"It's the Principle!"

A dollar isn't a lot of money. Most of us make app purchases on our phones without thinking twice if it's 99 cents. Around Christmas time, we're most than willing to part with a spare dollar or two for Salvation Army. Hell, the constant up sizing of burger combos cafe lattes doesn't even cause me to think twice.

I think one of the reasons for this is that I know that we're all getting ripped off equally. Sure, the venti is x amount more, but it's clearly posted on the menu. Living in Vietnam is a different story altogether. For whatever reason, some (I really want to emphasize this) vendors, taxi drivers, etc. feel as if it's their right, nay, duty to squeeze as much money as possible from tourists and expats. This really isn't new to anyone who's been to a developing country, but the constant nagging feeling that I'm constantly getting ripped off is a large part why I'm leaving the country. I've had to blacklist so many of my favorite places just because I found they've been adding a foreigner tax to my bills. This is unacceptable in my eyes and would gladly go out of the way for 'honest' service. Referring to a previous post, this is where having a local girlfriend comes in handy; she'll know what the real price is and will feel even more offended if they are subjecting her to the extra premium just because she's dating a foreigner.

A few friends of mine here have conflicting opinions. One says that although she knows she's getting ripped off, as long as the transaction itself is enjoyable, she'll put up with it. Another says that this is Vietnam's way of getting back at her for France colonizing the country. I call BS with both and say they're just selfish. Therefore, I'm effectively banning all developing countries from my list of places that I would consider living. The last straw was when a police officer stopped me and wanted a bribe because I didn't have motorbike license. Sure, I was technically in the wrong, but I wasn't doing anything wrong; I was driving as sane as one can in Vietnam and wearing a helmet. $25 later I was on my way, seething all the way to bar until I could wash down the bitter taste of corrupted communism.