France for 7 years. What I learned was the value of human contact.
In the States, it’s become increasingly possible to avoid interacting with other people. We’ve created a situation where we can interact at any time with the people we want to be in touch with, but we’re rarely required anymore to deal with people outside our chosen circle.
Maybe things are moving that way now in France, too, but when I was there you couldn’t do anything without engaging another human being in a give and take. On a routine shopping expedition, you’d deal with the earthy peasant for your vegies, the red-cheeked Norman for your cheese, the Spaniard for your olives, the aloof Parisian for cleaning supplies, etc. I every case, you’ll be required to exchange pleasantries and explain exactly what you want.
While that level of contact can be tiring, it pulls you out of your isolation—your bubble of self—and makes you see and adapt to people of all kinds. That can be annoying, sure, but it’s also really healthy.
Oh, and I also lived in Texas for 20 years. Does that count?