I (Burcu) am one of the too curious contemporaries and like to watch other tourists. Passing them, in a restaurant or on the beach: It’s entertaining almost everytime and you learn something.
For example in a paradise like Curaçao.
Being a first-world-child, I’m used to being able to buy deodorants and razor blades in every city and also in every small town. That’s true for Curaçao, too. But not in Venezuela, it seems.
I knew it to be a poor country. But to see Venezolans buying a huge amount of deodorants and other sanitary articles (and being very happy at it) is a different story. The natural becomes less natural. Shaking the head becomes a light bulb moment. Maybe it was an exception, but it complied with my (half) knowledge about Venezuela. Too bad we couldn’t talk to any Venezolan about this topic. I would have been very interested in it.
In general, the island was perfect to question your prejudices. Human mind works in stereotyped thinking. This simplifies perception in our complex world, provides protection and can be entertaining (in a non-radical way).
As I’m pleading for getting to know people individually and not lumping them together, the following should be understood tongue-in-cheek:
The Dutch still think the island belongs to them.
Americans pay every price. No matter, if they could save $5, by walking 5 feet.
Germans are stingy and grumpy. While being in paradise on earth!
The Pole doesn’t know how to handle his camera. Is it really his camera? 😀
Locals are very chillaxed. By the way, Papamientu (official language, next to Dutch), sounds fantastic. Of course, I don’t understand it, but it sounds dushi!
We are clear on not taking stereotyped thinking seriously. But often it’s just entertaining, if prejudices are confirmed.
By the way, we are trying to use “dushi” as often as possible from now on!!!
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