Re: Is the Writing on the Wall for Ada?

[aek@vib.usr.pu.ru (Alexander Kopilovitch)]

Russ wrote:

> Speaking of McDonald's, I remember reading several years ago that when
> the first McDonald's "restaurants" were built in Russia, many Russians
> assumed that the food being served was considered fine American
> cuisine. Perhaps one of you Russians out there can tell me if that is
> true.

No, it certainly isn't true, it is just wrong angle of view. In those first
McDonalds Russians didn't care about national character of cuisine, but paid
attention to clean rooms and tables, quick service, good-looking and smiling
boys and girls at all service points (they were common Russians, of course,
but well-trained and well-dressed), modest (although not exacly cheap) prices.
And exactly this environment (and not a cuisine) gained popularity for McDonalds
here.

Just one recent counter-example: about a month ago I was walking near the city's
centre, and saw new "BlinDonalds" - local Russian clone of McDonalds (name from
Russian "blin" = crape, pancake) . I entered there, thinking that, perhaps,
I'm willing to eat such a "blin" now. Well, there were indeed good-looking and
cheap meals, and the similar boys and girls at service points, but they weren't
smiling - they were trained not to abuse a customer, but no more; and the service
was very slow, the kitchen was open and entirely visible, and all the boys and
girls shouted orders to the kitchen from time to time. After observing that
situation for 5 minutes I left, because it became obvious that it will take
minimum 15-20 minutes to get that "blin". I hope that this counter-example is
sufficient for some understanding - why McDonalds became (and still are) quite
popular here.



Alexander Kopilovitch                      aek@vib.usr.pu.ru
Saint-Petersburg
Russia