4)Imperialism

Visiting historic sites means being bombarded by history and various references to foreign imperialism but frankly, the most ironic (and sharply sarcastic) reference to imperialism has to be the presence of a Starbucks in the Forbidden City - what foreign imperialism has failed to occupy (at least not permanently) fast food and coffee joints have accomplished!

Which, by the way, reminds yours truly of a weird university memory - arguing about imperialism with a classmate (can't remember who, but sure remember the topic). The irony was not arguing about imperialism in the language of former colonists nor the fact that we were in the land of the former colonial master , or that in the pc '90s, the guy was arguing some modern version of white man's burden but that yours truly was passionate enough about the issue to decide that there was no way that a friendship could ever exist with such a guy - no enmity, just not friendship. Apologies for any pettiness whoever he was, and frankly, with starbucks, you can't have your cake and eat it but you sure can drink loadsa caffeine