Globalization....an ongoing process...it's the breaking down of national borders to trade and the flow of goods, capital, services, and labour...
Jamaicans teaching english here in france... Online purchases made at amazon which make it easy to stay anywhere in the world and have access to pretty much anything....Making free phone calls to Jamaica, Holland or to timbuk 2 for that matter anytime anywhere with the internet...Having a tall white chocolate mocha ala Starbucks on a street corner in NYC, across from class on Grand Boulevard in Paris, or in a hotel in Nassau....
We have access to the same things though there are differences in resources....history.... politics... personality... nationality....but how do we overcome the gap between demand and the inability to consume by the masses?
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Stef, u forgot 2 add something in ur list: "Christmas Carol parties in Brussels." I am a Cameroonian American who lives in Long Beach, CA, USA; but I met you and Marlon in Brussels at the home of H.E. Gilbert-Roberts during the 2009 Christmas season, on return from a year-long mission for NATO in Kosovo. You had come in from France where you teach English, and there were guests from Haiti, Surinam, Cuba, etc. at that small but very cozy party. We all came from different places and backgrounds, but we celebrated Christmas together in the miniature global village that was the residence of the Jamaican Ambassador to Belgium. Now, does it get more global than that? Happy Easter, my dear friend!
ReplyDeleteThe info tech revolution has impacted our lives immeasurably.
ReplyDeleteWe take so much for granted, like staying in touch. 70 years ago a letter
sent by post to Europe, by ship I dare say, would take
days if not months to get to the intended recipient, now in seconds we
transfer info. So what does this mean for globalization…the world is indeed a smaller place. We place orders receive important information some I believe can change our lives and the lives of others. So you are right it is an ongoing process... breaking down of national borders for trade and the flow of goods, capital, services, and labour. The fact that we find creature comforts everywhere may not seem like much but it gives some assurance that we are still connected.
But we can use this interconnectivity to motivate and inspire others to a higher purpose, we can become agents of change , we can encourage and bring together people from different spaces to one common purpose, in unity we can select projects and make a difference persons less fortunate.
It is indeed great to be able to, from one country, access the resources and 'biens' of another. Technology is in fact a blessing. I remember having to constantly buy phone cards to call home while in Canada in 04, or having to accept 3 am calls because of the time difference my first year in France 05. I didn't want to hang up because I knew the call was expensive for the caller. Now, I can just call whomever I please, wherever I please on Skype or VOIP, or MSN. Quelle grandes découvertes!
ReplyDeleteHowever, one could argue, that these 'benedictions' can become 'maledictions' to some extent, because of how they cause us to change how we experience our 'present'. For instance, this consant access to the means of communicating quickly and easily somewhat diminishes the value of the acts of communication. For example, I cherished the calls from my mom when I new they were only twice a week at 3 am. Now that I can call her whenever, or send her an email, I find that its less of a big deal to me, and I still don't call everyday.
As it relates to being able to access goods from far away this has it's disadvantages too. I have met individuals who live in France in body, but don't really live here. They are still totally connected to their roots back home. Still eating mostly ja'can foods, listening to only j'can music, and are always online with friends back home. This I think is rather counterproductive, as one could argue that the the purpose of living abroad (especially for those doing a short stint) is to immerse oneself in the culture. We should try the cheese and the wine, the frog legs and the snail. We should go to the museums, street markets and theatres. We should try to make friends and socialize with the french. We should try to LIVE the life and not just be a sojourner abroad, longing for home and all the food, music and goodies that go along with it. If that's the case, then the trip cannot prove worthwhile.
I agree with you when in Rome do what the Romans do LIVE the life.... embrace the places and people, try to make as much of each day as you can.
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