@freemo

I agree with your assessment, but unfortunately she is quite autistic (and, in case it needs to be said, I adore her anyway). I wish it were simply a matter of cultural differences for her, but she is rather dependent on me to function in many situations due to both the autism and the other associated co-morbidities she posesses (severe ADHD to the point she can't drive, dyslexia, and she struggles with empathy as well).

I think that she would do better in places with public transportation, and less dangerous travel methods, hence my desire to move to Holland; my hope is the she may be able to live a "more normal" life there.

I also think she may do better in cultures with flatter, more explicit social structures and direct communication, but I think that's a function of her difficulty with "putting herself in other's shoes". I often have to try to explain things to her, things I had to learn via "random search" and direct observation, which do not come naturally to either of us. Of course, this is exacerbated in countries with implicit social rules (e.g. the US and Japan), but I doubt it completely vanishes elsewhere.

Fortunately, many countries are forgiving of foreigners who are learning the ropes, and while it is neither of our intention's to impose ourselves on the patience of others (especially if we are non-citizens of their country) it certainly helps to have a buffer when learning the how to behave in a new culture, especially when it doesn't come naturally to you in the first place.