Only in da Philippines.... Here in the US

[Old55]

A bit of a rant.

So, I go to the local mall south of Seattle that has Seafood City a Filipino grocery store. Inside has PNB branch and next door a Remittance's outlet and Balikbayan box shipping outlet.

I stop at the Balikbayan box outlet to get four boxes with handles for our upcoming Cebu trip. Longish line. An older Filipino man squeezes in to get an empty box then just as a customer is finishing at the window the box guy pushes in to buy the box cutting the line. A few min my turn. I tell you young lady I need four boxes and she says go ahead and get them now as I turn to get the boxes a Filipina cuts in to the window. I politely but pointedly said NO, I am being served. She quickly backed off. I get my card to pay and the counter lady says "Oh Sir only cash"!. Okay fine lucky I did have cash gave two twenty's she says "Oh Sir, I have no change". Pause.... I said well I guess you need to go get some. Deer in the headlights look, then off she goes. Several minutes later she has change. 

Drop the empty boxes off in my truck go to a Taiwanese sweet shop next door called 85 degrees. Got a tray of items and as I go to the Check Out counter two older Filipinos cut the short line from the side to buy their items. By this time I'm pissed. As I pull out of the parking lot to go home a car immediately ahead of me to the left has it's tires in the right lane straddling the line. Yep, Filipino driver. That just completely cracked me up no longer angry. Only in da Philippines. 

[Gator]

You can take the Pilipino’s out of the Philippines, but……..well you know the rest of the saying 🤣

[Mike J]

Sounds like you are getting "culturally acclimated" prior to the trip. 

[JJReyes]

2 hours ago, Old55 said:

So, I go to the local mall south of Seattle that has Seafood City a Filipino grocery store. Inside has PNB branch and next door a Remittance's outlet and Balikbayan box shipping outlet.

The Seafood City near us in Southern California also a Jollibee. 

 

2 hours ago, Old55 said:

Got a tray of items and as I go to the Check Out counter two older Filipinos cut the short line from the side to buy their items.

Elderly Filipinos in the Philippines have certain privileges.  There is an express line for seniors, persons with disabilities or pregnant.  (I always explain to clerks that I am pregnant which, for some reason, they find amusing.)  If no express line, seniors are entitled to cut in front of you.  Not acceptable behavior in the U.S., but my preference is to let it pass rather than raise my blood pressure.  

[JJReyes]

2 hours ago, Old55 said:

"Oh Sir, I have no change".

Common strategy employed by taxi drivers.  I carry a backpack with a zippered pocket filled with coins.  They are not too happy when I can give them the exact amount.  

[hk blues]

3 hours ago, JJReyes said:

  Not acceptable behavior in the U.S., but my preference is to let it pass rather than raise my blood pressure.  

[Jack Peterson]

4 hours ago, JJReyes said:

I carry a backpack with a zippered pocket filled with coins. 

 I bet that would be fun at the Airport security gate 

[JJReyes]

19 hours ago, Jack Peterson said:

 I bet that would be fun at the Airport security gate 

Haven't tried it.  I usually transfer the coins to a check-in suitcase.  If the next destination is a foreign country, we find a way to get rid of coins before departure.

[Gator]

22 minutes ago, JJReyes said:

Haven't tried it.  I usually transfer the coins to a check-in suitcase.  If the next destination is a foreign country, we find a way to get rid of coins before departure.

I put mine in a small ziplock baggy. That way they’re easy to remove and won’t get lost.