Concept from Chapter 12: Assumption of Similarity

I found the topic of assumption of similarity very interesting. I have a tendency to feel like people are all "the same under the skin" as the book put it. Believing this helps to reduce the feeling of being uncomfortable. What I did not really think about though is that it might result in insensitivity. I guess it makes sense that other cultures do things differently and this would carry over into simple facial gestures. The part that really hit home for me was the example about smiling. I smile at strangers all the time, people that I would never be interested in romantically. It was interesting to me that in some other cultures something as simple as smiling may make the other person think you are a "sexual maniac" as the Japanese student put it (339). However, I thought that it was even more interesting that in Japan when a man smiles at a woman she is to assume that he is being impolite. That is the exact opposite as it is in American culture.

It goes to show that it is important to research a country's culture before you visit. The last thing a traveler wants to do is insult the host country. In the end, it is important to respect all people. The easiest way to do that is to make them feel comfortable.