"Hmm," he says. A sound of slightly increased interest. "I'm actually a bit impressed. It takes some people a long time to realize understanding a culture's point of view is the first step to understanding an individual's, and that most alien cultures can be compared and understood with a bit of empathy." He's not stating with precision what he really means, which is a concept that doesn't translate well into words. Cultural understanding starts with a sort of initial burst of comprehension, a realization that they are like me, only different. It's how someone learns to reach outside of their own culture, their skin, their life.