Blog 6: Globar perception of Eastern Europe

When we think of the word perception the first thing that comes to mind are stereotypes, or synonym words like: point of view or mind image. It is remarkable how people, nations, and the entire world suddenly acquires a perception –whether it’s right or wrong –of places, ethnic groups or population; and it is even more so when we think that the roots of these ideas actually come from what foreigners identify and not from what they learn or from real culture of the country. In Europe, especially the forgotten parts of the east, stereotypes and different perceptions run across the land mainly because it is the oldest continent and people tend to forget that it has, too, modernized. Many question rice in the terms of how do the rest of the world sees Eastern Europe and how does that affects society.

                Eastern Europe, or at least the region I am analyzing, is composed by Hungary, Poland, Rumania, Czech Republic, Serbia, Moldova, and Croatia; sadly, this are countries that, because of their size or location, are often overlooked. Croatia, Serbia, Moldova or Czech Republic are a good example, since the classic stereotypes are that they crafty, sly and unworthy. However we also find that some think that Croatians are wannabe aristocrats, somnolent, drunkards or mountain men. Czech Republic is characterized by the stereotyping of their people as agreeable, beer drinkers, bohemians, defensive, introverted and unkind. Moldova and Serbia are not even perceived as other countries are, mostly because no one remembers they exist in the first place. One who hears these names could think immediately of no-where or superstitious palm-readers.

                More known countries, such as Hungary, Poland and Rumania, have known and common stereotypes. In Hungary everyone is perceived as a smoker and compulsive eater –even the beautiful women –, they are rebels and with too many complexes. In Poland is almost the opposite: people party all the time, men are always picking fights, they listen to folk music and, especially, they are most catholic and conservative. Rumania has the misfortune of being linked to Dracula so Rumanians are supposed to live in castles of the Dark Ages or live in the country side with a large family. What is shocking is that this region is so affected by human traffic that everyone considers women to be easy-to-get and the borders to be insecure.

                After reading more about the actual history of all –or most –of the countries of my region I was not surprise to realize why everyone considers these countries inexistent or a trifle. I think that these people have gone through rebellion so many times that the rest of the world just considers them to be rebellious, uncivilized people who are steal trying to deal with a modern society, and that is why no one actually cares about them. Personally, I think that stereotypes are always incorrect because no matter how similar to reality they might be, one is always able to find diversity, and it is this quality that makes us unique, different, and part of the world.

Complementary article: http://www.examiner.com/article/eastern-europe-breaking-the-stereotypes