Westernization or Globalization?

Despite their exclusively affluent theme, airports are still telling of a country’s size and wealth. This was apparent to me flying from Kigali, Rwanda through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and finally to London--must I say the country?

Rwanda’s small international flight stop claims but a few security checks, and one gate. Midday on a Tuesday, there was no wait going through security and only a few people in line for check in, which happened to be after security. But don’t expect an airbridge to connect passengers right up to the plane. This is old fashioned, walk out to the runway and climb up stairs to the entrance of the aluminum bird.

The next stop was in Addis Ababa, whose country has nearly 60 million more people than Rwanda, and provided 12 gates for travelers. This bigger but still small airport not only spoke to the size difference between the two countries but to Ethiopia’s religious standing. Along with signs that direct travelers to the loo, there are also those which point to Muslim prayer rooms, and it is not uncommon to see Muslim garb walking by.

This is not the case at Heathrow in London, but neither is finding any similarity when it comes to size. Their unique signs instruct travelers to leave 20 minutes to walk to certain gates. London’s international monster has 5 terminals, and the place of my departure, Terminal 3, had 42 gates alone. A sixth terminal could be on the way.

Preceding security, I asked an airport employee “Are there restaurants after security? If your mom ever told you there wasn’t anything as a dumb question, she didn’t know about that one. The stores around the waiting area of Terminal 3 made it just as much a mall as an airport, bursting with 10 restaurants and bars and 37 stores. An advertisement boasted rightly in saying they have whatever food needs you have--fast food, sit down, relaxing restaurants and formal dining.

In journeying through these airports of drastically different cultures and places, there was a common thread throughout them; the influence of the West, and especially America on the rest of the world. It was a perfect example of the tragedy and joy of globalization. Though it brings people together and enables better communication, it tends to bring more joy to the west, making travel much easier, and more tragedy to the rest of the world bringing a loss of culture and influence.

Because the West is the most materially, technologically and militarily advanced, the international standard seems to have become more western than international.

The language of airport signs? English with the local language. But what if I only spoke Swahili or Kinyarwanda or German? Even western countries are disadvantaged in language compared to those hailing from America or the U.K. There is no way I could navigate a foreign airport. International dress? A suit and tie. Although hard to believe with their popularity amongst Africans, suits are not the indigenous attire. And while there may be a huge difference in quantity, there certainly are stores and restaurants in airports round the world, even if a bag of m and m’s do end up costing nearly twenty dollars--globalization touches food, too.

Here’s to the day when globalization is influenced by the globe, not just the rich and powerful parts.