The Day a McDonald’s Became London’s Most Famous Attraction

I was taking some time off to decide what to do next in life and stayed with a friend for a couple of days in London. She was sharing a house with other young people who were trying to conquer the city and have a better life.

And there I met Juve, a young and shy guy from a very small town in the North of Brazil. When he told me that he travelled from São Paulo (a city with 20 million people) and his hotel was close to “the” O Boticário shop (imagine a chain as The Body Shop, with hundreds of shops everywhere!), I realized he had no idea of the size of a city like São Paulo.

I asked about how he ended up in London, and he said that years ago his brother had helped a lady from his hometown to move to London and he had suggested Juve to try his luck there as well. So, off went Juve to London without speaking English and not aware of where he was getting into. I wondered if he was too brave or too naive.

On his flight to London, Juve had difficulties to fill in the customs form and was helped by an old man sitting besides him. Upon his arrival, he followed his brother’s friend's instruction to get out and go to the bus stop, because if he stayed alone and looking lost he could be approached by the police. As if there were only one bus stop at Heathrow. Off went Juve and he was standing in there when the old man from the plane saw him and asked what he was doing there. He said the lady didn’t show up and she told him to go to the bus stop if she was not there. He had a hotel booked in Piccadilly Circus for the next two nights. The old man asked if he had cash. Only Euros, he replied. The old man was able to find a cab that accepted Euros to take Juve to the hotel. And there stayed Juve, scared of going out and getting lost because he didn’t speak English. He was hungry, he was unable to reach his brother (this was in 2008, pre-smartphones era) and he was desperate. And then he heard a guy speaking Portuguese at the lobby. It was the hotel’s messenger boy. The boy helped him to get some food and managed to call Juve’s brother. They finally were able to contact the lady, who never showed up at the airport, neither at the hotel because she was busy. She just gave him an address and told him to take a cab. The messenger boy put Juve in the cab and he spent £70 instead of less than £3 if he had taken the tube. I was shocked by how this lady, who was helped by Juve’s brother, was so useless and selfish. Not to mention irresponsible, leaving the guy alone and unattended in London.

I asked Juve what he had seen of London and how he liked the city. He told me that so far, in those three months, he hadn’t seen anything but his route between home and work. He was working at a restaurant’s kitchen, washing dishes twice a week. And spending all the rest of the time at home, because he was afraid of going out and getting lost in town. He said if he couldn’t get other shifts/jobs he would have to return home soon, as the money his brother gave him was almost over.

I had some free time that week and offered myself to be his guide. I planned a whole day on a freezing October to show him around. And he made me a special request: could we also go to a McDonald’s? He dreamt about going to one and his friends from his hometown would be so impressed about it. After we’ve done all the Thames’ path from Tower Bridge to the Parliament and before seeing the Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, we stopped for lunch at the McDonald’s besides the Aquarium.

Juve was so impressed. I took so many pics of him. More pics than anywhere else that day! He didn’t know what to choose and was worried about the price. I said he was my guest, and he finally decided on what to eat. I think it was a number 1 menu with a Big Mac, fries, and soda with a sundae for dessert. Juve was so happy! And I was happy for him. It was my best meal at McDonald’s!

A few days later I left London but returned after a couple of months, as I decided to pursue a Master's there. My friend had moved from that house and lost contact with Juve. On a Sunday morning I was in a bus and then somebody knocked on my window. And there was Juve, with a big smile, surprised that I was back and telling me that he liked my new hair style. Before the bus started to move I had time to ask if he was working more shifts (which he was) and that I was happy to see that he managed to stay there. I wished I had thought about getting out of the bus and caught up with him. That was the last time I saw Juve. And I still wonder if he was too brave or too naive...