Perception Vs Reality in Culture

Book excerpt: One of my main goals in this book: to help you to take a few moments and see yourself through someone else’s eyes. You may think to yourself, “Why should I care about others’ perceptions of me?” On the fl ip side, I ask, “Why should they care about your perceptions of them?” You see, in a civilized society, our attitudes and behaviors affect each other. The old saying is still true, no one is an island. I also want you to see yourself not only as your “own person,” but as an individual from a particular cultural background. As a result, you will discover indeed your culture is jam-packed with pros and cons, and contradictions, just like the other person’s. Perception is not always the same as reality. It is OK to hang on to the positive, and let go of the negative aspects of your upbringing or background. Likewise, when you find yourself in a new country you do not have to adopt all attitudes and behaviors you see practiced there. In this book, I highlight some of the main observations that I have made after traveling and living in different parts of the world, as a participant and observer. I use satire (not so much sarcasm), and some levity to help paint a clearer picture of my experiences and observations of specifi c aspects of human nature and behavior, specifi cally in the Dominican, and American cultures. Isn’t it a great feeling when you are able laugh and learn, simultaneously? Sometimes a good, old belly-laugh (even at yourself) is exactly what the doctor ordered to get you out of a depressing or lackluster mood. ~ Marlene Louis Blyden~