Having an idea of what to expect, but not being completely reliant on any assumptions or prejudgment is very important to working in these regions. When you get off the plane there, you begin to draw so many parallels to other places that you've been, other groups that you've worked with, and it's very easy to draw comparisons to what is familiar to you. But have an open mind when working in Central Asia, follow the lead of your host, and be willing to learn. Those seem to be good rules to live by across the board when dealing with a foreign culture. And to some extent, no degree of preparation can really prepare you for that.