The French teacher at my high school grew up in France and moved to the US in her 40s, and loves to bring up how often she is in Canada and some places in Quebec, many people refuse to speak to her in French. Every year she would bring up how some places that speak French will critique your accent much harder than others, and you might not get the conversations you hope for.
She says she refuses to speak in English if she's in a primarily French speaking area. Which if you live in a foreign country, I can totally see wanting to stick with your original language whenever possible if only to keep it in your mind. I can't imagine living in a country that wasn't primarily English speaking, not because I don't want to learn and use another language, but because it's a huge change.
Tns of respect for any non native speaker in a foreign country. It can't be easy, even after years of immersion. Don't apologize for your accent, you speak my language infinitely better than I speak yours.
Damn, I am a shame to my Spanish teacher of 3 years. That took me too long to figure out.
Lo siento, Señora K, yo no practico...