[TalnSG]

I think most people have rather idealized views of any foreign country, unless it's a war zone or has a climate that is well known to be hostile.

Even though I lived in England for 4 years and visit once in a while, I tend to block out some of the more negative things I know when I think of England.

My fellow military dependants would always seek out someone who had recently lived in the country their family was about to be transferred to, because we knew our parents would focus mostly on the good side, but our peers would tell us the rest. I doubt the general public has the initiative to challenge their expectations like we had, until they are faced with the reality of living there on a long term basis.