I think the oversimplification issue springs from the complexity of experiencing a new country and culture. And it sometimes seems particularly easy to oversimplify a country like China because of its size and diversity.

But to answer your question, I think the first time I came to China, living here changed the way I thought about my own country. It was a much needed counterpoint to being raised in the US. Living in another Asian country, the Philippines, made me think differently about China and its place in the world.

My answer is vague, but you get the point. Not an easy question to answer, but a good one…