But I assume you an learn to translate someone with different cultural expectation's behaviour into the equivalent behaviour by your standards? I can't think of a good example, unfortunately.

Overall I think it's important to figure out what you really value and not put too much faith in superficial markers. Like, my mum had trouble fitting in at my working class primary school, she made some friends but part of her wished for more people who liked Opera etc. At my posh highschool she met LOTS of opera fans..who were still shallow, cliquey idiots just like the mums at my old school, and she made roughly the same number of friends (in both cases they tended to be intelligent, sensible and unconventional women with good taste and judgement. Some of whom liked Opera :))

I think it's fairly natural to tend to make friends with people from the same cultural background, but I think it can end up being limiting if taken too far or if you let superficial differences stop you from connecting with people you are otherwise well suited to (which I don't think you would do, I'm just saying)