They charge for WHAT!?

So someone asked me yesterday if I missed home.  I said not really…but let me clarify.  I do miss my friends and family but I don’t really miss the place.  Yes I love the familiarity and the food, but there’s so much more to experience that’s new and exciting.  But the one thing I did mention was the PRICES!!!  Boy do I miss prices!!  My jaw drops every single time I go out and have to pay for a drink, meal, or even a soda at a neighbourhood 7-Eleven.  It is one thing to pay for an overpriced meal because lets face it, Australia is on the other side of the world and importing goods is just plain expensive and full of tacked on taxes, but it’s another thing to have to pay for condiments.  Say WHAT!?  Yes!!  It’s one of the first things I noticed here when I arrived and tried to get lunch…besides the gorgeous country of course.  I was buying fish and chips, but saw a price sign for tartar sauce and ketchup!?  I can only imagine what this would do to the American people and balance of order if we started charging for ketchup, mayo, or any other condiment we get for free at the fast food restaurants that seem to overtake our daily consumption of calories.  And I know even though you’re a health freak you can’t resist the powerful cravings to have that double bacon cheese burger from Wendy’s or Mickey D’s or if you’re on the West Coast its at an In and Out Burger or Carl’s Jr.  Before you even take a bite out of the burger, most of us add a little extra ketchup and perhaps mayo.  Then you’ve got fries or chicken nuggets to consider…ketchup, BBQ sauce, or the delicious Chick-fil-a Sauce.  Or if you’re not a fan of fast food, but LOVE sushi…what about the soy sauce and the wasabi.  Can you imagine if American’s were charged $.50 or as high as $2.00 for a small container of ketchup or pack of sauce!?   We grab these by the handful without even considering how much they cost.  They’re simply free and take how ever much we want.  I think if the fast food chains of America started charging, 1. The people would either flip out or 2. They would out right stop consuming the condiments. Wonder what our bellies would look like after that trend, eh?  All I know is that my tummy and wallet thanks me for not dishing out the $2 for a bit of ketchup.