Asking someone about their culture, food or faith with real curiosity is brave and kind at the same time.

Questions like that mostly go unasked, out of a fear of causing offence, so everybody stays slightly guessing about everybody else. Real curiosity is audible, and so is the other kind; people can tell within a sentence whether you want to know something or want to test them. Asked properly it lands as a compliment, because you are treating somebody’s life as interesting rather than as background.

Ask one person something specific this week, about a dish or a holiday or a practice, and listen without comparing it to your own. If you get a word wrong, say so and let them correct you.