Except that I'm concious when I'm from a different nationality or culture to the characters that I'm trying to write

This! I always have this in mind. And I'm curious about other cultures, and American isn't all that unfamiliar because we're exposed to ton of american things - food, music, TV, movies, books.... American culture has become part of my culture, so it's not unfamiliar. (Not native, either, but some of my US friends were impressed that husband and I could count all 50 states, or 20th century US presidents or things like that). Cultures themselves are flexible things and almost like living organisms, they adapt and change and adopt bits from other cultures.

I guess I can listen to all Springsteen songs ever but can't write like a native American writer, and that's okay. Writing means learning and changing and exploring and that's why it's so much fun. It's a free ticket to any place or time you can imagine.

I actually think the convergence points of US culture with my own makes it more difficult, because I feel, I know, that the UK and the US are different (when I read things like the Avengers Assemble #15 comic which is written by Americans and is meant to be British, believe you me, I know) but it's often difficult to definitively say how, to pinpoint it. I could use Xaviers and Hogwarts as a example, compare two schools, but I know that Hogwarts is a particular type of mostly outdated school system within the UK that evokes particular images and emotions to Brits, and I don't know how Xaviers is to people in the US but I'm guessing there's something specific there too.

But, as you say, we can immerse ourselves in another culture to a greater or lesser extent. Which I can work with, because I see SHIELD agents as doing that, learning all about a country and culture before they dive in, before they take on a role there, so since they're pretty much doing the same thing as me I feel that I can attempt to write that :)

*nods nods nods* I totally get what you mean!

I try not to get discouraged, you know? :) I mean, I can do ton of research and there will still be things I won't know or be able to know because I'm not from there. So I try to do the best as I can, and when I need some kind of detail, I go ask someone who's from "there" (wherever "there" is) which is so awesome about fandom. :D

Oh, no, I don't mean it as a discouragement kind of thing, just that for me it's more difficult, and that even then not that I shouldn't do it, just that it's different. And therefore fascinating :)

I think...what you say above about never having been pregnant but still writing pregnancy fics? It's the whole putting yourself in someone else's shoes. Empathy. Well and good. For me when it comes to a sense of place, so if we're talking nationality and national culture not collective culture like circus, musicians, sports, but belonging to a place and creating the atmosphere of a place, it's like the place itself is another character I have to empathise with, and I find people either. (That make more sense?)

I...always assumed you were American. So I think that you can write like one? Except maybe better. ;)

I have really really good betas and I'm one of those freaks who learns languages very easily. Thank you, hearing that I could pass for an American based on my language skills is a huge compliment.