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THE ULTIMATE FRANCHISE:
If McDonald's is the ultimate franchise of America, then Chinatown is the ultimate franchise of China
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When traveling abroad from the United States (or Canada) these days, many weary travelers seek some cultural shelter, from time to time, in the local McDonald's. There they are in clean, familiar surroundings with a familiar menu and even a familiar language. To top it all off, the bathrooms are clean and usually free.

This familiarity works for every nationality now that McDonald's is everywhere. Even Brits, French, Czechs, Chileans and Japanese can go to a McDonald's and everything is still pretty much the same as the McDonald's in their home town, no matter where they are.

But what most people do not think about when seeking such comfort, is that there is an excellent, even healthier alternative to finding such familiarity: Chinatown. In every country in the world, in every city in the world, there is a Chinatown. They have them in the US, in France, even in Lima Peru. Yes, the weary American traveler has McDonald's while the weary Chinese traveler has Chinatown.

But don't let this advantage be restricted to just the Chinese traveler. Much like the Chilean tourist finding respite in a McDonald's from the intensity of Paris sight seeing, everyone can find some respite in Chinatown. Just like McDonald's, Chinatown is pretty much the same wherever you go. No matter where you are in the world, Chinatown offers the same dishes, the same decor, the same language (Chinese of course!) and the same attitudes. They will even have the same sugar filled fortune cookies!

You'll feel just like you're in your own Chinatown from home! You'll point to the picture of pork fried rice, the picture of sweet and sour prawns and then make that motion for noodles. And the waiter will understand you and still bring out the prawn fried rice, sweet and sour pork and noodles. The bill will be just as incomprehensible in a Chinatown abroad as it is at your Chinatown at home. Plus, not only are there restaurants, but Chinese shops with Chinese goods and services.

As an historical note, this is an intriguing concept. Many people in the world complain about the woes of Free Trade exporting American culture throughout the world. Well, have they stopped to think that the Chinese have beaten Wall Street to it long ago? The Chinese began exporting their culture as early as the 100 BC. McDonald's Hamburgers went abroad in the 1960's. That's about a 2000 year head start.

Keep in mind that the Chinese did this without the influence of free trade organizations like the WTO (World Trade Organization). Chinatowns were established long before industrialization without cushy benefits such as air travel, modern shipping techniques and navigation, mass sanitation, the automobile, the aid of marketing analysts, television commercials, movies and the Internet. Also note that the Chinese get a whole "town" (neighborhood) to themselves instead of a few 100 square feet of shop space like the Americans do with their McDonald's stores.

Try asking yourself this question, "There is a Chinatown is very city, is there also an "Americatown" there too?" NO! I think it's safe to say that the Chinese win hands down over the Americans for the Ultimate Franchise.

So if you like to travel and feel at home in your local Chinatown, your dining experience in a Chinatown abroad will be just like your dining experience at your Chinatown from home. And it will be significantly healthier than a trip to McDonald's!