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:question: :question: Because of developments in communication and transportation, countries are becoming more and more alike. How is your country becoming more similar to other places in the world? Use specific examples and details to support your answer. :idea: :idea: People say that technological advances in communication and transportation count as some miracles of modern living. Such advances can save much time, seem to shorten distances, and make the world seem to be smaller and smaller. If centuries ago intercontinental travel would take weeks or even months, nowadays it takes only hours. If centuries ago people had to encounter various risks in sending important message, nowadays modern communication provides very much convenience for us to send any message while guaranteeing its secrecy and minimizing the risks as much as possible. Modern communication and transportation accelerate and enhance information and goods exchanges worldwide. Overwhelmed with bulk of information, people of the world have so many alternatives in their life. By nature, they tend to keep up with modernity, choose the most popular alternatives, and follow the prevailing trends, creating a global way of living. Eventually, the world seem to adopt a similar way of living and make many countries seem similar to each others. My country, Indonesia, is no exception. Not until the second half of the 20th century did Indonesians make any significant effort to achieve technological advances. This was largely due to the slow pace of development in communication and transportation technology. In present, when technological development faces almost no impediment, the influence of international communication and transportation is easily widespread and has affected many aspects of Indonesian people. For example, until late 1960s, the majority of Indonesian people still wore traditional clothes. Television and telephone were still considered luxurious. But from 1970s until present, inspired by the modern way of living promoted via international mass media, the majority of Indonesians wear modern, practical clothes which make their looks similar to those of modern people elsewhere. Another example is shown by the way married couples organize their marriage and parenthood. Since modern living is very much demanding, many married couples choose to participate actively in planned parenthood and birth control. Until late 1970s, many Indonesian married couples typically had many children, i.e. more than two children, because they upheld a traditional belief that the more children they had, the more fortunes and good luck they would get. But from 1980s until present, only a very few Indonesian people still uphold such a traditional belief. The other many more Indonesian married couples voluntarily apply birth control and choose to have only one or two children. This tendency to have fewer children is mostly inspired by the global concern about over-population which threatens the world’s future. In conclusion, we learn that all people in the world are in fact one community. What affects some parts in the world will certainly find its way to the others. People are influencing and adapting to each others to make their relationships run smooth. This interactivity, supported by developments in communication and transportation, eventually facilitates the creation of a global way of living, making many countries become more and more alike. :) ;)