It can happen to anyone:
Upon his entry into a new, strange culture, the curious traveler absorbs as much information as he can. Smarter than most, he quickly adapts by studying the ways of the locals, practicing their language and customs, learning the local landmarks. Soon he knows where to find the bargains, where the dangerous places to avoid are, what you can and can't get and who you can get it from. Over the years, as new outsiders arrive, he quickly educates them on the ways of this place; ways he has already long become accustomed to and even adept at practicing.
But just around the time that the authority of his experience should remain unquestioned, his knowledge and savvy provide invaluable insight to new arrivals, those greenhorns begin questioning his advice. Not openly at first; they nod appreciatively and even take notes, asking him many questions. But soon he notices that they leave sooner, and even begin giving advice to other even newer arrivals. As if they know; they've barely begun to get beyond the surface of the culture, weren't here during the crisis of a few years ago, or the centennial celebrations. And to make matters worse, their (probably mis-) information is preferred to his! A little bitterness creeps in as our seasoned expatriate decides it's simply a problem of youth not appreciating experience. But wait, he thinks, they will come to me when they can't find what they need; when the comforts their generation has come to appreciate are lacking, they will need my knowledge about where to go to find what they need. And when they can't form meaningful working relationships with their coworkers, they'll have to come to me to learn the cultural mentality that lies under the surface here. I'm still needed, he decides, and is nonplussed when the newcomers seem to thrive without his instruction, though at times they still seek it.
Our friend in the scenario described above has fallen prey to snapshot syndrome: the strong initial impression of a new place and culture formed during the time following arrival, which can all-too-easily harden like concrete into a permanent impression which becomes less and less like current reality the more time passes. An experienced expatriate with snapshot syndrome may inform new arrivals that "you can't get that here" or "the locals aren't interested in foreigners except to take advantage of them," when in reality there is a new electronics store on the other side of the city which sells the very product they seek, or the new generation who did not grow up under the old regime are less close-minded and welcome outsiders, and might even speak some of their language.
Snapshot syndrome is especially tricky in that those who form the strongest initial connections with a culture and place can be most susceptible to it; it is they who have the strongest and most distinct picture in their mind of things as they were at the time of their arrival, and that picture can therefore endure most effectively.
So how to avoid it? More experienced culture-learners than I will have better advice than I can offer, but I submit that a two-fold procedure may go far in warding off its petrifying effects:
1. Recognize and internalize the fact that things are always changing everywhere.
At all times, every culture, place, even language, is undergoing a series of mostly imperceptible changes which over time will transform it considerably. Some places change very slowly, others seem to morph repeatedly overnight. Being aware of this will inspire any expat wanting to stay up-to-speed to view cultural learning as a continual process, not only something for "fresh off the boat" newcomers, or a "rite of passage" after which one is a seasoned veteran. Take time every so often to refresh your viewpoint, even do a little intentional tourism, asking yourself what this place would look like to new eyes. Likely, you will be unable to see it from a truly outside perspective by this point, but you will be just as likely to pick up some useful insights into how things have changed.
2. Be an equal-opportunity learner.
If you have adopted the mindset in part 1, you are likely to be willing to practice part 2: Learn from anyone you can. Students are excellent reflectors of popular culture in most locales, and in many parts of the developed world they are drivers of cultural change as well. If a good opportunity to learn from them arises, don't hesitate to take this chance to inform yourself. (One may not be able to act on all the knowledge; after all few things are more repellant to young students than an older person who tries to act like them; but what you glean may be something useful and it certainly may prove useful to others)
Media is another great source; you don't have to enjoy certain styles of music or film to learn from them. (But beware of accepting the media as too reliable of a witness, or you may fall into the same trap as some of my international friends, and confuse Hollywood for real American culture. Ironically, sometimes the form of media is more informative than its content when looking for cultural insights)
Another unsuspected source of knowledge may actually be those new arrivals we've mentioned. Get their impressions. Some will be ignorant or misinformed, but don't immediately reject anything which clashes with your more experienced take; maybe something has changed. It might take a bit of humility to be 'taught' by those who have much to learn from you, but pride goes before a fall, after all.
So there you have it: don't be a fossil. Recognize that there is much you never knew to begin with, honestly. Most populated areas have things going on here and there that many locals won't know about either, and as a stranger coming in you may find that you have to learn systematically what many locals have merely done as the occasion arises, and therefore come to more thorough understanding of things like the public transportation system than the locals typically demonstrate. But this works both ways; as an outsider you can never learn enough to have grown up here, and therefore there will almost certainly be things locals take for granted which you are unfamiliar with, having arrived late to the game. So stay humble, stay teachable, and maybe those new arrivals won't find the local picture you paint for them to be a suspicious shade of sepia...
