Why McDonald's is My Favorite Kind of American Food

My favorite American food is... McDonald's. Wait, wait! Do not scream at me how bad and unhealthy it is, and how much better homemade food tastes. I have been to many restaurants and dined at many homes where people know how to cook good meals. Yes, I agree: McDonald's food is not healthy (unfortunately), and there are tons of delicious dishes outside its walls: barbecue ribs, roasted chicken (dark meat please), seafood, etc., etc. BUT: McDonald's, too me, is something like first love. My first taste of America - the country I wanted to call my own, and now do.

I remember how the first McDonald's was opened in the part of th Eastern Europe where I lived; it was in the early 1990's. You wouldn't believe how long the line of people was standing outside, waiting for their turn to get in. The line went across the street, around a small park, and back... I stood in that line, too. I did not know what to expect. All I knew was that they'd serve Coca Cola there in that American restaurant called McDonald's, and I was very excited about it: Coke was not easily available back then, and I loved it.

When we finally got in (after a couple of hours of waiting outside, I kid you not), I was of course a little confused by the menu and all the new dishes: cheeseburger, filet-o-fish, French fries (these were translated as "Potato Free" for some reason, but they weren't free, of course). All this was new and exciting, but what had impressed me the most - no, actually more like moved me to tears - were the badges that the employees wore. The badges had their names, and under the name there was the phrase "How can I help you?" Help me?? These people were there to HELP ME??... To make a long story short, this was very, very different from what I saw growing up behind the Iron Curtain. Nobody cared to help that much when it came to customer service. Getting rid of you was more like it.

After the shock of the badges and the new experience of ordering my meal at the cash register, I had finally gotten to try the food... And I was sold - for life. From that moment on, this was the taste of America to me. The country I loved and wanted to call my own.

I live here in the US now, and yes, there are plenty of good restaurants, far better than McDonald's. But McDonald's will always have a special place in my heart.