A great city is not to be confused with a populous one.

– Aristotle

Anyone who knows me personally would know that I have recently had a pretty sizable lifestyle change. I have moved from the United States to Germany. It has been a relatively smooth process, although there are always small difficulties that come up. Germany has a lot of differences to the United States, although it always shocks me how much is not all that different. I could go on about public transportation, food quality, beer, and so on, but I think these things are best left to another post. One of the main things I noticed is the amount of businesses, restaurants, and stores that are the same as back home. Globalism in action. Whether or not calling this phenomenon ‘globalism’ or not, is not really the point. What I would really like to talk about is how having all of the same companies and products makes life a lot less interesting.

Coffee is popular around the world, the United States and Germany are no exceptions. In Germany there are many wonderful and local cafés that are owned and operated by local people. However, would you like to know what else you can find? Starbucks. There are also a lot of good local restaurants serving traditional cuisine using local ingredients. And again, instead of this one could opt for McDonalds.

The problem continues. When walking in the middle of any given German town, even towns that are hundreds of years old, the same corporate chains occupy the slots of restaurants and stores. Worse yet, it can happen that one walks into a local store owned by local people, only to find that they are selling the same clothing and brands as any mall in the United States.

Consider this little thought experiment: Go to any German town and try to shop for items only made in the nearby area. Go to a restaurant and only eat food that is local. Buy a drink that was made with local palates in mind. This will not be easy. In fairness, it is certainly possible to complete this experiment successfully, but it would be difficult. For my money, I think that it is wild that across the world, a product like Coca-Cola is one of the most popular and ubiquitous drinks in almost every country.

It really shocks me how importing products from across the ocean can be cheaper, if not more popular than just stocking a local product. With this, I do not mean to get into economics, but rather culture. How is it that across the world we are completely at peace with having the same products as everyone else? As of yet I do not have an answer, however I do know where I stand.

I have had the privilege of traveling to a number of countries in my life so far. Each one of them was a unique and unforgettable experience. Unforgettable on the whole, but there were still things that were largely forgettable. I unfortunately have to admit that I have had McDonalds a couple of times in Europe, and yet I cannot remember one thing that I have ordered from any of them. I have largely avoided drinking Coca-Cola as it is an American institution, which tastes best in America. The desire to enjoy this classic drink abroad strikes me as a waste of time.

Traveling should be about opening up one’s choices and taking risks. I understand that the dear reader might have a different take on vacation and/or traveling, but I personally have had the best of times when I do my best to embrace the local culture wherever I am. While it might be funny to order McDonalds in Paris and then explain this tale to friends and family at home, I struggle to understand why anyone would want to waste a mealtime in France with mediocre fast food.

I do not mean to bash American tourists, as Europeans and other locals certainly eat their fair share of underwhelming globalist fast food. Why is this? Why have tastes changed so much that it is easier to find McDonalds than local food in many places? This probably has a lot to do with the large-scale exportation of American culture. America is seen as cool and hip, and especially after World War II, American brands were seen as being quality and in vogue. This unfortunately led to many city centers in Europe feeling so bland. Whereas once mom and pop businesses kept the needs of consumers met, now these new businesses are putting locals out of business and sending millions of Dollars away from where the money was originally spent.

This is truly a tragedy. Culturally, the world is very diverse and there is so much more that we all could experience. It is the author’s humble opinion that each nation and country being unique leads to travel being more of a true adventure. When each city in every major country on earth is littered with Levi’s and Starbucks, this makes traveling a lot less interesting. This is not to mention the fact that we all try to travel to the most interesting places, and yet still these trips can have bland moments. On paper and in theory, it makes economic sense to bulldoze old buildings and to make the heart of every city glass and steel skyscrapers, but no one actually wants to visit these places. Other than New York City, the true genesis of skyscrapers, these places are not popular. NYC truly is the world’s most global city, which is no coincidence. Tourists and locals alike like picturesque scenes, cute narrow streets, and medieval market squares.

Both at home and abroad, sometimes the stars align. I find that I am able to go into a shop that is run and operated by locals. However, as I alluded to above, the products in the store will often be from international brands regardless. Really the only effective way to get around this is to go to something like a farmers market. Although here one is often confined to fruits, vegetables, honey, soaps, and candles. Interesting items for sure, but more feminine coded.

The plot thickens more. Even if one is able to go into a local store that has local products, the style of products are not of an originally local taste. Once jeans were seen as explicitly American, now there are many European brands that produce their own jeans. Fashion has become truly global, and styles have changed to be very international. Seeing someone where the traditional Lederhosen in Germany is fine during Oktoberfest, but would be seen as very strange any other time of the year. An important note is that Lederhosen is actually only from Bavaria, a state in southern Germany. Traditional clothing in other parts of the country is not known or worn any longer, by and large.

At this point, I could imagine the reader thinking that the author is just trying to find any excuse to complain. A valid criticism, but genuinely untrue. I am not trying to find something to dislike, but rather I want local cultures and customs to thrive. The United States is an old country, we may not be as old as some places, but at this point we still have spanned hundreds of years. Germany is much older. It is very easy to walk past a building that is easily at least four hundred years old. Because I respect and love Western civilization, I want us all to take pride in our history. I want our local tastes to be honored and respected. Instead of finding the same fast food chains, fashion, and coffee across the world, I would like countries to express themselves more and make visiting them more of a challenge.

Travelers, tourists, adventurers, and locals alike will all benefit from living in a truly distinct culture. One where buildings and clothing are not interchangeable with New York City. Given how interdependent and global our current economies are, some level of globalization is inevitable. I am not saying that Coca-Cola should start to be banned, but we should at least try to support local businesses. Would that not be loving to our neighbor?

I would like to try and bring this point back to the gospel. God has made each nation to be unique and to occupy different spaces of the Earth. I do not think it would be unwise to ignore this. It is ok that our wants and tastes are different from others. While all believers are citizens of the Kingdom of God, that does not mean that we are not also citizens of our Earthly countries as well. We still will always be from a nation, and that’s not a bad thing. Praise God for our differences, that makes the world a whole lot more interesting.

As I am getting into more of a rhythm here in Germany, I will be sure to try as much local food as possible. I must say that Germans have great fashion sense, and that too I hope to take much inspiration from. One thing is for sure, though I am looking forward to visiting many a café, please, not another Starbucks.

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. – Colossians 1:16-17