[ Li skates a bit of mushroom around on his plate before lifting it to his mouth. He chews slowly, glancing at Pavel, ] I think the xenophobia is thanks to stereotypes. But they're so ingrained there's no helping them at times. It satisfies this need people have to categorize and predict their world. You have no reason to understand someone individually -- or to puzzle out their actions -- when it's all contained in a neat pigeonhole.

[ Because human beings are often cognitive misers. Certainly, Hei's prone to that tendency as much as anyone. Especially where Contractors are concerned. It's taken ages -- and a wealth of contradictory experiences -- to let that hatred fizzle out. Focusing on Uhura, he gives her a wan smile, ] Translated in English, sadly, the word loses its nuance. It can sound anywhere from nasty to impolite to just innocently-careless. But it depends more on its context. Gaikokujin -- someone from outside-the-country -- works better.

[ At the question, he nods, ] I was an exchange-student. There in Tokyo for school.