Tag Archives: globalization

in english

Globalisation & my high school class

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This week I learned that two of my classmates from high school in northern Greater Mexico City are also in a relationship with Finnish girls and both are also living abroad.  That got me thinking about how many of the guys and gals I used to go to school with back then are also overseas, and the sample is quite broad.

I’m not particularly surprised of this development given that we were educated as the so-called NAFTA generation learning English (and sometimes other languages) from childhood, and given a broader view of the world than people before us (I remember attending lessons on economics, global affairs, the stock market and compared history of North America at that time).

What sets us apart from those before us I think, is not that some of us would go abroad, but that we would not concentrate in the United States as before.  In my sister’s high school class (she is only a few years older than me) most of those who are working abroad are doing so in the US (a couple here and there in Europe, but it’s a minority), whereas with us the geographic dispersion is much broader: I have classmates in Mexico, and all over the US, true, but also in Canada, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Australia, France, Brazil, UK and I believe even a couple in China.  Moreover, many of them who are back in Mexico also have international experience, either as students or during their careers.

I’m sure that this is partly due to American immigration regulations after 9/11, but I believe it also has something to do with many of us wanting to see what else was out there.  I wonder if the Institute for Mexicans Abroad will start tapping this kind of talent network too, as many of us are working for institutions like e.g.  Shell, Nokia, Microsoft, ESA or Volvo or studying at recognised institutions all over the place.  Maybe we should learn something from what the Indians and the Chinese are doing by taking advantage of their expatriates, instead of complaining about the brain drain?

Regardless, it’s good to see that most of them in Mexico or wherever they may be are doing well.

in english

The Post-American World

A very good book by Fareed Zakaria of Newsweek fame, brought home the point that the US, as important as it is in the world, cannot go it alone anymore.

This is an extremely important point to explain to the American public given the nearing elections and the vastly diverging approaches to this matter of both candidates.  As reads in the article linked above, how can you take a unilateral course very major problem you face as a nation, from terrorism to nuclear proliferation to gas prices, requires joint action with others?

in english

Globalisation, competition and the American way

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The United States is a very exceptional country, in that it was originally founded on ideas, mostly.  I'm sure you've heard about the "American way" and the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".  The American people are capable of great things, and the 20th century was indeed theirs.

This century, however, seems a little more threatening, with the war on terror and a weaker economy.  The rise of China also means there is another big competitor in the world stage.  To make matters worse, their country also has a little of an image problem currently.

Sadly, I find that the instinct is to close up, to keep on ignoring what is happening in the rest of the world, and to refuse to understand how others see what is going on.  Hardball negotiation doesn't work anymore.

Thankfully, there is also a group of people who understand that the US cannot afford to do that.

in english

The miracle of modern travel

I was in London again for a business trip this week.  In this day and age, you can travel from Helsinki, have a full day of meetings and be back on the same day.

Even though we may complain about how hard it is to get visas when needed, the amount of security checkpoints and the time it takes to get from one place to another, I am certainly of the opinion that the fact that we can travel over 2000 kilometres and still have a productive day is pretty much a miracle (as tired as it might get you).

in english

Henna “tattoos” and Asian tourists in Mexico

Japanese travel agent in Cancún
Japanese travel agent in Cancún

During my travels in Mexico I have found, surprisingly, many Chinese; Korean and Japanese tourists in the country and travel agencies specialising in catering to their tastes.  The diversification of the origin of tourists is very important for the prospects of the local tourism industry since most come from the United States and the weakness of the U.S. Dollar means an overseas vacation is not as enticing as it once was.

I have also found that henna body art has become fashionable in Mexico as well, as I found it advertised in Acapulco.

Mexicans are also part of globalisation, whether they want it or not.

in english

Bureaucracy

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You EU citizens have no idea how easy you have it to move around.

I'm going to switch planes in the US on my way to Mexico for Christmas, so I had to renew my American visa.  The amount of papers required is astonishing, as not only do you have to fill 3 different forms, but they also ask for bank statements, pay slips, letters from your workplace, a copy of your contract, and some other things.  You also have to e.g. detail what do you do at work, who is in your family and list the countries you have visited in the last ten years with the years when you have been there.

I ended up with a file that measured a couple of centimetres, which could almost mean that now Uncle Sam knows more about me than my wife and my mother, and it truly shows how afraid they are of illegal immigrants and terrorists.  Went to the interview and a few days later received my visa, so all's well that ends well.  I understand that being Mexican in their view increases the chances of me overstaying my welcome, but I really have no intention nor motive for doing so.  Frankly, the least I go there, the better, which is a pity as I would like to visit New York and Boston again, for example.  Comparing this with the UK IRIS scheme, which took me ten minutes to get enrolled in the last time I was in London, shows the difference between tough talk accompanied with cumbersome procedures and an implementation of border control that combines security with business friendliness.

This whole ordeal made me wonder (again) about this whole Finnish citizenship story, since Finns don't need a visa for short trips to the United States.  Called the guys at ulkomaalaisvirasto since according to their new web questionnaire I would fulfill the requirements for citizenship, as I have lived here long enough (pretty much all of my adult life), speak Finnish fluently (still waiting for my diploma on that one), and have no criminal record.  However, they told me that I can't get it since I have lived abroad in the past two years, meaning that if I hadn't gone to Belgium I could be a Finn.  The law was changed this autumn, so I had no way of knowing, and there is another catch: all male Finnish citizens under 30 have to serve in the army.  If I were 18 I wouldn't mind doing that, and furthermore if push came to shove I would probably volunteer anyway, but currently I'm at a stage of my life where putting everything (family, career, finances) on hold for six months to a year is not an option.

We'll see what happens, but it's definitely getting interesting.

Edit: And, oh boy, in March I have to renew my Finnish residence permit.  Ugh….