Living a "Big Mac"less life

Being an expat makes you do funny things. You make friends with individuals you would never even think of hanging out with at home. You go on adventures you wouldn’t ever think you would. And yes, you eat things you never thought you’d touch. Yeah, I’m talking about crazy foods like insects, intestines, pigeons, duck tongues and so on. But that's not all. I’m also talking about fast food: Burger King, KFC, Subway, and McDonalds.

At home, I rarely ate McDonalds, and even less at Subway. Blame it on Hollywood for making so many movies about how fast food will kill.

But ever since we moved to Bangladesh, only the thought of McDonalds feels so comforting, so delicious, so familiar. Something similar to warm memories of the comfort food grandma used to make.

When we get a chance to "dine" in a McDonalds in Bangkok or anywhere else close to our new home, not only is the place and the food more familiar, but I firmly believe it actually tastes better than when eaten at home.

So when I came across this great map that charts countries without a McDonald’s, my heart felt a little heavy. Asia has done an amazing job at catching up, with Bangladesh still being an unconquered territory. I’m not going to lie, it still disappointing to see the Desh a deep, dark, empty shade of blue. Before moving here, I don’t think I’d ever stepped foot in a country that did not have a McDonald’s…

Luckily, we have Kenny Rogers Fried Chicken. And don’t worry, it’s only while I am living abroad.