Today, after a full day of attending catwalk shows, it was hard for me to think of anything except the reviews I have to write when I get back to my hotel. I did not even want to spend time to eat in a restaurant knowing fully well that my favorite café will be full of tourists and I could not concentrate on writing. (I have the bad habit of working while I eat during the fashion season.)

On impulse, I decided to trek to the nearest McDonald’s, which of course, as expected, there is a long line. I did not mind simply because the line always moves fast.

It took longer than usual to get in front. To pass the time, I started observing how people were ordering (no matter how tired I feel, I am still a journalist and tends to notice even the smallest things).

The line was like the United Nations general assembly – people from all over the world. And you know what… all of them can say Big Mac!

A Big Mac is a Big Mac in any language. And so are McChicken and Chicken McNuggets. So, although there is a language barrier, the person behind the counter knows exactly what the customer is ordering.

It was always easy to spot an American among the group (other the obvious American accent.) We, the Americans know how to order our fast food. A group of high school students (about 10 of them) did their ordering in 5 minutes! Two people were in line, the other eight on the edges. They just said ‘We want a meal and maxi’ (maxi is the French equivalent for our supersize) and just rattled off their orders.

On the other hand, non-Americans took a little longer. Two Dutch male models took 5 minutes to order because they were still on the mindset of ala carte. Yet, observing their order, it was actually a meal of Big Mac and Royal Cheese Bacon.

And that was when I started to look closer. That’s when I noticed how fast Americans order and how non-Americans order about 3 minutes slower. I guess, the U.S. is truly a fast-food nation; and of course, we invented McDonald’s.

When it was my turn, I rattled off my order the same way the high school kids did. Behind me was a family of three from Ohio visiting Paris for the first time. The mother spoke to me and said, ‘You’re an American! I knew it the moment you ordered.’

The two of us started laughing because we made the same observation. In parting, the lady from Ohio said, ‘Others might be slower in ordering right now, but they’re getting the hang of it. McDonald’s changed the way Americans eat, and it looks like it is also changing the world.’

Now, isn’t that a food for thought?