What one needs is not to visit as a tourist or a privileged foreign guest, who are largely insulated from the basic realities of everyday life, nor live a privileged life of a nomenklaturist [or that same foreign tourist, which is the same but at lower level], but to live the common drudgery of the proverbial "man on the street". Observing from the outside, while it has some advantages, is not the same as seeing from the inside. In a sense, you might be seeing it with your eyes, but I know it on my skin. Hence the difference.
Understood. I was never a tourist or a privileged guest. (What indication do you have that I ever was, I am curious?) I respect your opinions, please respect mine and do not stereotype me based on what you do not know about me. No, I was not born there, does that mean I am ignorant; just that fact alone? And the fact that you were born there, that fact alone means you are an expert of every aspect of life there and can criticize anyone who speaks about life there even if you do not know anything about them? I was born in the US, I cannot say I am an expert of every facet of life here.
Not to move too far off base, but have you ever heard of Helen Keller? Based on your logic she should be known to none of us, because she could never see it with her own eyes or hear it with her own ears. (life, that is) I have issues with your logic, post hoc ergo proctor hoc, etc., most respectfully.