While I was at the bank today to withdraw money from the ATM, there was already long queue building up. So like any civilized person, I joined the line with an adequate amount of distance from the person in front of me, as I thought that it is a discreet distance between strangers.

To my annoyance, a man came over and ‘joined’ the line in front of me. I don’t know whether to tap on his shoulder and kindly remind him that the line starts behind me, or maybe he was mistaken that I wasn’t in the line at all, as I was the last person in the line. I realized maybe that I was standing a little ‘too far’ from the person in front of me, so I kindly let him had his way.

I noticed that there isn’t a line on the floor or a signboard whatsoever to remind those queuing about privacy or discretion for the person that is withdrawing the money at the machine. They are lining up so close to each other that I think there was only about 15cm distance between each one of them.

I could feel the uneasiness of the guy that’s withdrawing his money at the machine. Well, who won’t if you have someone standing so close behind you who is literally breathing down your neck. However if you don’t keep such a close distance, there is a possibility that it may never be your turn next as people keep joining the line in front of you!

Well, I have to start behaving like the locals. Uhmm..I’m a Malaysian after all .