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Our first stop in Africa, and we're staying with a Chinese family - South Africa really is the rainbow nation! Shawn and I are in Durban, a big coastal town on the Indian Ocean, staying with Chris and his family, who moved here from Taiwan nine years ago, right about when Apartheid was starting to crumble.

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Chris and his friend Brent have been showing us around their town, and the local natural sights (like a beautiful waterfall) - even though it's time for "writing exams" here and they should be studying hard! (Thanks, guys!) Chris and Brent are in "Matric" (short for matriculation) that is, senior year, at Westville Boys High School.

Although the Westville Boys School is technically a public school, it is much more formal than public schools in the states. Similarly to British schools, the boys all wear suits and ties and have to keep their hair short. Peta, a friend from Westville Girls School, explained that her school also has a very strict dress code - right down to the types of barrettes and the color of ribbons they're allowed to wear in their hair. I think of the ripped blue jeans and crazy dye jobs that roamed the halls of my high school and marvel at the difference.

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"Sports are VERY important here in South Africa!" Or so we were told by everyone who came to a pizza dinner hosted by the Westville Boys School Interact Club. For the predominantly white schools here, the biggest sports are Rugby and Cricket. Saturday was the big rugby game against their rival school, and everyone was required by the school to attend. Chris and Brent are both "precepts" at their school, which means they have some responsibilities to help maintain order among the students, including taking account of everyone at the game.

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Cool, a Saturday game with the whole school! Throw on your shorts, tennis shoes, and a funny t-shirt, right? Well, not for these boys. All the students from both schools were there, in full school uniforms - and sitting together. But don't think for a minute that it dampened their spirits. On the contrary, I think it increased their sense of camaraderie and school pride. As the teams pummeled each other on the Rugby field, Chris and Brent, along with the rest of Westville Boys School, screamed themselves hoarse.

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After the game, we all went to Brett's house for dinner, and then out to a celebratory party for the victorious Rugby team. Out of their school uniforms and with their girlfriends, I wouldn't have known it was any different from the parties I went to in high school, except for their funny South African accents. Even though the school is predominantly white, there are black and Indian students who seem to be fairly well integrated into the scene, and were celebrating along with the rest of the school.

The weather stays warm here all year around. So even though it's the middle of winter, the next day we went down to the beach for sun and body surfing. For Shawn and me, it was the first time we'd ever been in the Indian Ocean. Brent pointed out the shark nets that keep the Great Whites and other sharks from making a dinner out of the surf rats that line the beaches. Rollerblades and bikes cruised past the Sunday crowds.

I must admit - this was not the Africa I was expecting. For the last few days, I felt as if I was back in high school. It was fun and carefree, with a great future to look forward to. Still, when I think of the school that Shawn and I visited in Egcekeni, a nearby black township, I realize how very different people's realities can be, even when they're so close to each other. I hope that, in the future, all kids can have the same opportunities for education and carefree, hopeful teenage years.