Americanization of the world

I truly saw the "Americanization" of the world last night. It was Jill's birthday on Wednesday, so last night she invited me along with her and two of her friends to go out to eat. Driving into the city shows the stark contrast between the American companies that are quickly spreading throughout the world, like McDonalds and T-Mobile, sitting right next to the traditional European and Hungarian culture. It is so interesting to see. We were planning on going to eat at a Mexican restaurant that turned out to be under remodeling, so we ended up going to the "West end shopping center", no joke that is the name, and eating at a TGI-Fridays. It was really strange eating somewhere that is totally American, somewhere I don't even usually eat at in the US in a foreign country halfway around the world. The funniest thing was that even though this mall was very American style with escalators and stores everywhere, it was all in Hungarian, with stores that appeal to Hungarian people and so many key elements of Hungarian culture intermixed. I guess this shows two things, the speed at which American things are entering other countries and cultures, and how there is still an element of Hungarianess or culture that is kept despite this Americanization. Keep praying for me everyone!!! I am finally sleeping well, which is a huge answer to prayer, but I am constantly in need of prayer and uplifting during my time here, it is so different than the States. Miss you all tons!