It's hot.

You've probably heard me complain about this before. But you can only say it so many times to the people who are also experiencing center of the world worthy heat, so instead I'll just put it out there, into the face-less void that is the internet, as a fact: it is hot.

With the heat often comes annoyance. Let me tell you a little story.

This is something that has bothered me all year and I've actually contemplated doing a blog about it before. But it wasn't until this morning that it seemed absolutely imperative that the world know how frustrated I get on my morning commute.

In general, I have very little to complain about. Very little. Compared to others, my commute is nothing. Ten minutes on bicycle, twenty if I walk. I even get to go the wrong way down a one way street if I feel so inclined, which I often do; in part because it is more convenient and in part because I like feeling rebellious. Anyway, the annoying part comes before I get to that road. In fact, it is the part where I have to turn onto the wrong way road. It's the bridge.

A few blocks down there is a major road that goes over the river--a word which I use very loosely because it is a disgusting body of water that if it existed in China would be classified as "dead and stink", according to Derek--with enough room for at least 6 cars across, at least. And yet all the cars decide they want to come down my little bridge, which can fit two of the small taxis at one time. Maybe two normal size four-door cars with very slow manoeuvring and folded in mirrors. A SUV or, god-forbid one ever attempt it, a hummer, forget it.

Rush hour on the bridge seems to be around 7:30, so on days when I'm going to work just after 8 I'm never too worried about the traffic. But this week, maybe because of the heat, the cars are out in full force. And I swear all of them want to drive across my bridge. That fact in of itself is slightly annoying, but understandable. It is how Vietnamese handle the car traffic that drives me INSANE.

I dont love waiting in traffic. No one does. But, I cannot possible begin to understand the lack of foresight had by Vietnamese xe may drivers. Let's say for instance you are approaching a bridge with a line of 8 cars waiting to get across it and an obvious line waiting from the other side, with two cars in the middle apparently at a stand still. Do you:

A) zip up and realize only when you get to the car stand still that oh, there isn't any freakin' room to drive on the bridge

B) decide to bypass the whole system and drive down the sidewalk, in which your xe will scratch the sides of the bridge because it isn't big enough.

C) zip up and join the mass in the center of the bridge with the other xe mays that cannot get through and incessantly honk your horn.

D) wait patiently in the line of cars

I'll tell you now, Vietnamese would never, never ever ever, choose D. When it clearly would end up taking EVERYONE (except maybe the 5 xe may's that are lucky enough to squeeze between the cars) less time because the cars would be able to go across faster without the xe may's in the way. And if everyone waited their turn, then the intersections wouldn't be blocked during the green lights, and everyone would get to their destinations in a reasonable time.

Even with the bridge madness, it still only takes me a short while to get to work. So it is not the fact of being stuck in traffic that irks me, it is the fact that it wouldn't have to be so bad if people just used. their. brains.

And I know, I know. Cultural sensitivity. I am always talking about traffic here and how often its not bad, its just a different way of driving. It works, it flows, it's not as scary as it looks, blah blah blah. But it is so inefficient! Come on Vietnamese! Fix it! Your cars would not get as scratched. You would get to work faster. You wouldn't have to watch the little foreign girl on a bicycle start fuming with fury at your inadequate ability to think logically about traffic. Everyone would be happier in the mornings.