If there's one thing I've learned in the seven years I've lived in an entirely different culture where people who look entirely different from me and speak an entirely different language, it's that things are different here.  I know, I catch on quick.  But after seven years, you build up a repository of cultural credit, as my friend J likes to say.  What he means is, the longer you spend in a different culture, the more right you have to say you know said culture. After seven years, I can speak garble the language, order the food, get around on my own and basically survive as a pale shadow of a local.  But take me out of Thailand, and my cultural credit drops to zero; I'm a stranger in a strange land.  So, inspired by my cousin L's recent move to South Korea (warning: very odd link) and her initial nervousness at how things will work out, I though back at what I'd do if I found myself living in entirely different culture yet again.