PARIS, Jul 3, 2004/ FW/ --- Working for an online magazine, connectivity is always a priority when I am away from the office. Being in Paris, I found Starbucks and McDonald’s offering Wi-Fi. And between the two of them, I felt at home literally and figuratively.

Both outlets offer the exact same things that they offer back home in the U.S. I can get my favorite frapuccino in the morning, or have my ‘bacon, cheese and egg,’ depending on whether I want to eat breakfast or not.

So, while I sip my coffee or eat my egg McMuffin, I log on to McDonald’s ‘free Wi-Fi’ to check email and then upload the articles that I have written. While waiting for my laptop to do its job, I would use the time to observe.

I expected that both McDonald’s and Starbucks would provide the same level of service they do in the States. What surprised was the interaction between customer and server is very similar back home that it was almost eerie.

The McDonald’s franchise in Paris is located near the Louvre, the most famous museum in the world. And since this is summer and the height of travel, there are people from all over the world visiting the place; and they end up at McDonald’s one way or another.

No matter what is the nationality, they can say Big Mac, McChicken, and Egg McMuffin. I have heard it in so many different accents, depending on the person’s country of origin that I smile while watching.

At Starbucks, wireless connection is not free. You have to pay 4.50 euros for 30 minutes or 9 euros for 2 hours. But you are guaranteed speed and connectivity all the time, which makes it a better deal if you are in a hurry.

And like at McDonald’s people from all countries patronize the shop. There is always a line at Starbucks when I go in, even during early morning.

The location might be Paris, and the language spoken might be French, yet the whole set up feels so American. For the first time, I understood why famous journalists and writers who are also expats during their time tended to gather in American café’s while living here in Europe. It was their home away from home.

As I write this, I am also transferring files via FTP, and that’s when I saw the date, July 3, 2004 and that tomorrow is the 4th of July.

Being away from home on Independence Day made me feel more American than when I was at home celebrating by having bar-b-ques and watching the fireworks.

And though I love being in Paris, and truly enjoy covering the menswear season and looking forward to the upcoming haute couture season, I found myself walking by the American Embassy just to see Old Glory flying and giving a startled Marine guard a salute in honor of my country.