A few random thoughts as I begin the New Year

I'm not even going to try to turn this into a coherent story, but there's a few things I'd like to say:

The White Swan Hotel's breakfast buffet has the best fish nuggets ever. They've got peas and corn and tiny pieces of carrot inside. Someone should really sell a product like that in the US. You don't taste the veggies, and you can't even see them when you smother the nuggets in ketchup.

There's something different about the cocoa powder in Brazil. I can easily stir it into hot milk and make tasty hot cocoa. I don't even usually bother to add sugar. Try the same thing in the US, and it doesn't work! You have to make a paste out of an inch of hot milk, then thin it out. And it takes a 50-50, or more realistically 2/3 sugar mix to get it to taste any good. What is up with that?

Something called 'rocket' is popular on pizzas and in salads around the world. Apparently, that's what everyone but the US calls Arugula.

Salad dressing, other than plain oil & vinegar, is not usually offered or available.

I will forever long for (and drool at the though of) Brazilian coxinhas and Australia meat pies.

Pizza is not the same everywhere. Luckily, most of the variations are pretty tasty -- even the seafood-based ones. But without a strong grasp of the language, you'll be stuck with whatever combinations of toppings are on the menu. There's rarely a simple build-your-own list available.

Ostrich and swan are both very tasty. Especially in a stir-fry or curry.

Restaurants in some countries (especially Australia) allow you to bring your own wine & beer. Personally, I think that's a much better system.

You're not expected or encouraged to tip service providers in most countries.

Chinese cab drivers always keep 1 RMB more than the fair unless you give exact change.

Unless your bank charges crazy international fees, it's much more cost effective to get your cash from an ATM than to do a currency exchange.

You can leave your laptop in the case going through US airport security checkpoints, as long as it's just a sleeve with nothing to obstruct the view of the x-ray machine. Zippers around the edge are OK.

Never, ever accept a ride from someone who approaches you in the airport, bus, or train station asking if you need a taxi. There's always some official place you're supposed to go to catch a cab. Unlicensed drivers might give you a good deal, or they might drop you on the edge of nowhere and steal all your stuff... or worse. It's not worth the risk.

The most important words to learn in the local language are Thank You, Yes/No, Hello/Goodbye, and "How much?" If you can master those, move on to the Numbers 1-10, the applicable variations of Good morning/Good evening/Good night, "Do you speak English?", and "Where is the toilet?" Learn more if at all possible. The more you can attempt to speak their language (even if you get it completely wrong), the nicer the people will be, and the better deals you'll get!