A Day at a South African High School

Today is one of the days that the students were really looking forward to...their school visit. We left early from the hotel to be able to be at school promptly at 8 o'clock. The students anxiously awaited meeting their new buddies who they would shadow for the day. Once paired off, it was off to class and the leaders met with the assistant principal and learned about the school systems in South Africa from an administrative perspective. When talking with the students afterwards, they all seemed to enjoy meeting new friends and exchanging stories. They seemed to get a kick out of the fact that the SA students seemed to think that famous people just are everywhere - no matter where you are. While in class, they noticed how the students and teachers interacted with each other differently, liking school in the States much better. Maybe they will appreciate it more now. They were amazed at some of the different classes that the students had to take like Life Orientation, which seemed to be a sex ed class mixed in with life skills. They had open dialog with the students on many issues facing teens these days and found that there were major differences in those respects. I think in all in all the students felt this was a great experience and have hopefully walked away with a better understanding of the SA youth and a new friend. After school, they had arranged a TheatreSports performance for us. It is an improv show kind of like "Whose Line is It Anyway" It was very interactive and everyone seemed to enjoy it. After the school day ended at 5 in the evening we were down to the Waterfront for an Italian dinner and about an hour of shopping at the shopping mall. Finally it was back to the hotel to be ready for a half day at school tomorrow.