I bring up this up as an example because it will be important for you to discuss your experiences with your peers and allow you to reflect upon how these different perspectives make you feel about the culture. You will each encounter different struggles based on the country you are in, so make sure you prioritize reflection.
Of course speaking the language is the single best way to gain a perspective on your new culture. A phrase I love is that the language of a country is called the "heart language". I love this term because it reveals the way the language will allow you to tap into the heart of the country and understand the way the people think. The German language not only sounds really cool but just interacting with native German speakers showed me a new perspective on how these people actually interact and not one based just on the stereotype of Germans we have in America. Yes, Germans are extremely blunt and they take a long time to build trust, yet, I have learned that once you make a German friend you will have that friend forever! Living and working with people who were blunt truly made me a better person not just on a personal level but also in my professional life. Having a blunt boss made me a better worker since as a millenial I realized I was too soft. As for relationships, I still keep in contact with my German coworkers who are all wonderful friends and sincerely care about me!
One last tidbit about perspective as you prepare for your own journeys abroad:
I remember learning in my psychology class that the way we experience the world is through what we see, taste, touch and hear. Thus, if we have limited exposure to the world we will have a limited world view.
