...I am from Earth, yes, but even then, there were goals to work toward and personal achievements to...

[...to, uh...

...to...]

...achieve! Things to strive for and accomplish!

[All right, just...let him take a moment to breathe and decide whether or not he should at least try to say something a bit more sociable.]

I won't argue your point about the animals, though, as it is a good point indeed!

["Try" being the operative word.]