American Influence

I have often heard of the impact America has on the world. In fact I occasionally use the phrase ´when America sneezes the whole world gets sick´. But my realization of just how impactful America is has changed since I have left. It is amazing to me.

When I landed in Lima, on the car ride to the bus station, I saw McDonald´s, KFC, Pizza Hut, TGI Fridays, and Chile´s!! I couldn´t belive it! Here I was thousands of miles from home, and there are the same restaraunts that I have down the street at home! This was just the begining. Ica Kola, which rivals Coca-Cola for the number one soft drink here, is owned by guess who.....Coke! A brand that Peruvians identify with, and all the profits are going back to Atlanta! Other proof lies when I walk down the street and kids yell out Hi! and wave...I like that!

Also, people are walking around everywhere with english written on their clothing! I was shopping for a new hat the other day, and the saleswoman asked me (as usual) where I was from. After learing that I was American, she asked me, what does my shirt say?? I replied, soy muy caliente, in english it says, in bright sparkeling letters, IM SO HOT. Hilarious, we had a good laugh. Oh, and did I mention half of the hats in the store were American Eagle, Abercrombie, and NYC hats. I even found a Chicago Sox hat! Sorry Cardnal fans...I guess we havent made it to Peru yet!

It is also funny to here people talk to very foreign languages only to hear in the middle of the phrase the name of an american company or website ¨asfasfewagaghakarg....you tube...asdjfjiwefiadkjghi¨. It becomes clear very quickly how much influence mojor corporate players really have around the world. It may be impossible for a country/army/world leader to take over the world, but its perfectly possible for private companies to do so! And they do, all the time, and I love it! I love drinking Ica Kola down here and knowing that my money is going to an American company. And I love knowing that I live in such an important country. Even if someone has never heard of St. Louis, or Minneapolis- I need only to refer to their major corporate players. Ever heard of Budweiser? how about Target? for people to create some sort of connection with the place.

Even though our popularity as a country in the world is, well, non-existant, we still have the ability and power to influence the rest of the world. This is the lesson for the week, now we all have to pledge to use our power for good!