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If there were one spot in the world where you would think this phenomenon called globalization would not affect, it would have to be the village of my ancestors in Iran. My village is nicely tucked into a valley between rugged mountains that seem to surround it from all sides. Until about 10 years ago, you could not even reach the village by a paved road. No, you wouldn’t ride a camel or a donkey to get there, but you might have been more comfortable riding one for two hours rather than travelling the 60 miles of dirt roads it took to get the village.

It is quite clear to me after this last trip that this secluded village has become a part of the modern world in so many ways. They don’t have McDonalds yet, but one of the most popular restaurants makes hamburgers. During my last three visits, I’ve had the pleasure of eating there. I enjoy the local flare of their burgers, because the meat is well spiced, fresh green herbs are used rather than lettuce, and they use some type of sauce that includes pickles. McDonalds, beware! The Iran burger is coming for your market share!

Further pushing the village into western culture, a pizza place is slated to open in the next month or two. How are burgers and pizza invading my village? The answer is that the mass marketing of these products by American companies has led to imitations, and they move closer and closer to the village. Eventually, somebody in the village decided to imitate what was happening in the next town, and voila! That is how globalization works on the ground.

The modern world has entered village life in so many other ways as well. Most of the people own cell phones. The village has Internet connectivity, and even two Internet cafes (a lifesaver when you are anxiously awaiting admissions decisions from law schools). Iran has even put up special power lines that may transmit nuclear power to the village one day. Most shocking to me, who forgot my razor, is that you can buy a Gillette Mach 3 Turbo in my village. What a world! What a world!