Taking the time to do basic research on your host country is essential. The more you know before you arrive the less culture shock you will experience and your capacity to learn and do more increases tremendously.
One way you can find information on your country is by visiting the and searching for your country. You can also sign up for free by inputting your search criteria (i.e. country or city of your program), what you want to find (i.e. news, blogs, books), and how often you want notifications to be sent to your email address. It's a very easy way to stay updated on current events.
Other ways to learn about your host country/city are to read books, watch movies, and speak with people who have been, or lived where you are going. As you learn more, try to keep an open mind until you can form your own opinion.