One thing that took a while for me as an American living in South Africa was to be able to accept I was not in America.
What I mean is this is an independant country with it's own government laws, rules, and policies. For a long time I would live my life as if I were in America, not in South Africa. I would find my slef thinking as an American only really accepting what I knew as law in the USA.
However after a few months, or even years I began to realize more and more that I was in somebody elses country now and the rules have changed. It does not matter one little bit what the law was in the USA because I am not in the USA anymore. Growing up in America you pretty much know your rights by the time you're in your late teens. But those rights embedded into your head don't mean you have them when you cross the border to another country. You gotta start over with the "new rights" if there are any!
"We are not in Kansas anymore toto" is one of the thoughts that go through my mind every time I go back to work or visit now. They may not have it right, but it's their country to have it wrong if they choose.
Here is another example about something along these lines. I was listening to Shawn Hannity who my wife adores by the way. He is a good guy and I too enjoy listening to his radio show and his Fox program from time to time. A few weeks ago he was ranting about the stupidity of the Aruban government about how poorly they manage their legal system and how badly they have botched this event with the 19 year old girl that vanished. Yet they had three guys in jail. Well they were about to let them out and Shawn was hot and really disturbed about the horrible legal system in Aruba.
I said to my wife, how is it that he could be so angry about the Aruban government and I don't recall a word about OJ slicing his wifes head off, Micheal Jackson sexually abusing little boys and Robert blake shooting his X wife. How is it that Americas legal system is better?
Nope, were not in Kansas anymore toto!