The more things change...

Some days, walking around India feels like being on another planet. Everything is completely foreign and I can't find a single thing that even remotely reminds me of home. A restaurant serves Thums Up instead of Coke, Oatmeal comes in hot pepper flavor but not fruit, and the whole place seems like it might explode at any minute.

Then there are the days where I kind of wish that the familiar would stay away. Over the last four years, every trip I've made has been met with more American chains opening up branches in India. Starbucks recently opened its first store in Mumbai and has plans to open several more over the next year. I love a good cup of coffee (hard to come by over here), but I also love some of the places I can go here that are chains and fabulous, but not reminiscent of home. Cafe Coffee Day has stores all over the city, which means I can usually find one and know exactly what I'm getting. It's uniquely Indian, which is what makes it kind of fun. I then discovered that Dunkin Donuts already has stores in the works here as well.



Not to mention the fact that the first Wal-Mart store, known here as Best Price, have opened up in India. I thought stuff here was already pretty cheap, but apparently it's not good enough.



Everyone loves the comforts of home. You can bet that the first thing I do when I hit a Western airport on my way home will be hunt down a familiar brand and gorge myself on the foods and drinks that I've missed. Still, when I'm traveling, I prefer to enjoy some of the more exotic and local brands. It's what makes going home to all that other stuff so sweet.