America Invades Germany

Welcome to Germany. Have an American burger.

I'll admit to not being much of a creature of comfort. I refuse to use a dishwasher because it wastes energy and water. Similarly, scenes like this don't do any particular good for me. Here, we see Checkpoint Charlie with a McDonald's in the background. This makes sense for the franchise, of course. Why not stick a typically American eatery right next to an American "outpost"? I'm sure it does great business.

But this isn't confined to Checkpoint Charlie. It's everywhere. And it's KFC. And it's Pizza Hut. And Subway.

I'm still not bothered too much because it is not Wal-Mart. Germans have rejected the concept. Good job there, Germany. You've retained your identity. But you're slipping into a convenience driven society on a daily basis. 

Take this for a comparison. One day Mel and I brought home a frozen pizza to heat up and enjoy at home (which, by the way is of Italian style--very different from American). Upon seeing it, Monika our landlady, said to me that she doesn't care for "fast food." This surprised both Mel and myself. We'd never thought to count frozen items bought at the store as fast food. We'd reserved that term for pre-made, pre-warmed sandwiches that have been sitting on a shelf, waiting for us to purchase them for up to and including one hour. I don't think anyone I know in the US would have ascribed that definition to frozen pizza, but I now feel it's true.

That's why I'm a bit bothered by these chains. They redefine convenience and make us unaware of our own habits. All this said when Mel and I discovered and enjoyed a little stand that sells brawtwurst, chili (jalapenos) cheese burgers, and fries that you eat right there (in about 2 minutes). We've eaten at turkish donner places and China Box stands all over the city. It's okay that we influence one another because it provides variety. But it seems apparent that the bad habits come first.