"Would they learn my language if I didn't want to teach them?"

"I am not sure how they would manage that or how they would even learn about it but if they could, probably."

"I take notes in it and speak it with Afen."

"You would probably have to stop doing that if they were surveilling us because of aliens."

"...but then they could read my notes."

Sigh. "I don't really know what to expect. It's a weird enough situation it's hard to predict."

Nod.

"It might be fine and they might respect whatever you wanted."

Nod.

"We'll work hard to make sure you get everything you need whatever happens."

"Thanks."

They go back to work. 

She continues taking notes adorably.

People keep assuming she can't actually write detailed notes because she looks like she just turned one.

Which is fine.

Eventually it is time to look at schools.

Even if they avoid ones that teach only Tapap as a secondary language, there are quite a few options! All of the buildings are exquisitely pretty and all of these people would love to teach Lintalai about everything that interests her and more and all of them boast low student-teacher ratios and all kinds of games. They want Lintalai to attend for a few days to get a sense of how she likes it. 

Huh, she supposes that makes sense but hadn't seen it coming.

They have games and computers and toys and teachers. The trial days at the first school are full of science experiments making weird goos and bubbling volcanos and metals that melt in flasks into fine metal dust; the trial days at the second school include three historical reenactment plays by talented actors and a lot of math games; the trial days at the third school are more free-activity-time.

Are these typical or do they just do things in chunks?

They reflect the things the schools consider a strong point but are not typically nearly so densely packed.

She tentatively prefers the second school, although she could certainly get a lot of reading in at the third. She is not terribly interested in goo and would have a problem if an experiment involved touching something she should not.

Her parents are unhelpful. "Up to you, honey!"

"Yes, I know, but I'm not sure yet!"

"What more information do you want?"

"They were showing off, I don't know what they're like when they're not."