2 very poor encounters in the past week

I know this blog is supposed to chronicle my baking adventures, but I can't help but express my anger at a brief encounter I had today with a stranger I met at dinner. D and I were in a Vietnamese joint for some good old pho when this dude (let's call him "Obnoxious") strutted in with a companion in tow. Turns out that D and "Obnoxious" were ex-colleagues back in Singapore. D introduced me to him and this is how the rest of the conversation went:

Obnoxious: So how long have you been in Hong Kong for? 

Me: Since last July

Obnoxious: Oh, so what do you do?

Me: I'm in the media industry

Obnoxious: Oh! Pass me your name card!

Me: What line are you in? (I then proceed to offer Obnoxious my name card)

Obnoxious: I'm in advertising. At a bank (D chirped in and said that Obnoxious is working for UBS)

Me: Ah!

Obnoxious: (After looking at my name card) So, is it your job that brought you to Hong Kong?

Me: No. I moved here for my husband. He found a job here

Obnoxious: Ah! No wonder. I was wondering why you would come all the way to Hong Kong to be an __________ (He then continues to name the position printed on my name card). Yes, I'm the client. Are you going to try to sell me something? 

Actually, I'm not sure if I'm angry with him. I suppose angry could be the wrong word to use here. I'm more flabbergasted at his lack of sensitivity and the fact that he thinks that just because I'm in ad sales, I'm trying to sell him something. He can take his company's money and stuff it up his sorry whatever. Tonight's encounter left me with a fire in my belly. And I think good things could potentially come out of it. 

Then let me tell you about the lady I met on Saturday at E's baby shower. Let's call her "Mrs Fake Humility". She dropped in on us briefly and this is part of the conversation which transpired with E and "Mrs Fake Humility":

Mrs Fake Humility: We can't stay long, we're going to a charity thing later in the evening. By the way, any of you want to go? We've got lots of free tickets.

E: Oh! Is it the ball that costs $350 a seat?

Mrs Fake Humility: I don't know. We just gave them a wad (Mrs Fake Humility then catches herself in time and corrects her statement), a belt of cash.

That was a jaw dropping moment. As much as E explained (after Mrs Fake Humility cleared the scene) how nice her friend was, I could not comprehend why someone would say something like that. A wad of cash to the needy? I really think this quote from the bible is so wise: When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. This, to me, is true humility and generosity.