What the #!$%?

I like all the students here. They're wonderful people and they're bright, but there's been a disturbing trend since I've returned from some time away. Some of the teenage students, being teenagers, like to use bad language (profanity, I guess) in class randomly and to my face. For example, in one class I told the students not to use the "f" word or say "sh%$" or "bull#$!##" in my classroom or I would kick them out of class. As soon as I finished my little speech, a 15-year-old boy says "What the F%$?" in my face. I understand that people want to test the waters, see what they can get away with, and show off. This stuff is all too common in my country (USA). I get it. But I don't unleash a barrage of Vietnamese profanity when I meet students' parents or new teachers or go to someone's home here. By the way, I did kick that kid's %#! out of class, and I'll do it every time.  When I tell other teachers about this problem, most laugh and think it's funny. %?@!# them! If they used profanity in my classroom, I would kick their $#!es out of the room, too. People say what they say on the street or in their homes. None of my business, and I can be as guilty as anyone. But there's a time and place, and a classroom during class isn't the time or place for profanity. Enough of this .... I'm done preaching.
I was a good samaritan last week on my motorbike. It was raining and I was going with the flow on  my bike on a very busy road in Bien Hoa. Up ahead of me, a girl about 18 years old wiped out. She got up but couldn't lift her bike (she was typically tiny and the bike was relatively big). So, I stopped behind her, lifted her bike, and away she went. She said thank you, but didn't look at me or smile. The oncoming traffic was pissed, and some folks laid on their horns to show their anger at me. I smiled, got on my bike, and rode away feeling good that I had helped someone. People have done the same for me here, and I truly appreciate it.
Phuong was in another motorbike accident last week. A woman was behind her and lost concentration and broadsided her while trying to pass or whatever. Phuong got a couple of scrapes -- nothing serious -- and her bike got about 400,000 dong damage, which Phuong paid. That's Phuong's third accident in a year. I may have to take her keys away.
When you stop at a red light here, you can see how much time remains before the light turns green for you to go. It usually counts down from 30 seconds. When it gets to ... 5...4...3....2....1.... people are already laying on their horns demanding you run the red light to get a 3-second edge, or whatever. Same as line cutting. Chuckleheads.
Christmas is getting bigger here every year. More decorations at stores, more Santas, more promotions. More opportunity to make money, I guess. One girl wasn't impressed. I wished my coffee shop waitress a Merry Christmas and gave her a bigger tip, and she said: "I don't care about that (Christmas)."  Ho ho ho!
I returned to tennis this week and played doubles. I did OK, but my team lost both matches. My partners seemed mildly irritated, but whatever. My game is up and down, but I've got the best serve of the bunch, and they know it.