Perception skewed
Don’t know if any of you heard, but a recent Gallup poll placed Venezuela as the 6th country among 124 where people rated their wellbeing. Although I’ve long ago recognized the carefree and low-stress lifestyles that Venezuelans try lead, there appears to be so much political strife that this poll actually shocked me.
In general, Venezuelans take one of two sides of the political spectrum. There are those who are very happy with the current administration and talk about how much better their lives have become since the changes. Others describe the good ol’ days and are devastated by the direction the country has taken. Both groups will not hesitate to tell you how bad crime has gotten; especially in Caracas. In fact, they paint such a bleak picture that you imagine walking into downtown Baghdad. Even with all these negative feelings, 64% of Venezuelans feel that their lives are thriving.
So, have I had the wrong opinion Venezuela this whole time?
Sometimes when the weather is gloomy – which can happen anytime throughout the day – I start to feel like Caracas is a depressing place. Venturing outside of the capitol always feels like shedding the noise, the decaying buildings and shantytowns. Walking around you see a variation of feelings just like in any city. People going about their work day, meeting up with friends or focusing their handheld devices. Crappy weather aside, I think that the atmosphere here can get heavy and maybe that’s why Caraquenos rush off to the beach any chance that they get. But now with the revelation of this poll, I think maybe I’ve let the complaints of both Venezuelans and other expatriates skew my perception…
Now when I walk the streets, I try to view the people going about their day in a different way. if the proof is in the pudding and Venezuelans feel better about their wellbeing than any other country in this hemisphere, I can stand to learn a little something from them.
Tags: Cultural Expectations, Expatriates in Venezuela, Gallup Poll, Haitian-American in Venezuela, Venezuela, Well-being
What do you think is making people so much happier there? Is it that people still have more TIME in Venezuela, and time for their friends? I find when I go back to America that working/married people have very little time to get together with friends compared with people in other countries. There seems to be a tradeoff between money/consumerism and TIME. (I’ve been thinking a lot about this this week.) Do people in Venezuela have more TIME and do you think this makes them feel happier?
Lynne Diligent´s last [type] ..Cultural Additudes Toward Idleness
I don’t know if it can simply be explained by having more time. People here are never in fear of losing EVERYTHING. When I hear Americans talk about their uncertainty about the economy, the fear is that they’ll lose their job – and lose EVERYTHING. Or get sick and lose EVERYTHING. Venezuelans, for the most part feel that if some catastrophe were to happen, they’ll be alright. There are enough social safety nets to keep them afloat until things work out. I think even in the European countries that have strong social service systems, they can still get caught up the “what if’s” about the future. They may not worry about becoming completely destitute, but there is a lot to lose. Don’t know if I’m making sense, but that’s just how I’ve wrapped my head around this discovery…
I agree with Lynne that in North America we are too stressed and worried about time…and don’t make time. Here in Holland, it’s all easy-going…the locals, anyway.
Venezuelans have the impression that Americans always feel the need to “keep up” with their peers. Based on this assumption, that’s probably why we are always on the go and don’t make enough time to relax, vacation, etc.
I live in neighboring Colombia which also routinely rates highly in the happiness ratings. I think the Latinos have a better perspective on life than we gringos. There is more heart, and they have seen enough pain and abuse to not let it run their existence. If you want to make money, go to the US; but if you have a modest income source — local or from abroad — and want to be happy, come here.
You’re absolutely right. I had a strange experience at Maiquetia airport when we got back from our two week vacation in South Florida. As we were exiting the luggage claim, there were two ladies off to the side chatting. Right when we reached the exit, one of the ladies signaled that she needed to check our luggage tickets. At first I was annoyed that she was so unprofessional that I didn’t realize that she was actually working. But a few seconds into my annoyance, she bends down and starts a conversation with my three year-old which ended in him giving her a kiss on the cheek. Her affection for my little guy made me forget why I was annoyed in the first place. Just a very different life.