Interesting. Years ago I read a novel called "Land of Precious Snow" about a young man, the son of a sugar tycoon (it was set in the 1920"s iirc) who goes to Tibet to find the source of the white gold that an amazing medallion he had received was made of. In the course of his search, of course, he meets a spiritually advanced yogi and his quest for the white gold turns into a spiritual quest.

Anyway, in the course of his journey he is brought in to the home of some very poor Tibetan peasants and given the most lavish hospitality they are capable of giving, and he is completely uncomfortable and unable to easily navigate the visit. His mentor, Naljorpa, tells him "this is common with you Americans. You know how to give, and you know how to take, but you have no idea at all of how to receive". It's one of two remarks in that book that has stayed with me.