I guess, as always, it all comes down to what you want and/or what you need to make you happy. I came here to work, pure and simple and found a lifestyle that appealed to me. Outside of the work environment, and the time I spend with my wife, I probably spend most of my time with other expats. There\'s no one else here with whom I can talk about wine (a passion), books we\'ve shared and read, and other subjects of interest. This is not to denigrate the country and its culture in any way, but merely an acknowledgment that the culture is different from mine and in many respects I prefer Western culture. I find life here to be, in many respects, a serio-coming soap opera and I don\'t want to immerse myself in it. Admittedly, this is a personal choice that each of us makes. As for me, I do not want to become a part of the community. My lifestyle works for me, and I guess at the end of the day, each of us seeks to create a lifestyle in which he or she feels comfortable and rewarded.