Dhivael listened as he explained why folklore was important. If what he said was true – and there was no reason why she shouldn’t believe him – she had neglected a large part in what would have aided her in learning more about Earthlings. Of course, she knew a little, but she had dedicated more of her time toward learning solid facts and not the fables which may-or-may-not-be true. The Rihan would have to remedy this quickly. “In that case, I will devote more of my time toward learning more superstitions.”
She contemplated just how she should answer his question about ch’Havran folklore. “The Rihannsu have had no use of folklore in many thousands of years.” In fact, the last folk tales that had been recovered were from before Rihannsu emotions had been suppressed in favor of intellectual growth, and that had been before it had been presumed that one of their space crafts had crashed on Earth during the age of Neanderthals. “What remains and has been recorded is often viewed as frivolous or fanciful. It has little factual evidence to support the claims made, and most have been scientifically disproven. Thus, I have no need of them, and I did not think that bringing anything with me of that nature would be of value to anyone. I apologize.” Obviously, she had miscalculated, but it was too late to remedy such an error. Though there was communication set up between the two planets, it took a while for one message to get to the other galaxy and back, so it wouldn’t be proper if she were to use it in order to have folk lore information sent to her.
“I noticed that your physical appearance was racially ambiguous, but I could not discern which Earth nationalities contributed to your genetics. I am not against two people of varying races mating. While it is more common for people of my planet to mate with those of their own planet, it is not exactly a rare. It is even less rare to find two Rihannsu of differing ch’Havran nationalities mated. I am the product of a similar union to that which you have stated you are. Genetically speaking, it is often better that way.” If people from the same countries only mated with those same people for all time, genetics would not be as varied, and that would bode ill down the line for the children of such coupling. Dhivael was the product of a man whose heritage stemmed from ancestors who began near the equator of her planet and of a woman whose ancestry could be traced to those who had always lived somewhere between the poles and the equator.
“The complexities of Earthling jests escape me. I feel more time on this planet will perhaps better acquaint me with them, so I may recognize them when they are spoken. I would prefer you do not simply avoid them if they are to be encountered. I aim to understand cultures and emotions, and keeping yourself from enlightening me will be most unhelpful.”
Dhivael nodded when he asked if there were any questions unrelated to his lesson plan she wished to know. “I have many questions, but most may only be answered by my observations on this planet. However, I am curious about you as a person. You mentioned you were raised in England. What was your motivation behind coming to the United States?” Understanding motivations was a step into understanding emotions and Earthling mentalities.