Me First

People say that one of the problems with China is that the people have a "Me First" complex/issue/problem. I don't know if it's true of every single person or in actually meaningful situations, but it definitely applies to cutting in lines. It doesn't matter where you are - train station, police station, bank, hospital, your own funeral - someone will try their best to cut in front of you if you leave even a millimeter of space between yourself and the body in front of you. That might be part of why Chinese people pack so tightly in those types of places.

I was at the store across the street tonight getting a recharge card for my phone. I tried to do it online, but I spent about 20 minutes navigated the site in Chrome-translated Chinese and made no progress. I don't think paying online here is as easy as it is in the states. Anywho, there was one little old Chinese lady at the counter. I was standing right by her, leaning against the counter with maybe ten inches of space between myself and the old lady.

I saw a youngish girl walking towards the store. I thought to myself, "Hm, I wonder if that's enough space for someone to try to steal it. I bet this girl wouldn't be that rude."

WRONG.

She came back to the counter when she had her things and bolted right for the space in between me and the old lady. I couldn't believe it. Before she could cement herself to the counter in front of me, I reached my arm forward and gave her a little elbow on the side and basically boxed her out of the way like you would in soccer or basketball. I should say that I've NEVER seen the victim of cutting do this in China before.

The girl seemed quite taken aback. She gasped a little bit. I forced her behind me in the line. She tried to say something to me in Chinese. I didn't catch much except for the phrase "don't have." I wouldn't have cared even if I understood, so when she spoke I just turned and glared daggers at her, which I'm told I'm pretty good at. Once I turned back around, we didn't glance or speak to each other again.

Peace out.