Good evening, y’all! Jorge here. Today has been a bit cloudy, and the winter chill has been stronger. I woke up freezing and had to turn on my little panel heater next to my bed. Sleeping with the heater on all night isn’t an option for me—it dries out my room too much, even with my humidifier on. I end up waking up with a very dry throat. But if I keep my heater off, I wake up a bit frozen and need to thaw out my bones with the heater.
Heating Dilemmas
Do you sleep with the heater or A/C on? If you sleep with the A/C on in the winter, you must be very resistant to the cold! In actuality, today wasn’t THAT cold temperature-wise. It was just cloudy, so my house wasn’t being warmed up by the sun’s rays. It felt normal when I went outside for a bit. No wind chill either! It’s really the wind that makes it feel a lot colder.
My New Windbreaker
I had to buy a windbreaker recently. Back in Hokkaido, I never needed one—I just used my company-branded windbreaker. It was a win-win: advertising my company while staying warm and cozy! When I changed jobs, I had to return it. Well, everyone has to return it at the end of winter for an inventory check. No point in keeping a windbreaker in your closet when it’s super hot in the summer. But here in Gunma, it’s a coin flip. Some days, a hoodie is enough, but when the wind starts blowing, the chill pierces straight through.
Gunma’s Wind
I’ve been told that Gunma’s wind can be pretty strong—to the point that riding a bike against the wind doesn’t allow you to move even if you’re pedaling hard! That’s crazy strong. I wanted to experience that. I haven’t really had the chance to ride a bike and feel that power, but walking through the streets, you can really tell. If the wind pierces right through my body with its cold chill, I can believe it’s strong enough to stop a bike from moving.
Bicycles and the Wind
In my apartment complex, people park their bikes outside by the parking lot. At night, they’re nicely parked, but in the early morning, they’re all over the place, toppled over each other at weird angles. I doubt they go out for night rides and toss their bikes down when they get home. And it’s unlikely an animal attacks and topples bicycles. So, it must be the wind, right?
Let’s Talk About McDonald’s
Now, onto today’s topic: McDonald’s. The golden arches have been a temptation for many Americans and are spreading their golden-branded flavor worldwide. So, why is American McDonald’s so bad compared to McDonald’s in other parts of the world? Have you noticed a difference?
The Special Menu
The answer is its special menu. McDonald’s in other countries creates special menu items to cater to people of that region. Korean McDonald’s has spicier options. French McDonald’s has different packaging and limited-time items for a more luxurious feel. Then there’s Japanese McDonald’s. Every three months or so, there’s a new Limited Edition item on sale. From fruit juice smoothies to hamburgers and special limited-time sauces, there’s always something different.
The Evangelion Collaboration
I recently tried a special collaboration with the anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion. Have you heard of it? Maybe you’ve watched it or at least heard its name. If you play the opening theme at Karaoke, you’ll be surprised at how many people perk up in excitement to sing this song.
The McDonald’s Experience
An almost 30-year-old anime getting a burger collaboration at McDonald’s—how busy could it be, I wondered. Well, it was super packed! I placed my order on the online app for pickup, and it said it would be a 40-minute wait. Wow! I arrived to find the drive-through line going back almost two whole stoplights. Inside, there were so many people lined up to place orders and waiting for their online order pickups. I joined the queue and waited for my number to get called. Fortunately, since I had placed my order in advance, I only waited five minutes to grab my order and head home.
Trying the New Burgers
I tried three different burgers:
- Double Teriyaki Burger: Good as expected with an extra patty.
- Cheeseburger with Fried Potato: Didn’t suit my palate, unfortunately.
- Mexican Cheese Chicken Burger: The best one! It added salsa to an already delicious chicken cheeseburger.
I ate the Mexican cheese chicken burger first because it was fresh off the grill. McDonald’s doesn’t taste as great when it gets cold, even if you microwave it. But that’s just my opinion. What do you think?
Final Thoughts
Today was extra packed, probably because it’s the first day of the collaboration campaign. But once was enough. I went, tried it, enjoyed it, and that’s it. I try not to eat too much McDonald’s since it’s not good for you if you eat it too often. Everything in moderation. It’s a nice treat from time to time, usually my hangover meal of choice. Especially in Japan, where there are so many more options, like convenience stores. Those places are great.
Your Turn
So, how about you? Will you be going to McDonald’s to try out the Evangelion collab burgers? Maybe just for a meal? Or are you someone who doesn’t usually eat fast food?
