"Something like how handy we are? Or how much thought we put behind answers? Asking for a favorite tool to use in a standard tool box may have many meanings." Including ones of cultural differences. She wondered how those were accounted for, and to what extent they mattered. Was understanding past those cultural lines going to be important?

Yes, she knew it would be. She had to resolve herself to understand as much as she could from all these different perspectives. No matter how alien, or seemingly stupid.

Neither of which she felt at present. It's a nice respite.