"...Even if we were capable of space travel I think people are getting their hopes up regarding sentient life in the galaxy. They wouldn't be like the Vulcans or the greys or anything like that. They would be truly inhuman creatures who we might never be able to communicate with directly. It's not that we couldn't share ideas, but you wouldn't be able to have a real time conversation with them and an advanced civilization like ours would probably be rare..."
Given the diversity and really odd life forms found on our own planet, that which has evolved on planets with atmospheres and an environment dissimilar to ours, the possibilities are mind boggling.

For instance, there is a moon orbiting one of the planets in our solar system that scientists believe has a frozen covering over liquid water (liquid because of sub-surface volcanic activity. Given the life that has evolved around our under sea "black smokers", there could be aquatic life on that planet despite its frozen surface.

Given that, it is possible that the life that exists there could be some form of large, intelligent crustacean-like life form. Imagine the possibilities. We could transport representatives of that existence to our planet in aquarium capsules that simulate their environment. Think of the possiblities...boiled and dipped in melted butter!