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Hua-Hua~
One of the craziest aspects of China is the labor-its talented and dirt cheap. Most people are not paid what they are worth--especially when coming from America.
Today was the last day of my mini-break and I wanted to pamper myself! I started by getting a 70 minute foot massage ($30RMB=$3.75USD) and then onto nails...

I get my nails done once a week because its costs $50RMB ($6.25USD) for both a mani-pedi. However, today I wanted Hua-Hua (flowers). This process takes about 1.5 hours and my nails are decorated with elaborate flowers in 10 different colors.

Total cost of my hand painted nails: $50RMB ($6.25USD). In the states, this would cost at least $45USD ($360RMB).

How is the labor so undervalued?

My thoughts are that when you live in a city of 11 million people, for every one job-there must be 10-20 people waiting in line. Kids and adults flood in from the countryside scavenging for work..and getting a position as a 'nail technician' probably pays next to nothing...along with almost every other blue collar (and white collar) job. Thus market competition drives the value into the ground and the cost of labor tanks. The sad reality is what little these kids (and full grown adults) make, close to half is probably sent back to their parents to help with their financial burden. Most people will struggle for their entire lives...especially young girls, whose only hope is usually to find a man, get married, and have 1 healthy baby boy.