When it comes to travelers, I’ve come to think that there are two distinct types. There are those that travel while looking for the familiar: the Swedes who eat meatballs in Thailand and the Americans who eat McDonald’s in China is the great example that my friend Debora gave yesterday. These are the travelers who prefer to not push the envelope too far. Yes, they want to have the travel experience, but they don’t want it to be too authentic in terms of having to go too far outside of their comfort zone by eating fish and rice for breakfast, for instance. (A subset of this brand of traveler is those who tell you they saw all of Europe on their 2-week vacation – they have the 24 countries in 24 days approach. But that’s another story… ) And then there are the travelers who are comfortable taking risks to have the more authentic experience – they want to drink the local beer and eat the local meal and will do anything to avoid having Starbucks.
One of the reasons that I wanted to move to Europe in the first place was to have the authentic experience of living like a local. I’ve done my best to sample the local foods and drinks and have enjoyed the process thoroughly. So I perhaps relate to traveler number two a bit more. That said, every now and then when I am tired and hungry, nothing quite beats stopping in a McDonald’s where I know what’s on the menu and don’t have to translate what’s what.
Many years ago, I was traveling with my cousin Kezia in Madrid. We had been sightseeing and walking all day and were exhausted. We wanted the comfort of a familiar meal. One where we did not order what we thought was one thing and then receive another. In trying to find something, anything, that was familiar, Kezia said what she wanted was a Pizza Hut. We were in a neighborhood where we had not seen a chain type restaurant for hours, let alone something so specific as a Pizza Hut. But somehow, we turned a corner and there was a Pizza Hut. We almost cried we were so happy. It was so comfortable and familiar. Sometimes when you are traveling, a little bit of home is all you need. And then you can go back to exploring.
But now that I think about it, I can’t tell you the last time that I went to either Pizza Hut or McDonald’s. Maybe I am getting more familiar with my Swedish surroundings?
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I’m also an American in Sweden. I do eat at Pizza Hut or McDonald’s but usually only when nothing else is open or I have a specific craving. I actually haven’t had meatballs in months though… what a disgrace 🙂 I think most of my Swedish friends are in love with Thai and Indian cuisine
Aaahhh…Pizza Hut luck!
Personally, I think in hybrid terms. I am a believer in “when in Rome” but also having a sense of one’s roots. The beauty of living and getting acquainted with different cultures is that one can “pick and choose,” develop a multicultural self. Why can’t one enjoy and take part in where they are, but also cook one’s own comfort foods? Or, partake in the familiar, alongside what is different? Eventually, you begin to become your own unique mix…
I live in NYC and spent tonight with my Latino colleagues after work. Vincente, originally from Ecuador, encouraged by a large contingent of dominicanos, had to take over the Lower East Side Irish pub’s music. Eventually the bartender let him pop in his IPod to spin some salsa and merengue. Billy Joel and typical white-bred music just wasn’t cracking it. After a few hours of dancing to latino music (and many Coronas and rum drinks later), eventually, some old school American Rapper’s Delight and Pink became acceptable. Merengue or rap, I was just happy to dance.
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