ABSTRACT
When we think of cross-cultural perceptions, it is easy to focus on the stereotypes or ‘icons’ that are often used to characterise foreign cultures1 or people. Whether bom of unfamiliarity, convenience or ethnocentric interpretation, perceptions are often undifferentiated and monolithic, and might cause consternation if their subjects were aware o f them. A deeper look at perceptions, however, offers insight into both the object of perception and the culture of the perceiver. In fact, further examination o f individual perceptions can reveal the perceiver’s ‘intercultural sensitivity’ - the degree to which he or she accepts and respects cultural difference. This chapter will explore the issue of intercultural sensitivity in the context of Taiwanese perceptions of Australia.
