That's fine.  What's the school like?  She's never been to one.

"This school is for people who care a lot about their children being able to speak English, so it starts with kindergarten - I'm a kindergarten teacher - and teaches many of the classes in English. But it goes all the way up through high school. Haru's going into the third grade and I think it's probably best if you stick close by him to start out, since he's got a head start on Japanese and since that way he'll be able to bring home assignments you miss by skipping Wednesdays, but if you have a lot of academic trouble there or the Japanese is too difficult even with help we can put you in second grade instead. Hmmm, we should pick an official birthday for you - do you care more about it being the autumn equinox or about it being New Year's Day?"

"Ummm.  The autumn equinox, Swan-san."

"That'll put your birthday just a little bit after Haru's then."

"This will have people thinking I'm nine long before I am, but it might still be much better than other options."

"We could say you're seven now and turning eight soon, if you would rather. Or New Year's Day is in about half a year."

"I was, umm, almost eight and three-eighths....  How soon do I need an answer by, Swan-san?"

"Preferably before school starts."

"I will think on it.  What classes are taught here?  For third graders?"

"Japanese - even native Japanese students are still working on kanji - and English and math and science and social studies and art and physical education."

"...What are social studies, for even people?"

"...are they different for even people and everyone else in your memories?"

"I don't know.  I didn't have a class called that but the thing I would guess is not something even people need."

"It's kind of a mix of history and civics and geography and that sort of thing."

"Oh, I see.  ...Are those things social except for having to do with the existence of other people?"

"It's not a social skills class, if that's what you mean. I'm not sure why it's called that. I think it's social as in society?"

"That makes sense, I suppose.  What sort of social skills do even people learn?  I think they mostly care less about etiquette and manipulation..."

"...manipulation, my goodness. Etiquette does matter but it's not an elementary school subject. We'll all learn it together, since Japanese etiquette's new to me and Haru too."

"Do you mean that everyone just learns etiquette at home, or that it's a more advanced subject?"

"I don't think they cover it in later years either."

"What kind of science do they teach?"

"At the elementary level it's things like how the solar system works and basic chemical reactions like baking soda and vinegar and some stuff about how animals and plants are put together."

"...I already learned those when I was littler, but I don't suppose almost anything I learned will be definitely true here."

"Especially about the solar system! And even if you know the facts, the Japanese will be new."

"This is very true."