When it comes to symbols of American impact around the world, McDonald's might as well top the list – they're everywhere, and today I went to one in downtown Moscow.
I expected it to be a straightforward proposition to walk in and order a meal, but when I apologetically confessed to the cashier that I didn't speak Russian, it became clear that this was a problem.
I improvised and scaled my order way back, giving the near-universal request for a cheeseburger: "One Big Mac, please."
Language barrier: broken.
Disclosure: Our trip to Moscow, including travel and lodging expenses, was sponsored by the Russian Quantum Center.
Ah, the familiar golden arches. Let's take a closer look.
McDonald's is spelled out phonetically in Cyrillic characters.
Bright backlit menus and crowds near the register look familiar.
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