Wow, my own UNN. That's interesting.
On acculturation, I think and as you rightly put that it doesn't just start or probably stop with learning a language or enjoying their dishes. It's something bigger than that. Think of your father- One Nigeria, this is a finger pointer to what may be regarded as learning a people. He's accommodating, unclad with the normal tribal clothes common in Nigeria and above all willing to allow her progeny do same.
Your Serbian experience is just an eye-opener! You may never learn to appreciate a people by just speaking their languages especially for formal purposes and not passion. The time and energy just deters you each time and the intended acculturation is defeated.