Manifestations of Vietnamese Xe May Mentality

Saigon traffic is Vietnamese life, a continuous charade of posturing, bluffing, fast moves, tenacity and surrenders. -Andrew X. Pham

What still annoys me: the grubbing-snatching-edging Vietnamese behavior.

Not that it's limited to the Vietnamese.

Or that it only happens in Vietnam. Just that it happens here more often.

Act 1:
The-Obvious
Saigon xe may drivers. Just didactics: you need not risk your life just to reach your destination.

Act 2:
The-Obviously-Next-Obvious
Saigon car drivers. I think they sometimes forget they are driving a car, not a bike. Which is why I'd be scared to board a plane if I learn that the pilot is Vietnamese.

Act 3:
The-I'm-A-Rich-Vietnamese-Woman-Hence-No-Need-To-Fall -In-Line-In-The-Supermarket
The forty-ish Vietnamese woman with an inch-thick foundation that is 2 tone lighter (I swear) than what she's supposed to wear complete with mascara, eyeliner,blush, lipstick and five-inch heeled shoes in Maximark sees the long line, decides she is too rich to bother falling in line stands near the cashier, takes her uber-super-latest cellphone out of her Louis Vuitton bag, calls someone and starts talking animatedly. She acts like she belongs there and just goes to the side to answer her phone while waiting for her turn and the poor/inferior/fool/me who'd let her go first.

Huh, no. I'm a modern Filipino woman who once did a striptease on top of a table then went to a rally the next day hollering R-E-S-P-E-C-T. We have great role models. And I'm not impressed by the apparent show of newly-acquired wealth.

Act 4:
The-Vietnamese-Woman-Who-Pushes-Me-Out-Of-The-Way-In -Ben-Thanh-Market
Yes, Ben Thanh is not a park. It's also not a marathon. Actually it doesn't bother me as much as it used to. I just do not understand the need to elbow people just to reach the next stall like her life depends on finding the next piece of clothing/bag/shoes/fakes.

Then again, I am foolish enough to brave Ben Thanh on a Saturday once while having allergies. I had to fight the urge to shout Why? Why? amidst the throng of weekend shoppers.

Act 5:
The-White-Expat-Family-Who-Emulates-The-Vietnamese -So-Should-Be-Given-Table-First-In-Quan-An-Ngon- Because-He/She/It Is-So-Much-More-Important Than-(LOcals/ Other Foreigners/Heathens-Who-Have-Been-Waiting-For-A-Table -For-More-Than-Five-Minutes
Seriously, what makes this family think they're more important: class, color, thickness of purse, education, English. Methinks this family has been in Asia too long hence demanding to be treated as more important/royalty/gods.

Now, since I'm the epitome of equality and social justice, I end this with

Disclaimer and digression: Philippines is an awesome country full of equally awesome people, I kid you not!