Interesting question. It is a question that I've often asked myself over many years of language learning. I have an amazing accent in the language that I am learning - to the point that when I'm speaking to native speakers on the telephone and then they meet me they state that they didn't realize I was a foreigner. I don't state this to boast, but in fact the opposite, that it has caused me many many headaches. The problem is that since my accent is so good that the locals think that I am absolutely fluent and understand everything that they say. The truth is my vocabulary is limited, so although I speak like a local I can't understand everything that is said to me. Can you imagine someone saying to you perfectly in your own language "sorry, I don't understand what  you are saying". You would think that they are taking the micky! I admit that at times I've purposely made my accent worse so that people don't think that I understand everything they are saying. Of course I get complimented all the time on my accent (when I'm not purposely trying to butcher it). But on the other hand I secretly admire those people who speak with a strong foreign accent, as they do not have the same problem as me - i.e. having my language ability overestimated.

What is the balance? Honestly if I could start again I would not care so much about my pronunciation but rather my ability to comprehend what is being said.

Many foreigners - especially outside of the main cities in China - find that they attract a lot of attention from local strangers since they may not have seen many foreigners (or any foreigners) before. Therefore when we are out walking we often find local Chinese people standing staring at us. Now usually in the West if someone is staring at you and you meet their stare, if they don't know you they will look away. However in China typically I've found the Chinese person will just keep staring. In this case as a foreigner it is polite for us to acknowledge this attention by politely saying hello. Now what should a foreigner say in this situation? If it is isn't close to a meal time, or late in the morning (so 早) isn't appropriate, then what to say?

I find at my apartment block everytime I go in the people sharing my apartment block will also stare at me. Stare at me in the elevator (probably surprised they have a foreigner staying in their apartment block). Again, what to say in this situation? I don't find any books that address this common phenomenon that affects us foreigners in smaller cities / towns!

Today

Today when we were eating lunch I said:" Aw. This corn is very hard. I don't like it." My Aunt said:" Yeah, this kind of corn is planted to for feeding pigs, then to we feed off (of) the pigs you." All people Everyone laughed. Granny then added "the corn is to feed you, the little sow." I knew then that I had done something wrong, so I shut up.

Hi, I'm not sure of your meaning for "to feed you the little sow", whether you mean to say that your Gran is saying directly that you are a sow (i.e the corn is to feed you), or whether she is saying that the corn is to feed the pigs which then "feed you, the little sow".  I have translated with the first meaning.