I also have a few friendly suggestions for my fellow foreigners that I hope to deliver at my multiculturalism seminar in October.
1. Please know that it is entirely unnecessary to inform the locals every single day about how much more sophisticated and refined everything is where you come from. They’ve heard it many times before and nothing but politeness prevents them from asking you why you are still here, in the place you consider the land of unrefined and low-cultured yokels.
2. Venting your grievances against the foreign policy of the United States with every American in sight is not a good idea either. A Midwestern college professor is unlikely to tell you anything about said policy that would put your mind at ease.
3. If you are desperate to introduce locals to your national cuisine, ask them over and cook for them. But interrupting every meal with lectures on how this is not even real Chinese / Mexican / Ukrainian, etc food is deeply obnoxious. Oh, and please remember that every foreigner’s quest to buy the correct ingredients to make food just like back home is of interest to no one.
4. Just try it out. You can pout, vent, or feel hugely superior to everything you encounter here, or you can give it a try. At the very least, you’ll get a new experience out of it.
5. I’m guessing nobody begged you on bended knee to come over. So it’s up to you to learn the local customs and adapt. And if nobody is collapsing with joy at the news of your arrival, it’s their right.

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