Meredith L.'s Blog Post Week One: Decade of Decision, the 1890s

The space that you live in affects your perception of the world because you may only observe ways of life in your local community if you stay “confined” in your space. You may not directly observe ways of life in other spaces of the world; therefore, your perceptions of the world around you will not be substantial. One may become accustom to his space and choose to live within his own “little world” rather than examine the “big picture.” One’s perception of various cultures may be skewed when he does not come directly into contact with his surrounding communities. He may only have an awareness of the cultures in his space; therefore, he may be ignorant of cultures elsewhere. For example, someone who spends his life in a small, rural town and never chooses to leave or is not able to venture out will be exceedingly familiar with his personal community. If he never learns of what occurs in other “spaces,” he most likely will believe that what he knows and has experienced exemplifies all that’s “out there.” Worldly people may view this person as ignorant, uneducated, and unaware. In truth, his perception of spaces other than his own is unfulfilled and may be incorrect. A child growing up in a poverty-stricken region such as a city slum in India or Mexico serves as an example of someone whose perceptions of spaces other than his own may be detrimental to his ambitions or lack thereof. He encounters unsanitary conditions, disease, nutrition deficiencies, and other unfortunate problems in his daily life and may think that this lifestyle will be the only one he will ever know. If he looks around his immediate space and sees wealthier areas in the Central Business District and nicer residential areas of the city, he may think that these spaces play a part in a lifestyle that he will never have the opportunity to attain. On the other hand, when one lives in an affluent area, one isn’t exposed to poverty as much as someone growing up in a poor inner city. “Out of sight, out of mind” most certainly fits the wealthier person’s lack of exposure to something out of his space. Growing up with a stable, loving, caring family, modern conveniences, and education readily available, one most likely will become absorbed into his life, his space. This causes difficulty insofar as grasping what life is like in other places; he will have non-factual perceptions. Living in a space such as New York City does provide numerous opportunities for one to be exposed to various cultures. Many opportunities for diversity exist so one most likely will have the opportunity to gain a more factual view of the spaces around him rather than use assumptions when evaluating his perception. Traveling typifies a “cultural lesson” that could be quite useful for someone who is unfamiliar with the spaces that reside out of his reach. One could correct his perceived notions of these spaces with fact. Reading books, watching television, and following the “media,” demonstrate ways one can learn of other spaces; however, one can truly gain a substantial connection to a certain space and enlighten his perception of this place by spending a significant amount of time there.