Stand in line like you mean it

Before I left, someone told me that this kind of extended travel I'm doing would be a great exercise in "being present." (True). It surprised me to realize that I had to learn to be intentional about standing in line, though.

In Chile, if you look through a magazine at the checkout line in a grocery store, chances are high that someone will jump ahead of you. If you take out your cell phone to double check what chirimoya means while waiting in line for gelato (custard apple? it is delicious, by the way), chances are high that someone will jump ahead of you. If you stop to think about what you're going to say when you reach the ticket counter at the terminal de buses, chances are high that someone will jump ahead of you.

Several businesses (pharmacies, carnecerias, electronics stores, take-out counters at the grocery store, etc.) operate on the number system. You know, get a number from the dispenser and wait for it to be called in order to check out. My first week here, someone jumped in when my number was called at the pharmacy. I assumed it was because I stood out as an easy, non-Spanish speaking target, but I have since seen locals have to defend their number like it was a winning lottery ticket at the counter, too. 

Seriously. Gotta stand in line like you mean it.