Finding Mexican Food and Harry Potter in Beijing

We found the sixth Harry Potter book at an international bookstore and ate Mexican food today.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is the sixth book in the seven book series. I bought it in NH, but left in there. Doh! Thankfully, they had several copies here. And they will have the seventh book at the same time it comes out in the U.S., so we should have some reading on the way home too.

The Mexican food was similar to what you would find in America, and by that I mean the chips were triangular and the enchiladas were filled with chicken and cheese. But, it all tasted a little different… something we’ve come to expect with all food “over here.” Burgers have an interesting twang that makes you question the quality of the beef, donuts are harder and more fry-bread tasting, and just about everything else is a mystery.

The mystery is why we crave something familiar. Even if ordering something familiar like pizza isn’t any easier than ordering Chinese food, eating it is. You don’t sit there and wonder if you’re eating pork or duck, only later to discover it’s beef.