know the locals

Research your host culture. If possible, find someone from the host culture to interview. If you are abroad, interview a local.

Given what you have learned about your host culture write a list of 10 interview questions. Are there any topics that are taboo? What do you think is something they would like to know about you or the United States?

If you are interviewing someone:

What have you learned about your host culture? Did you learn anything about the views of the U.S. held in that culture? 

For those of you who have returned:

Think back on your conversations with locals. Were there conversational categories that were uncomfortable? What were they? Are there topics they enjoy talking about? Identify the common themes.