It's not racism so much as conservative protectionism. The smaller the town, the more their functioning relies on the cooperative efforts of individuals. Like,

It's not racism so much as conservative protectionism. The smaller the town, the more their functioning relies on the cooperative efforts of individuals. Like, the fire brigade is likely just a handful of farmers who agree to do drills and respond when necessary. When that cooperative necessity permeates every part of your life, it's pretty natural to be slow to trust. Villages already have enough oddball characters that they don't really care about a random foreigner so much as they care whether you are dependable and trustworthy.