McDonald’s English Speaking Fries

By Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director

Buenos Aires is one of the largest cities in South America.  And as the largest city in Argentina, you’d expect it to have a McDonald’s.

But would you expect it to have an English-speaking customer’s only line?

Sunday after touring the tomb of Argentina’s First Lady Evita Peron (yes, we toured a cemetery) we had about 40 minutes for lunch.  Leave to a bunch of slightly homesick Americans to head straight for a McDonald’s.

But with less than 45 minutes to eat we knew fast food was the only way to go.  Me, Jim, Noble and Falya Guedon, Bobby Soileau and several others bolted the two blocks, when Noble spotted the Golden Arches reflecting off the glass of a nearby high-rise.

The moment we got inside and saw the menu board we knew we were in trouble.  In the U.S. if you can count you can order at McDonald’s because each value meal has a number associated with it.  Not here.

However, just as we were staring at each other wondering how we were going to bridge the language barrier, the manager heard our voices and directed us to the English speaking line.  The young lady behind the counter was not only helpful, but she even accepted our U.S. dollars as payment.  Kind of made us miss the Mickey D’s on Airline.

While the Big Mac here is called the Angus Deluxe, it was still pretty much the same.  The fries however were dead on.  Close your eyes and you’re back in the good old US of A.  Must be the Idaho potatoes.

Today we spent much of the day on the bus.  After we left Buenos Aires (which means good winds, by the way), we rode five hours north to Rosario, the second largest city in Argentina.  Along the way we saw grain fields.  It’s been dry here and the crops are struggling.

In all, it was a good day.  Matt Raley got a sweet straw fedora.  Me and Heath Morris got to pose with a Tango dancer and Patrick Babineaux picked up a nice whip, which he cracked expertly for us.

Today I tried my hand at a longer video blog.  The thing took two hours to upload.  I also uploaded a mobile version.  Monday it’s on to a boat ride to see one of the largest grain terminals in the country, followed by a farm tour.

Thanks for following us.  We’re all doing well and those who were feeling a bit under the weather are all back on par.

Until next time…