How does one's experience of being an outsider or a stranger to a culture affects one's understanding of the culture?

I am sure there are as many correct answers to this question as there are people who experience a culture as an outsider. Experience is personal. But, I can answer personally. As an outsider, I have found that I am often more inquisitive about the origins of other cultures' practices than are those who, because they grew up in the culture, simply accept the pratices as "just the way it is done". For example, I asked at least thirty Mexicans of various ages and educational backgrounds what the significance of the pinata was. None knew. I researched it myself. Furthermore, none of my Mexican friends could tell me why they make such an elaborate affair for a baby's first birthday or why Christmas is tamale making time. I guess it is like the fact that many native New Yorkers never visit the Statue of Liberty. Because it isn't novel to them it just isn't as fascinating.