[wnscooke]

In my own experience, being a foreigner who (seemingly) doesn't speak a local language actually does open doors to unique insights - the people who do speak English are quite ready to tell all the ins and outs, pros and cons, ups and downs, subtleties, gripes, concerns, cultural tidbits exactly because they think I won't go around talking about what they said.

[mantas]

And then you end up as a subculture relying on the host culture, but at the same time staying away with it. Coming from ex-Soviet country, that gives sad vibes of our infamous russian-speaking soviet-era settlers who never bothered to integrate. Nor their kids and grandchildren. In the end it creates a lot of friction and that friction brings very fringe political views. E.g. subscribing to Moscow viewpoints while living cushy life in rotten West. I've seen very similar patterns in english-speaking bubbles in Japan :/

[Tade0]

As someone who often finds himself on the other end of such conversations that's not my worry at all.

My worry is that those who normally don't speak foreign languages will get to you first and instill in you a vision of my country that has little to do with reality and a lot with delusions of grandeur.

[throwaway290]

Yes. Being at location for a long time but as an outsider can allow a critical view. Adopting the language and the culture can make you blind to stuff or unwilling to frankly talk about it out of politeness.

Assuming in case of BBC correspondent Rupert it's not the same as with a typical foreign English teacher in Asia who doesn't care much about outside world and mostly hangs out in the same circle of foreigner friends (I'm slightly familiar with the culture).