Most of us have been fortunate enough to visit a fair proportion of this vast planet, and with these travels have been able to taste local delicacies, indulge in local practices, and explore local sights. However, one cannot help but notice the familiarities which stick out like sore thumbs on every street corner. From the wavy white-on-red mural of a soft drinks corporation on a shop wall in the sandy Arabian desert, to the face of Brazil’s finest footballer glancing down at the bustling traffic from a billboard in Barcelona, it can only be a matter of time till the world becomes one huge global village.

Across the planet, large monopolies are flexing their muscles and squeezing out any remaining juice that small, local businesses hold onto. I decided to visit Westfield Shopping Centre in London, which proudly boasts of being the largest inner-city centre of its kind in Europe. I must admit I was impressed with the extraordinary architecture, bright lights, and glitzy granite flooring. However, I, like a lot of other consumers, I noticed, left the mall with little more than the floor plan clutched in my hand. The centre may have hundreds of stores, but I couldn’t look around without seeing the same logos and shopfronts that inundate every high street in Britain.

But it gets worse. Having saturated the markets of their own humble nations, the enterprises have moved internationally, with the result being that one would have difficulty differentiating between Westfield London and the Dubai Mall. It seems that it will only be a matter of time before the world becomes one huge conurbation, with the only differences between countries being the currency used and language spoken. And I wouldn’t bet against those barriers being eliminated in the near future either!

But is a global culture really such a horrible thing? It brings added convenience and comfort to visit another city and recognise familiar faces, retail, and businesses. There is a peace of mind experienced when one encounters their nation’s embassy or their local bank when abroad, giving a sense of security to often anxious travellers. In addition, surely a global currency and unified language could only be a good thing, be it for business transactions, tourism, or just for simple communication. After all, there’s nothing more frustrating than being hustled by cheeky traders cashing in on your lack of language skills or foreign currency in the wallet.

One thing is for certain, the world is becoming a smaller place. The age of discovery is coming to an end and civilisation has crept into every corner of the world. With the internet and air travel meaning you can wake up in Hyderabad one morning, spend a day in Hurghada, and then update your Facebook status in Honolulu the same night, the dynamics of the way we live our lives are transforming at an alarming rate. But the question remains as to whether it is worth sacrificing culture for convenience.

By Mohsin Asharia

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