It is very hard to know what life is really like in a country or region whose culture one has never experienced directly.
Every culture has distinct characteristics that make it different from every other culture.
Others can be so subtle that while foreign visitors may be vaguely aware of them, making adjustments is a complex process. Most Germans, Japanese, Italians, etc., have stereotyped perceptions of 'the American,' just as most Americans have stereotyped images of 'Germans,' 'Japanese,' 'Italians,' etc. Misperceptions may exist on all sides. It is up to you to behave in a manner that will convince your hosts that this is indeed an unjustified stereotype that cannot be applied arbitrarily, at least to yourself. Unfortunately, attempts to categorize cultural characteristics often end up in cultural stereotypes that are unfair and misleading.