If you're one of those people who has always wondered why immigrants can't just learn English (or whatever your local language might be) and integrate themselves culturally with the majority in your country, you probably don't understand the experience of being in a foreign land with completely alien customs.
I'd hardly say that Mexico and the United States are "completely alien," especially given the fact that the Southwest has always been significantly impacted by Mexican culture.
Step one: purchase a plane ticket and a residency visa/work permit to an Asian country of your choice. Preferably a poorer one, but China or even South Korea would do fine.
This doesn't make any sense at all. First, you'd be entering a country with a totally different language group. (By the way, all of the Asians I usually see have picked up English just fine, thank you.)
Second, people that migrate to the United States are not coming from richer countries, they're coming from poor ones.
Step two: set up a neat little life, a house, a job of some sorts, etc. Collect everything you'll need to live for a year.
In a poorer country, this should be relatively easy since you're more likely to have a higher degree of skills than the native population.
Step three: live in said conditions for one year.
Step four: examine your life after one year. Take a look at who your friends are, where you go, what you eat, what language you predominantly speak, and how difficult it's been for you to pick up what little you have of the local language.
If I were to move abroad, I'd probably speak the language of the natives, and eat some, but not many, native foods. Beside that, I don't know of any Americans complaining that Mexicans don't eat at McDonald's more often. Personally, I'd prefer it if they... well, I'll save the trolls for later.
You'll be surprised to learn that you still mostly hang out with fellow [white, English speaking] foreigners. While you'll probably have a few friends and co-workers who are locals, most of your mates will be fellow falang.
That depends entirely on your personality and where you go.
And the language! You have only mastered a few rudimentary phrases in the local language (most likely), and you'll be amazed that the locals will try to speak your language to you! Scratch your head at that one. In your country, you demanded people speak your language, and now that you live in another country where a completely different language is official and predominantly spoken, you come across tons of people who would rather speak to you in your language, the foreign language, than people who will demand you speak the local one!
What? When did I say any of this?
Culturally, have you changed at all? Not one bit! While you've probably learned to put up with local cultural nuances, ie you are more aware of the value of face, you still adhere to Western customs and the locals for the most part don't seem to care. When you're out with your mates you still conduct yourself in the same manner. You still have the same worldview as before, and you still treat people in the same manner. Yet, no one seems to care!
If they're in a poor country, they don't care because they either know that ol' whitey is loaded, and they'd rather "befriend" you than somebody that lives there.
In short, people don't seem to care that you haven't integrated and adapted to their culture despite the fact that you're living in their country! Strange isn't it?
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Step five: repeat these examinations of yourself at the two, five, and ten year marks, if you make it that far of course.
What do you think? Should a white, English speaking foreigner have to adapt in such circumstances?
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The universal language is money. Vietnam can't afford to be picky; we can.
