iPhone as my witness

This morning I ordered the ham and cheese omelette at Highland Cafe in Serena Tower. Eating at the Highland on Sunday has become somewhat of a ritual since we don't get breakfast at the Fraser on Sundays. I, too, being a creature of habit regularly order the ham and cheese omelette that come with three pieces of french bread and a hash brown. As often as not, the cafe does not have hash browns and the staff will apologize and offer french fries to replace the hash brown.

This morning, however, Diep was quick to notice there was no hash brown and the staff was just going to forego any  apology or offer to substitute for another side item. She immediately pulled out her iPhone as she called the staff over. It didn't occur to me at first what she was doing, but it hit me quickly enough.  You see, Diep has developed this habit of whipping out her camera or iPhone to document whatever injustice - great or small - she has experienced. It begins as a subtle threat that, if her injustice is not properly addressed, she will post the picture on the internet - usually by means of her Facebook account - so that ALL of her 66 friends can unite in solidarity against the monster she is fighting.

Oddly enough, the tactic seems to work. This is even funnier when you realize that in a country like Vietnam, it is unlikely anyone would ever win a lawsuit against a company for serving coffee too hot, or mopping a floor without proper signage to prevent a slip or fall that could break a hip. I can't recall ever seeing any such lawsuit filed against any company for such violations, or perceived violations.  Nevertheless, the staff will usually cower and put on their biggest "sceart" face offering proper deference to my wife.

In the meantime, Diep's computer memory is filling up with photos of flat tires, broken pipes, plates of hashbrown-less omelettes, and any myriad of other malfunctions we encounter in life. Lord knows it is someone's fault, and this injustice will be documented. My iPhone as my witness.