To elaborate further on My
McDonald’s experience...
As we were waiting in the Karachi Airport
waiting for the sun to rise so it would be safe for us to leave. I decided to
go on a little adventure to the McDonalds across the street. It is an
adventure, because I am in a foreign place, have no idea how to speak the
language, there is a road between the McDonalds, and us and I would have to
leave Megan and Abi behind with all our baggage. After getting Megan’s
permission to leave her and go (as long as I bring back a hot drink for her) I
decided to wait until 4:30 am. This way it helped pass the 45 minutes until I
got to go on my adventure and once I was done the adventure to McDonalds there
wouldn’t be much time to wait until we finally get to continue on to Hyderabad.
Finally,
it was time to go. So I took off with Megan sitting with strangers (plenty of
women and families so I felt she would be safe, not to mention the security at
the airport all carry Ak 47s or equivalent). I started to walk towards the big
yellow arch, thinking how many people would denounce the idea that I would
venture to go to a McDonalds; after all there is a McDonalds in every
neighbourhood back home and for that much who really likes their hamburgers?
Well, I thought to my self, who cares what people will think, for starters I
like Mcdonalds hamburgers, and besides this is Mcdonalds in Pakistan, how many
of my friends can say they’ve been to Mcdonalds in Pakistan? Regardless, I need
this adventure to keep sane. The day we left which was just a muddle in my mind
at that time, I had stayed up all night getting ready to go (I might elaborate
why I stayed up all night, but this is about McDonalds) then there was the “try
to sleep in the airport/ airplane all while sitting up and trying to make sure
your safe and no one will steal your stuff or kid nap your daughter/wife” not
very helpful. So I had very little sleep in the last 48 hours and I needed
Mcdonalds to help me stay alert. So I left and crossed the road, tried to look
confident. I walked in, looking for similarities and differences to the McDonalds
at home. This Mcdonalds offered yoga and Taekwondo among other things as its
regular morning program. The Menu was written in English and Urdu, and was a
bit different, there was no option for a McRib, but there was a McArabia. I
decided to order the McArabia since that other than the Chicken Big Mac there
was very little difference then a McDonalds in Canada.
Now
that I was ready to order I waited in what I thought was the “line”. However as
I was standing there many people came in and just “bugged in front of me” I
thought this very rude. Then I started to realize that this was just part of
the culture. I took note of what the last guys did and followed suite pushing
my way to the counter and getting someone to take my order.
I
really wanted a coffee, so I asked to replace my drink for a coffee in my meal.
I guess they hadn’t heard of such a thing. I was told I could not do that yet.
So I just kept the coke and added a coffee and a hot chocolate. I was a handed
a receipt and I went to the side to wait for my order. I waited and waited.
Finally there were two cappuccinos put on the tray I asked if they were mine
and opened one to see if they were indeed cappuccinos. One of the McDonald
workers said something to me in broken English and took the cappuccinos away.
Next a McRoyal was put on the tray with some fries. I told them I needed it to
go and I had ordered a McArabia. So they took my order away. About 15 minutes
later I finally got my McArabia and fries with one coffee in a bag. This was relatively
good except there was no Hot chocolate, so I showed them my receipt and they finally
gave me my Hot Chocolate. Another customer turned to me and smiled saying, “This
is Pakistan.” My order was complete and 30 minutes later I walked back to where
Megan and Abi were waiting.
My
first experience of Pakistan’s slows fast food.
What
an adventure! What a great way to help pass the time.
Until next time…
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