtheir happenings from their facebook page here, or their twitter account here. also, this is isn't a sponsored post - just love these folks!
